NFC South Preview: Tampa Bay Counting on Youth Movement in 2010

(First in a series- NFC South)

One of the most fascinating streaks in football is in serious danger of ending this year.

For eight straight seasons, the last place team in the NFC South has made the playoffs the following year and Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris says he has no intention of (buc)king the trend- pardon the pun.

"I'm hoping that remains true," Morris told ESPN Radio Wednesday morning. "I don't want to buck any trends along that line. That would be nice. We're just focusing on competing. We're just focusing on giving our very best all the time."

The Bucs gave their very best last year when they handed the New Orleans Saints their second loss of the season in Game 15. Tampa Bay's defense limited Drew Brees to 258 yards passing and one touchdown that afternoon in the Superdome.

Said Morris to ESPN: "These guys went out last year and competed against the New Orleans Saints. That was a great team and that was a great stepping stone for us to build on. We can't use that (win against the Saints) for this year, but you can let the team know when they play smart, they play fast and they play consistent, they can play with anybody."

Tampa Bay looked solid in a 10-7 pre-season opening loss to the Miami Dolphins last week. The Bucs second-year QB Josh Freeman proved to be a commanding presence in the huddle in limited action. 

"I'd say he (Freeman) had to be the standout player," Morris told the Tampa Tribune. "It's all about #5."

It really is all about five. Freeman will need to be brilliant and then some for Tampa Bay to rise from the ashes.

Freeman started nine games as a rookie last season and had a higher completion percentage than New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez, a fact you will likely never hear from ESPN's Mike Greenberg, an unabashed Jets fan.

Freeman, for better or worse, became the face of the franchise as soon as he took over as the team's starting QB in 2009.

"Really, the games (Freeman) started in we had a chance, we competed in every single one," Morris told ESPN's Mike Golic. "We knew at the beginning of last season that we were trying to build a lasting contender and that has to be done with youth."

The problem with youth movements is that head coaches rarely survive to reap what they sow.

Morris will rise or fall with the kids—"the toys" as he refers to them.

"We've got a bunch of 'em—young toys, we've got toys coming back all over the place," Morris told the Tampa Tribune. 

One of those "toys" is first-round pick Gerald Mc Coy, the coveted defensive tackle from Oklahoma, selected third overall in this year's draft. 

So far, Raheem Morris likes what he sees of McCoy.

"I've been hesitant to talk about my young defensive lineman until we put the pads on," Morris told ESPN. "He (McCoy) is really doing a good job. The man works hard. He's everything you thought he would be before you brought him here.

"He's developed into a young, hard working, individual. We like to refer to them (the defensive lineman) as 'the mountains.' And he (McCoy) is one of those mountains. And he's one of those mountains, we hope takes us over the top."

Morris talks a lot about playing smart and playing fast and playing consistent.

He talks a lot about toys and mountains.

"We've got the big guy (Freeman) at quarterback. And now we go get a three-technique (defensive tackle McCoy)—a big guy.

"Right now, we're just trying to move these two mountains in the right direction," says Morris. 

Just the faith of a mustard seed will move a mountain! 

He knows in his heart of hearts that making the playoffs in a division that includes the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints and the promising Atlanta Falcons may take more than a little Divine intervention.

Just the faith of a mustard seed will move a mountain!

Those New Orleans preachers are fond of shouting from those Bourbon Street balconies, "the last shall be first!"

Yet, not even the most faithful soul believes that's a possibility in this year's NFC South.

Randy's (Savoir-Faire's) Prediction: Tampa Bay 5-11, 4th in the NFC South.