Is Bucs D still good enough?

Letdowns in 2001 and offseason moves beg the question that was unthinkable in years past.

By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 29, 2002

TAMPA -- In the months since firing Tony Dungy, the Bucs have attempted to upgrade their offense by hiring coach Jon Gruden and adding experienced players. The Bucs have signed four offensive free agents who were starters last season -- Michael Pittman, Rob Johnson, Ken Dilger and Joe Jurevicius -- and a fifth, likely a receiver, could arrive after June 1.

Meanwhile, the prevailing thought is the Bucs defense is holding steady.

Coordinator Monte Kiffin has returned with his entire coaching staff, his one-gap scheme and most of his starters -- led by the Pro Bowl quartet of Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Warren Sapp. The only defensive free agent the Bucs signed who started last season was one of their own, cornerback Brian Kelly.

Is it enough?

"I think we did some special things last year and it was my first year, and I'm fairly sure we can only get better," defensive end Simeon Rice said. "The sky is the limit. I think the best is yet to be seen when it comes to the whole defense. People can assume what they want, but we know what we're capable of."

Statistically, Tampa Bay's defense was among the best in the NFL. The Bucs allowed 290.8 yards a game, sixth best, allowed 17.5 points (eighth), led the NFC with 28 interceptions and were 12th in the league with 42 sacks.

But is this defense that showed moments of vulnerability last season, particularly against the run, capable of matching the standards set in recent years?

Truth is, four times last season the defense did not protect a second-half lead: at Minnesota, at Green Bay and home against Chicago and Philadelphia.

"We're aware of what happened last year," Kiffin said. "And it's something we plan to address. We're not going to sit back on last year's efforts."

This also is a defense that lost starting middle linebacker Jamie Duncan to the Rams, critical backup defensive end Steve White to the Jets and former Pro Bowl cornerback Donnie Abraham, who had an NFL-high 31 interceptions in six seasons, also to the Jets.

"Criticism goes into the eye of the critics," Brooks said. "We know we lost some great players. Donnie was a Pro Bowl (player), Steve was our swing guy, a versatile pro, and Jamie was our starter. So to say that we're not going to change would not be smart.

"But we can adjust and change can be for good. ... We are going to get better because we have to. I'm not saying it's going to be easy but we have to. Just like it's not going to be easy to replace Coach Dungy, but we have to."

The Bucs have shuffled outside linebacker Shelton Quarles to the middle and moved Al Singleton to Quarles' position. Quarles, a reserved player, must undertake a more vocal role in the middle.

"It definitely (a work in progress)," said Quarles, who played in the middle in nickel formations in 1999. "I'm learning as I go, what to say, how to say it. Hopefully I'm getting it across to the guys up front. We haven't had any major breakdowns when I have been in there. That's a tribute to our coach teaching us what to say and getting the job done."

With Singleton becoming a starter, backup Nate Webster and former Tampa Chamberlain High and Florida standout Eugene McCaslin are the only other linebackers who were in Tampa last year. The Bucs have signed a crop of young players such as Chris Jones, Jack Golden, Justin Smith, Jamal White, Sterling Rogers and Ryan Nece.

"Depth is a concern," Gruden said. "But at the same time, free agency is not done. There's a good chance that we'll continue to add to our roster."

Although the Bucs haven't overhauled the defense in the manner they plan on doing with the offense, Gruden's presence has had an effect.

"For the first five or six years that I've been here, we have a coach who wants to go out there and beat us every day," Brooks said. "As a defense, we need that challenge. Maybe we rested a little bit on our laurels the past couple of years, and we need that new shot in the arm.

"Coach Gruden, when he beats us on a play, he makes his way around the huddles and lets the defense know. ... It'll make us a better team in the end."

Lynch said Gruden's innovative offensive approach and rapid practice tempo will help the defense.

"The tempo that they are working in, all the shifting, that makes us better," he said. "When we play the St. Louis Rams now, it's not going to be a cluster or wondering what do we do. ... We're going to be on it.

"Coach Gruden is a guy where you can see his enthusiasm for the game. He's challenged us as a defense. He's had a lot of respect for what we have done. He feels we've been extremely consistent but he also feels we can raise the bar a little. That's something we've felt for a long time. Sometimes a little change can bring that out."

-- Staff writer Rick Stroud contributed to this report.

DEFENSIVE LETDOWNS

Sept. 30 at Vikings

The situation: Bucs lead 16-13 with 6:21 left in the game.

The letdown: Bucs give up an 11-play, 96-yard drive in the final five minutes.

Final score: Vikings 20, Bucs 16.

Nov. 4 at Packers

The situation: Bucs lead 17-7 with 9:53 left in the third quarter.

The letdown: Ahman Green runs 63 yards for a touchdown and Allen Rossum returns a punt 55 yards for a touchdown.

Final score: Packers 21, Bucs 20.

Nov. 18 vs. Bears

The situation: Bucs lead 9-7 at halftime.

The letdown: Bucs give up 17 points in the third quarter, 14 on long TD passes to Marty Booker.

Final score: Bears 27, Bucs 24.

Dec. 2 at Bengals

The situation: Bucs lead 13-3 with 12:29 left.

The letdown (and recovery): Bucs give up 10 points and the game goes to overtime, but John Lynch recovers a fumble to set up the winning field goal.

Final score: Bucs 16, Bengals 13.

Jan. 6 vs. Eagles

The situation: Bucs lead 13-3 with 19 seconds left in the third quarter.

The letdown: Backup Bucs give up two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Final score: Eagles 17, Bucs 13.

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