When New Orleans hosts the Bucs on Sunday, you’ve likely read as much about the Saints as you possibly can.
But what do you know about the Buccaneers?
That’s where A View From the Other Side comes in. Every Friday during the Saints' season, WWL-TV.com will ask five questions to at least one beat writer covering the Saints’ opponent that week.
Today, friend Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com is kind enough to help us out. Yasinskas is in his second season of covering the NFC South for ESPN.com. Prior to that he covered the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. Prior to that, he covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NFL for The Tampa Tribune from 1993 until 1999.
WWL-TV: What does Tampa Bay have left to play for at this point?
Pat Yasinskas: More than you might expect, given their record. Pride and jobs are on the line and this game is important to the future of the entire franchise. The Bucs are coming off an impressive win in Seattle. If they can just finish out the season respectably, coach Raheem Morris probably will keep his job. Even if he doesn’t, whoever ends up running the show next year will look closely at the last few games of this season to see who kept giving effort. The players that are still going hard will have a much better chance of sticking around next season.
WWL-TV: The Saints' defense has been banged up a little lately and is giving up more yards and big plays than they have all season. Can Josh Freeman take advantage of this?
PY: I’m not saying Freeman will come out and throw for 400 yards and five touchdowns, but I think he’ll do some good things. Let’s face it, the Saints have been banged up in the secondary for over a month and they’re vulnerable there. I’m sure Tampa Bay, much like the teams that have played the Saints recently, will try to take advantage of this area. Freeman has shown some big flashes of promise, but he also still is capable of making some rookie mistakes.
WWL-TV: Raheem Morris is obviously off to a rocky start to his head coaching career. Will he keep his job or is he heading for a quick downfall?
PY: My guess at the moment is that Morris will get another season. Yes, much of his first year has been disastrous. But the Bucs knew all along they had to go through a rebuilding period. It’s probably been rockier than anyone expected or would have liked. But the win at Seattle and the promise that Freeman has shown has created a little bit of hope for next year. Plus, the Bucs have continued to play hard for Morris and that should score him some points in the eyes of ownership.
WWL-TV: Dallas took advantage of the edge rush and harried Drew Brees all night. Who on the Bucs defense can create the same matchup problems or is there anyone?
PY: There’s no DeMarcus Ware on this defense. Nothing close, really. But defensive ends Stylez G. White and Jimmy Wilkerson are capable of creating pressure at times. I’m sure the Bucs have seen the film from the Dallas game and Morris, who is running the defense after ousting coordinator Jim Bates, may pull out some blitzes to try to get more pressure on Brees.
WWL-TV: Why will Sunday be different from the 38-7 thrashing in Tampa, Fla., on Nov. 22?
PY: Well, I wouldn’t go predicting any major upset. But Tampa Bay may be a little better this time around. The victory against Seattle is the kind of thing a team like the Bucs can build on for the future. There usually is no such thing as a moral victory in the NFL. But I think this game can be an exception to that rule. If the Bucs can go out and play respectably and keep the score closer than last time that will be progress in their eyes.
