Bucs

Defense shows off depth and dominance

[Times photo: Toni Sandys] Bucs kicker Martin Gramatica greets Shelton Quarles after a 56-yard field goal, a yard longer than his regular-season best, to end the first half.

TAMPA - Warren Sapp? Check. John Lynch? Check. Derrick Brooks? Check. The rest of the defense? Check.

In its final test run, the Bucs defense appeared ready for the start of the regular season based on Thursday's 34-3 blowout of the Houston Texans.

The Texans are not considered to be among the NFL's most explosive offenses but the Bucs defense, always the backbone of the team's recent success, looked stingy.

"For the most part, we did what we wanted to do in the preseason," cornerback Ronde Barber said. "But we definitely wanted to come out and play like we did tonight, especially in the first half. We were dominant on defense."

The Bucs held Houston to nine first downs and 128 yards. And most important, no touchdowns.

"This is the type of game that gives us energy to start the season with momentum," end Simeon Rice said. "That was important."

Most starters - including Sapp, who recorded a tackle after missing Saturday's game - played only one series, but that went well. Houston gained 5 yards and went three and out.

LONG DISTANCE: Kicker Martin Gramatica often goes berserk when he kicks a measly extra point. Imagine his reaction when he booted the longest field goal of his professional career.

Gramatica nailed a 56-yarder as the first half expired and treated it like it was January in St. Louis instead of August in Tampa Bay. The kick was a yard farther than the longest regular-season field goal of his career. If nothing else it proved Gramatica, who has labored through injuries, is healthy.

"It's good to have Martin Gramatica back," coach Jon Gruden said.

On Oct.19, 2000, Gramatica made a 55-yarder at home against Detroit. On Thursday, he gave the Bucs a 27-0 lead when he kicked a line drive just inside the right upright.

Gramatica wasn't even ready to kick. He was standing on the sideline, shoes untied, when he got the call.

"I really didn't think about anything," Gramatica said. "I didn't even think about how far it was. It felt great especially because I've been hurt. I only wish I could've kicked more."

PITTMAN DELAY: The most immediate legal obstacle that could keep running back Michael Pittman from playing has been pushed back a third time, this time nearly two months and into the second half of the season.

A probation revocation hearing for Pittman, scheduled Sept.15 in Arizona, has been postponed until Nov.7, his attorney, Joel Thompson, said Wednesday. That would be two days before the Bucs' ninth game, against Carolina.

The hearing, originally scheduled for July, will determine whether Pittman violated the guidelines of a three-year probation when he was arrested in May and charged with two counts of felony assault after allegedly using his Hummer to ram his wife's Mercedes-Benz, which had her, their 2-year-old son and a 18-year-old babysitter inside.

Pittman, who has continued to practice and play since his arrest, has a pretrial conference Wednesday on the assault charges.

PICKIN' AND GRINNIN': Gramatica's long field goal was set up by the Bucs' only interception of the preseason. After Houston quarterback Tony Banks had his pass tipped by rookie end Dewayne White, linebacker Ryan Nece intercepted the ball at the Bucs 43. Nece took a couple of steps then lateraled to Jermaine Phillips, who raced 19 yards to the Houston 38.

"When you are in position like myself you have to seize the moment and seize the day," Nece said. "When you are fighting for a job you have to make big plays."

NO FLAGS: All preseason, Gruden and his staff harped on penalties. Through four games, the Bucs committed 39 for 345 yards.

"That was a big thing that they expressed this week," running back Aaron Stecker said. "We had to cut down on penalties. We had too many penalties that limit your chance to win. We're better than that."

The Bucs were way better than that Thursday. They were perfect: no penalties.

INJURY REPORT: The Bucs didn't escape unscathed. Tight end Rickey Dudley sprained his left ankle on the first play from scrimmage and tight end Todd Yoder sprained his right knee in the second quarter. Gruden said both are questionable for the Sept. 8 opener against Philadelphia.

Free safety Dwight Smith missed the game with a chest/shoulder injury. Defensive tackle Ellis Wyms (sprained left ankle) did not play.

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