Offense remains a work in progress

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© St. Petersburg Times
published September 17, 2002

TAMPA -- It was not the time to quibble.

Not while the coach was being bathed in ice on the sideline. Not while the pilot was asking, please, stop partying for the landing. Certainly not while Jon Gruden was suggesting the players take a couple days off.

Tampa Bay's victory against Baltimore on Sunday was as gratifying as it was thorough. The defense had something to say and, as statements go, this one had lots of capital letters and a few exclamation points.

The defense was so good against the Ravens, it made you forget the offense was even around. Which made the party that much better.

Only now, with the volume turned down and the concern turned up, does it seem appropriate to ask.

How good is the Bucs offense?

Sunday, it was as good as it had to be. Which doesn't mean it is as good as it needs to be. Not with the Rams coming Monday. Not with other playoff contenders on the horizon.

By now it is clear the Bucs will not be magically transformed into a scoring machine in 2002.

It was probably too much to ask, too much to expect. This offense has spent years in search of the end zone, so it hardly seems fair to suggest the Bucs would be inventing touchdown dances after a few weeks with Gruden.

The offensive line does not have enough power, the receivers and backs do not have enough zip. The Bucs do not take charge of the ground game and do not even attempt to play the vertical game.

Instead, they do the one thing they seem most comfortable doing. Controlling the ball with a short passing game.

How far will that take them?

Last season it got the Bucs into, and out of, the first round of the playoffs.

In other words, there is a lot of work to be done.

"We've got to improve our physical play. We have to improve running the football," Gruden said. "We had numerous opportunities to make some strides yesterday. I don't believe we made a huge step forward."

Surely, there are better days ahead. Gruden's offensive mind is too sharp and there are too many talented players to ignore.

In time, the multiple formations and shifts will begin to click. The volume of the game plan will expand. Even now, the Bucs are giving opposing teams something to think about. They lined up in a passing situation on third down against the Ravens and sent Michael Pittman on a toss play.

"We gave some looks out there that are going to make some people play honest," quarterback Brad Johnson said. "Especially third-down situations that will really throw some teams off in the long run with our personnel."

Even so, this is an offense desperately in need of a threat. Either a running game that forces teams to play eight defenders near the line or a deep threat that forces the secondary to play scared.

As it is, the Bucs do not have enough of a presence to control the tempo on offense. The opposing defense does it instead.

The Saints kept the Bucs off guard with repeated blitzes. The Ravens kept the Bucs out of the end zone with a two-deep cover package.

You could argue the offense did enough to win both games. You just can't argue it convincingly.

Do not be fooled by the fourth-quarter comeback against the Saints because the offense still, essentially, cost the Bucs the victory.

Tampa Bay was given three possessions in overtime, including two with good field position, and netted 24 yards. The botched punt may have been the final blow, but the offense was at fault for failing to come up with even one first down while pinned deep in its territory.

As for Sunday, the Bucs scored nine points on offense. The defense and special teams came up with 16.

"We won 25-0 on the road. In the NFL, that's a great accomplishment. I don't want to diminish that," Gruden said. "But part of my job is to not be satisfied with every single thing that happens and not be too giddy or overly excited."

The Bucs are working with a rebuilt line. With two new receivers, two new tight ends and a new featured back. The system is the fourth in four years. Gruden says none of these factors should be construed as excuses.

At the same time, he acknowledges a higher comfort level could translate to more success.

"It's going to take a lot more than just tossing out a new playbook and saying, "Here we go men,' " Gruden said.

For now, the Bucs are stuck in offensive limbo. Not quite dependable and not close to dynamic. The line is not strong enough to overpower opponents and the skill players are not dangerous enough to be considered game-breakers.

So where does that leave them?

Usually in third and long.

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