National Football League

Improved Buccaneers eye bright future

Published Jan. 3, 2011 7:46 p.m. ET

foxsports

The surprising Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren't ready to pat themselves on the back.

The NFL's youngest team improved by a league-best seven games this season, yet failed to make the playoffs with a 10-6 record after going 3-13 in 2009.

Coach Raheem Morris reiterated Monday that the team's ultimate goal is to win a championship. So he and his young players are not satisfied with simply exceeding nearly everyone's expectations by finishing with double-digit wins.

The Bucs closed the season by beating defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans 23-13, but didn't get necessary outside help to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2007.

Instead, they joined the New York Giants as the first NFC teams since 1991 to win 10 or more games and not earn a postseason berth.

''It didn't work out in our favor, but we went out and handled our business and did everything we could,'' Morris said Monday, adding the challenge now is continue to improve while maintaining the attitude and work ethic that contributed to this season's turnaround.

''Everybody's going to tell how great you are,'' Morris said. ''You have to do the same thing you did this year: not listen.''

Quarterback Josh Freeman led the surge in his first full season as a starter, completing 61.4 percent of his passes for 3,451 yards, 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

Rookie LeGarrette Blount rushed for 1,007 yards despite not making his first start until Week 11, and receiver Mike Williams led all NFL rookie wideouts with 65 catches for 964 yards and a franchise-record 11 TDs receiving.

Tampa Bay also became the first team since the merger in 1970 to start 10 or more rookies during a non-strike season and finish with a winning record.

''It's funny how we have so many young guys and we were able to do this,'' said tight end Kellen Winslow, who finished a team-leading 66 receptions for 730 yards and five TDs. ''It's crazy when you think about it. ... but next year we've got a lot to build on. It's real exciting.''

Coming off a year in which the Bucs started 0-7 before turning the offense over to Freeman, Morris raised eyebrows during training camp when he declared this season a ''Race to 10'' victories, a number that usually gets a team into the playoffs.

He drew even more attention to himself when proclaimed Tampa Bay was the best team in the NFC at a point in the season when the Bucs not only didn't have the top record in the conference but had been outscored 69-19 in their two losses.

Morris eventually backed off that claim, but never stopped pushing his team.

Freeman, the third quarterback selected in the 2009 draft behind Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez, was superb in the final four games, posting the best passer rating in the league down the stretch to help the Bucs remain in contention. The second-year pro completed 71.6 percent of his attempts (78 of 109) for 1,009 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions and a 127.8 quarterback rating in guiding the team to a 3-1 record over the past month.

Turns out the loss - in overtime, at home to Detroit - cost the Bucs a playoff spot. Even in that one, Freeman led a late field goal drive to give Tampa Bay a lead the defense couldn't protect in the final 1:39 of regulation.

''It's very encouraging to look at the way we played down the stretch,'' Freeman said.

''Obviously, the Lions game was a setback. But we feel like we can go in and compete with any team and win those tough games,'' the 22-year-old added. ''For a young team, that's half the battle - getting over that hump, realizing you are a good team and have the talent to go out and play with these teams that are playing in the playoffs this year.''

The Bucs went 9-1 against teams with losing records, including a lopsided win over eventual NFC West champion Seattle. Sunday's win over New Orleans was the only victory over an opponent with a winning record.

Winslow said one of the next steps in the team's development is improving on the 2-5 mark against teams that qualified for the postseason.

''When you look at the teams we beat, it's about getting to that next level - the elite teams. The Steelers, the Saints and the Falcons, the Ravens. Those type of teams that we have to beat to get to the next level,'' Winslow said. ''We're right in the middle, I think, but to get to the elite teams we have to do some things to get there, and we will.''

General manager Mark Dominik lauded the job done by Morris, who likely will receive a long-term contract extension. The team holds an option on him for 2011, and the 34-year-old coach said Monday he's not concerned about his future.

''I think we have the coach of the year right here in this building. ... I think he's deserving of the award. I think he's earned it,'' Dominik said.

''We put a lot on his plate this year, and he has absolutely handled it all. Certainly, we're disappointed that we're not playing and preparing for the Philadelphia Eagles right now. But at the same point, we all see where this ship is headed.''