That's the question Tony Dungy will have answered tonight when he faces his ex-defense.
By RICK STROUD
Published October 6, 2003
TAMPA - Three days before Super Bowl XXXVII, Jon Gruden placed his hands under center and barked signals, giving his team a simulated view of Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon. He began completing passes to his scout-team receivers, moving the chains against the league's best defense.
The Bucs intercepted Gannon five times, reading routes like a clairvoyant and allowing Chucky to turn the matchup with his former team into child's play.
Last week, Colts coach Tony Dungy ran the scout-team defense, giving Peyton Manning a feel for the world champions. According to Manning, it's likely Dungy might line up at defensive end to give his offense a feel for the Bucs' zone blitz.
Dungy built the Bucs defense. What remains to be seen tonight is whether he can take it apart.
"I think he'll help both sides, but he'll definitely help their offense like Jon helped us on defense," Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "He's going to talk to them and say, "When they do this, they're doing this.' "
There's always been the misconception that Dungy focuses mainly on defense. But he was a quarterback at the University of Minnesota, and as a head coach, his experience as a defensive coordinator can be invaluable in the meeting room.
"I think that people sometimes think that Tony just comes here and just talks to the defense," Manning said. "But in the year and a half that he and I have been together, he spends just as much time in our meetings talking to me about, "Here's what the defense will do versus this play,' or "This play could be really good versus this defense,' because he's an old quarterback. Even though he ran a little option, we don't have much option in this week. But the fact that he was a quarterback and he was a defensive coordinator for so long, he can give the offense and give the quarterbacks insight into kind of what works against the great defenses.
"He runs the scout team, which is probably one of the most unique things a head coach has ever done. Usually, that's left for the quality control (coach). The head coach runs the scout team, but he always gives you a great picture and a great look at what he thinks the defense is going to do."
Much of what Dungy can impart on Manning can be seen on tape. And the Colts quarterback breaks down opponents like a compulsive Zapruder film expert.
"It's still one of those things you have to do normally," Manning said. "Just because you have a head coach that was there and coaches that have been there, for me, I like to still kind of see what I see. I like to watch game film, watch film of this year, watch film of their preseason, watch last year and just sort of see what I see. The film does not lie. When you watch the film, you see outstanding players, you see great speed, you see guys who are always in the right position, you see a very disciplined team. So I don't need anybody to tell me that."
Even so, on the flight from Tampa to San Diego in February, Gruden spent time going over the Raiders' offensive personnel with Kiffin. Dungy knows Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch the way Gruden knows Gannon, Tim Brown and Charlie Garner.
"No, (Dungy) doesn't play an actual position," Manning said. "Every now and then, he'll play a defensive end in a zone blitz and get a drop on you, and that's something very unique about a head coach. The fact that he's right there in the mix.
"There might be a thing or two you might be able to pick up on one guy, but it still comes down to what you see on film and whether you can execute it during a game. I think I saw where Monte Kiffin said it best, "Tony's going to be on the sideline Monday.' And it's us players that have to go out and do the things our coaches have gotten us ready to play for and try to execute. That's where the challenge is."
As much as anything, Dungy might be able to keep the Colts from playing into the strength of the Bucs defense.
"They zone block. That's going to be the most interesting thing," Sapp said. "That gives (running back) Edgerrin (James) a chance to cut it back. Man on man, cutting it back, finding a hole. You try to keep us from penetrating you and the way you do that is you zone block us. It's no different than when the Broncos tried to come in here in '99 and zone block us and Terrell Davis had 30 yards rushing. It doesn't matter who you are or what you do. If we're on our game and we ain't beating ourselves, it's damn tough to beat us."
That's precisely what the Bucs and Kiffin are counting on.
"Peyton's kind of like Brett Favre with the way he studies film. We've played Brett, he kind of knows our defense so well," Kiffin said. "And again, having Tony there, knowing our disguises and stuff like that. But they've still got to protect it, throw it, catch it. I think the biggest mistake you can make is getting out there and trying to outthink somebody."
