Heading into the bye week, the Buccaneers are a one-win, three-loss team. Each loss was by seven points or less; essentially, the Bucs are three plays away from a perfect 4-0. The bye week couldn’t come at a better time for Tampa Bay.

Monday during his press conference, head coach Greg Schiano said the coaching staff will spend the next few days watching tape of the first four games and reassess the season so far in terms of why the Bucs are 1-3.

The players on the other hand, will spend the end of the week resting their bodies and taking a much needed mental break.  During open locker room last Monday, PewterReport.com spoke to linebackers Mason Foster, Dekota Watson, and Adam Hayward about the upcoming bye week.

“[We’ll] Just rest a little.” Foster said. “Take a chance to rest your legs, get your body right, get treatment and continue to get better. Watch film, take mental reps and get ready for the Chiefs.”

Watson said taking a mental break was just as important as resting your body, but was quick to add that you don’t want to completely lose mental focus.

“Mentally we try to get away for a little bit, that’s what a bye is – just get away.” Watson said. “Not too far, because ultimately it’s still your job. For the most part, like he (Foster) said, try to just get away for a little bit but when you come back, be ready to go – mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We’ll be ready to go when the bye week’s back around.”

Right now, the Bucs aren’t even thinking about Kansas City in two weeks. This is a time for the players to reflect on the first quarter of the season, and the close 22-24 home loss to Washington.  After that, how they can make their own adjustments moving forward.

“You got to watch film and get better from film.” Foster said. “You can always learn every little situation. So you got to watch that, then you worry about the Chiefs tomorrow, or later on today. But first you have to watch the film.”

With all three losses coming by one possession, the Bucs have beat themselves at times; a block here, a penalty there – and Tampa Bay could be looking at the bye week in a different light.

Overall, the Buccaneer linebacking corps has played well this season, among all NFL LBs Foster is 10th in the league in tackles with 36, while rookie Lavonte David is tied with four other linebackers (including Ray Lewis and A.J. Hawk) at 16th most with 33 tackles.

Last season, Foster was second on the team in tackles with 84, and is on pace to overshadow his rookie season by breaking 100 tackles in 2012. Currently, David leads all rookie linebackers in tackles.

“We’re just going to continue to get better,” Watson said, “And just be the leaders of the defense on and off the field.”

An early bye week is usually looked upon as unpopular by most standards. But if you are a member of the Bucs, this week is a time for the team to work on getting all three phases working together as a cohesive unit.

“It can’t come at a better time after losing three in a row and having a hard camp.” Hayward said. “It’s time to recoup and find out what we need to do to get over the hill. Right now we’re just right there and it’s kind of frustrating. This is the time we need to take a step back, relax, and start all over again.”