What do the Buccaneers have to do to win a championship this year?

OF COURSE the Buccaneers can win a championship this year. Will they, mathematics says no. In fact, no matter what team you consider, the math says no. In Tampa, Bucs fans still cringe when they remember that playoff collapse against the Giants, as it sure looked like things were under control for the first third of contest. What goes unmentioned in almost all game recaps is the unfortunate injury to defensive enforcer Tenard Jackson. Without John Lynch the Bucs have longed for the big hitter in the backfield, the guy who keeps the ball carriers and would-be blocking wideouts on their tippy-toes. When Jackson left the field, the fear left the Giants, and the swarm mentality left the Bucs. I know, I know, "who is Tenard Jackson." He's the guy that, together with the return of Brian Kelly in coverage and Gaines Adams pushing hard on the outside, propelled the Buc defense back to the top tier of NFL defenses.

 From the opening whistle, the holes were there, the pass rush was there, and the penalties weren't. But as is so often the case with the Buccaneers, their opponent adjusts, brilliantly disguises their holding on the O-line and hands-on pass coverage, while the Bucs refuse to hold and keep their hands in their pockets. This is when the worm turns. In the Giants game, the worm turned, danced a jig, and eventually burrowed right into the Buccaneers skulls. With the offense traditionally sputtering (resting Garcia the last few weeks of the season was a big mistake), the Bucs needed to make adjustments, not one of Gruden's strong points. He, and thus the Bucs game plans, are stubborn. Maybe the Bucs need to refine some of the game's more subtle aspects -- holding without getting caught, disturbing the peace of mind of their opponent's offensive weapons, and COMPLETING A PASS now and again. Garcia was rusty, Galloway was hurt, Hilliard took a powder, and what was left was the average bunch of Bucs who seem comfortable losing. Maybe the BIG adjustment, telling Gruden he has a one year window or he's gone, is what it will take for the Bucs to compete for the championship this year. Optimistically, maybe Gaines Adams starts playing in week one instead of week ten, Jackson puts fear into the ball carriers while remaining healthy, and Monte Kiffin can win it by himself. Oh, and Buc fan, Brett Favre is not the answer. Would he help? Yes. But this team wins with defense, or it doesn't win at all.