First off, I have to say that if you're a fan of contemporary music radio, Tampa Bay might be the most exciting market in the country right now. It certainly is to this out-of-market observer.
I love that Hot is going after FLZ, and I love even more that FLZ is snapping back. Tommy Chuck is one smart programmer and has kept that station sounding damn good. Hot is taking the exact stance a new CHR in that market should theoretically take - adopting the "FLZ is old" stance, skewing very rhythmic, complete with the requisite Cox super-tight rotations - and they sound good doing it. However, besides MJ, there's very little about FLZ that can reasonably be called stale or outdated. The jocks are all hip and demo-friendly (although I'm no Seacrest fan), the music is aggressive and tight, and the positioning, imaging and promotions all have an appropriate edge to them. Hot will undoubtedly make an impact purely by virtue of providing a CHR alternative, but I can see them being the AMP Radio to FLZ's KIIS ratings-wise...although I'm very interested to see what Hot does regarding mornings.
As for Play's morning show, I'm very familiar with them from their PC days, and I have to say that this was an excellent hire by CBS. I heard their first show on WSJT today and it sounded good, but first shows are meaningless even when they're solid. Give them a few weeks/months to get comfortable in a new milieu and for the audience to really get a sense of their personalities, and I think you'll really enjoy what you hear. They could be exactly the new AM Drive blood that you referenced, Rick. I'm digging Play outside of AM Drive, too...love the Modern AC/alternative musical bent, the jocks and the slightly edgier image than Mix. With a slightly deeper library and power rotations around 70x/week instead of the current 95, I think they'd be perfect. Maybe a better signal too, LOL.