Shifting gears

Bucs put their new multiformation offense to its first test in tonight's preseason opener.

[Times photo: Toni L. Sandys] Bucs left tackle Roman Oben tangles with Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor during Saturday's practice.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 12, 2002

TV/radio: Ch. 28, ESPN; WQYK-AM 1010; 8 p.m.

If you want to know how the Bucs offense has transformed under Jon Gruden, look at the playbook, which is as thick as the New York City yellow pages.

Or you could gaze at the skyline of receivers, who are taller than ever.

Maybe you should focus on the offensive line, which has been shuffled so much the coach could work casino tables.

But the best way to get a glimpse of what Gruden calls the Gulf Coast offense is through the eyes of the defensive players who have faced it nearly every day this offseason. "I don't know about what's so much different, but I know what's good when I see it," safety John Lynch said. "I know it's real good."

Before the ball is snapped, the identifiers are emotion and motion.

Instead of the shiftless attack of years past, Gruden's offense uses multiple formations that change shapes like a kaleidoscope.

"It looks like organized confusion," defensive end Simeon Rice said. "It's a lot of looks that they run different plays off of. It's hard to key certain things. It's definitely a head-spinner."

Gruden pressures defenses to make presnap adjustments in hopes of creating a breakdown, most likely in pass coverage. Because of the likelihood of mismatches, defensive coordinators often resort to playing simple coverages that are as easy to read as a children's book.

"Before the ball is snapped, they'll line up in one formation, and the next minute guys are exploding and you've got to get 11 guys coordinated as to where they line up all over again," Lynch said.

"What the offense does, it keeps working until it finds a breakdown. And I know playing against (Gruden), the good coordinators may let you get away with a play, but they're going to come back to that later in the game. You show a weakness, they'll find it."

According to cornerback Ronde Barber, the offense doesn't vary much from what is deployed in San Francisco and Oakland: "It's two big wide receivers, guys that get it done on the outside, and they've got a system that can get them open. Crossing routes. San Fran does that a little. Definitely Oakland. When we played them a few years ago, we played a lot of man (coverage) and they killed us."

In fact, the last time a Bucs defense faced a Gruden offense it was throttled 45-0 in 1999, Tampa Bay's only loss the final nine games of the regular season.

And don't think Gruden's offense is all Chuck-and-Duck. His Oakland teams frequently ranked among the NFL's best in rushing. Despite misperceptions, the Bucs should be balanced between the run and pass.

Trying to determine what to defend is the challenge.

"We'll see things like (receivers) Keenan (McCardell) and Keyshawn (Johnson) in the backfield, (running backs) Mike (Alstott) and Michael Pittman split out wide," Lynch said. "Not only will they do that, as soon as you get set, a motion goes where you've got to make an adjustment on that. That challenges you."

The upgrade in offensive personnel is nearly as noticeable as the new schemes. The Bucs could open with six new starters on offense: left tackle Roman Oben, left guard Kerry Jenkins, receivers McCardell and Joe Jurevicius, tight end Ken Dilger and running back Pittman.

"You look at the personnel over there and the guys we've had are good football players and getting better, especially with the offensive line and Kenyatta Walker improving," Lynch said. "You can't help but see the new additions, guys like Keenan (McCardell), Joe Jurevicius and Michael Pittman. These are guys we've always had a ton of respect for and it's something to see them execute."

How much fans see of Gruden's offense tonight against Miami is uncertain. Coaches rarely throw the playbook at opponents during preseason games. But it will be different. And to Bucs fans, that almost certainly means better.

"It's still too early," Rice said. "I think the best is yet to be seen."

-- Times staff writers Roger Mills and Darrell Fry contributed to this report.

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