RUUUUUUUUUD!!!

See what happens when you replace Derrick Brooks with Cato June in obvious passing or nickel situations? June got an interception and Brooks hit hard and tackled well all day long. And enough with this bullshit about June not being able to play the run. Did you see the hit he put on Deuce McAllister for a loss in the third quarter?

In fact, this was one of the more violent games I can remember in terms of tackling. Bodies were literally flying and the impacts were brutal.

It's interesting that two undrafted free agents, Greg White and Jovan Haye, got their first NFL sacks before Gaines Adams did. And Haye got his from the under tackle position.

When the Bucs passed on Lofa Tatupu in the 2005 draft in order to pick Barrett Ruud, everyone second guessed them, especially when Tatupu immediately started making an impact while Ruud sat on the bench. Now we can see what Bruce Allen was so impressed by. Ruud was shockingly good.

Phillip Buchanon and Sammy Davis both kept their assignments in check all day. Buchanon is really, really fast. David Patten had Buchanon beat on the sideline, but Buchanon was able to close and break up the pass just as it got there.

Alex Smith for 33 yards, Ike Hilliard for 41 yards, Joey Galloway for 69 and 24 yards for two touchdowns. I realize the New Orleans secondary isn't the best, but this has to be what Jon Gruden imagined when he first started installing this offense. Does it really all come down to Jeff Garcia? Did the team really just need a mobile veteran to get the offense going? There were three or four plays that Garcia made under duress that you just know any of the other quarterbacks on the roster would have taken a sack on.

Anybody notice that Bruce Gradkowski was the backup and Luke McCown was third string this week?

I like that Cadillac Williams ignored the pain and played for most of the game. But, man, when is the last time this guy averaged at least four yards per carry? Oh wait, I know. Last Thanksgiving. I know the run blocking wasn't spectacular yesterday, but Williams looked scared to hit the crease a couple times. He was apprehensive... not all the time, of course. He did have two touchdowns, but that burst he had in his rookie year still hasn't shown up again. His most valuable quality at this point is that teams still consider him a threat on a play action, so they bite. How long before teams start ignoring the play action because they don't believe Williams can hit the seam?

Let's give credit where credit is due to the offensive line, though. Zero sacks on Jeff Garcia. Run blocking wasn't great, but pass blocking was very good.

Michael Clayton makes up for not having a catch with that awesome block of Kevin Kaesviharn, who was hit so hard that it apparently re-arranged the letters in his last name. If Clayton can add some weight to his frame, he should consider switching to tight end.

The Bucs left the field with no more injuries than when they took it. That's got to feel almost as good as the victory itself.