Still running aground

The Bucs want to add another dimension, but just can't seem to get their ground game going.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 5, 2002

[Times photo: Toni L. Sandys] Michael Pittman is averaging 3.4 yards a carry and has yet to score a touchdown this season.

TAMPA -- Can you name the only quarterback to run for more yards than the Falcons' Michael Vick during a game this season?

Before his audience had time to ponder the question Wednesday, the inquirer provided the answer.

"I outrushed him the last time," Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson said with a grin. "The first and last time that might ever happen.

"The whole new thing is Vick, he's playing well and they're selling tickets and that's great. But the defense is what's really making it happen for them more than anything up there. And the defense probably doesn't get enough credit."

Given the pathetic state of the Bucs' rushing attack -- Tampa Bay ranks 31st in the league -- the mobility-challenged Johnson can't count on much help again Sunday.

While it's true he outrushed Vick 2 yards to 1 in a 20-6 win Oct. 6, it's unlikely the Bucs defense will be as successful containing the Falcons phenom this time. Nor is there reason, after 12 games, to anticipate Tampa Bay's ground attack suddenly clicking against Atlanta's improving defense.

"It's not really a concern, it's just an issue that causes many of us to lose sleep," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said.

"We need to make more (rushing) yardage, that's the bottom line. I'll stand up here today in front of everybody and take complete responsibility for it. But we're going to spread the responsibility around because it takes all of us."

If Sunday's 23-20 loss at New Orleans proved anything, it's that Johnson can't be expected to win with an offense that is so one-dimensional.

Gruden appears to have run out of options. He has tried to make Michael Pittman the featured runner, but 159 carries have produced no rushing touchdowns and a 3.4-yard average. He has turned to Mike Alstott, who had a 126-yard day against Cleveland but had 55 yards on 26 carries three games later against Minnesota.

"We've tried by committee, we've tried the single-horse approach," Gruden said. "I think we gave it to Pittman 20 (actually 21) times in North Carolina, 26 times to Alstott against Minnesota. We went with the committee approach several times and none of it has really exploded yet onto the scene, okay?

"But we're a 9-3 football team, we've been 3-1 in every quarter. We're going to continue to work on it, that's all I can say.

"We've got to get results from what we do. If you're running the ball for one yard or you're getting 15-yard penalties on first down running the ball, I'm not a real big fan of that, quite honestly. So we're going to do what we feel gives our team the best chance to win. We realize in the long run, it's being balanced, it's running the ball with some degree of success. And to this point, we haven't been able to maintain any kind of consistency, and it's something we're aware of."

If the season were to end today, the Bucs would have produced the fourth-worst rushing attack (87.4 yards per game) in team history. Tampa Bay has just four rushing touchdowns this season, compared to 22 by the Falcons.

"The big thing is first-down plays, whether it's the pass or the run," Johnson said. "It really takes a lot of pressure off of having to make plays. I think when we have done a good job, it's gone unnoticed. We've had a lot of five- and six-yard gains. We just haven't had the long, 20- and 30-yard runs.

"But also, it's staying away from the negative plays, where we lose a yard or two on a run down has hurt us a lot also. We're going to work at it. We're going to need a running game to get where we want to go and then to march on into the playoffs."

If the Bucs can't run the ball against the Falcons, Johnson will have another long day. The 3-4 defense new coordinator Wade Phillips installed has allowed the fourth-fewest points in the NFL. What's more, the Falcons have 14 sacks in the past two games, including a shutout against Carolina.

"Wade Phillips and Emmitt Thomas came in here, Emmitt solidified our secondary to where at least they know what they're doing and then Wade put in the 3-4 defense, which put more of our linebackers on the field, which are probably the strength of our team," Falcons coach Dan Reeves said.

So what makes Gruden believe the Bucs will be able to turn into Ground Chucky by Sunday?

"Because we're pros here. We've got pro football players here that have pride," Gruden said. "We're not just going to turn into the run-and-shoot. We're not just going to punt on second down. We're going to run the ball.

"It's been a while since we've run the ball effectively in Tampa. It's been well-documented, I'm well aware of all the stats. ... You've got to run it better. You've got to break tackles, we've got to run over people, we've got to do a better job of blocking play-side, backside, scheming plays. It's not just me, it's not just you. It's all of us together. Right now, the results are not good. We're not going to cry. We're not going to put our chins on our chests and mope around here. We've just got to get ready for action because it's going to be intense on Sunday."

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