Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio:
1. No guts, all gory: The defensive line was getting no pressure, and the coaches were calling no blitzes. So is it any wonder Miami gained 50 yards on the first three passes of the winning drive? Then, when the Bucs brought in a fifth lineman, the Dolphins handed off to Ricky Williams for 27 yards. To recap, 77 yards, 64 seconds, one heartbreak.
2. Well-played, Mr. Dominik: For all the grief general manager Mark Dominik has taken over his kicker decisions — and I have been among the lead belly-achers — he appears to have hit pay dirt. Connor Barth hit field goals of 50, 51 and 54 yards Sunday. In four seasons here, Matt Bryant was 2-of-10 on attempts of 50-plus yards.
3. Oh my Ward: First, he pouted after games. Now, he's whining during games. Derrick Ward seems unhappy with the number of times he's getting the ball. I sort of agree. I think he should get it less.
4. No excuse: Once officials ruled an incompletion on the controversial pass to Michael Clayton, they put themselves in a bind. Replays indicated the ball never touched the ground, so it couldn't be an incompletion. The problem is replays also did not positively show Clayton maintained possession long enough after hitting the ground. Nor did they show him not maintaining possession. So instead of ruling it inconclusive — thereby letting an incorrect call stand on the field — they went on circumstantial evidence and called it an interception. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Replay is supposed to change calls only if evidence is indisputable, and in this case it was not.
5. Equal opportunity critic: Pass defense is not the only problem. The Bucs are giving up 167.3 rushing yards per game, which would be their worst effort since 1976.
A list of five
Excuses for the replay official:
5. Cheap SOB Goodell won't spring for HDTV.
4. Left early for halftime. (There's only two stalls in the men's room.)
3. Stunned that Clayton had the ball that long.
2. Sorry, was watching that hair-pulling soccer chick on YouTube.
1. Went rogue.
Five encouraging positions
1. Quarterback: It would be ridiculous to say Josh Freeman looks better than Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez after just two starts. That's why I'm waiting until his third.
2. Cornerback: For a pot-smoking, cabbie-smacking, curfew-breaking, teammate-fighting kind of guy, Aqib Talib ain't bad.
3. Tight end: Kellen Winslow has already gained more yards than any Bucs tight end since 1995.
4. Weakside linebacker: If they would let him blitz, Geno Hayes would have a collection of quarterback helmets on his wall.
5. Accountant: Who else comes in $30 million under the salary cap? Pure genius, I tell ya.
Five lousy picks
Best bets for top pick in 2010 draft:
1. Lions: Will still blame it on Matt Millen.
2. Rams: Is Los Angeles sure it wants them back?
3. Bucs: Wonder if Bo Jackson has any children available?
4. Browns: May be the worst team, but they have the easiest schedule.
5. Raiders: Lose to the Chiefs, and you make this list.
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