It's clear the Bucs are in a hole, but is there enough time and talent there to climb out of it?
By RICK STROUD
Published October 3, 2004
TAMPA - This is new subterranean territory for Jon Gruden, who never has begun an NFL season with three consecutive losses.
The Bucs coach knows he shouldn't be trapped in a bunker like this without Tommy Franks. Or at least Tiger Woods. And Gruden feels added pressure to beat the Denver Broncos today, since teams making the playoffs after an 0-4 start are rarer than sushi.
With another defeat and the next two games on the road - at New Orleans Oct. 10 and at St. Louis for Monday Night Football Oct. 18 - the Bucs could be looking at some bingo records: O-4 ... O-5 ... O-6.
"We realize what our record is," Gruden said. "You can sit up there and be deep and philosophical all you want and talk about statistics and history and all those things and (being) behind the 8-ball. You can talk that. But the bottom line is, we have to go out and play better football for 60 minutes - offense, defense, special teams. All three areas. To do that we've got to practice well and we've got to take it to the grass on Sunday."
While Gruden's previous teams never had to be exhumed, only Saddam has lived longer than the Bucs in holes dug for themselves.
Tampa Bay was 3-4 in 2000 and 2001 and reached the playoffs both seasons, eventually losing at Philadelphia in the NFC wild card game. In fact, the Bucs won their first three games in 2000 before going on a four-game skid, their longest such streak since Tony Dungy began his head coaching career with five consecutive Ls in 1996.
Dating back to last season, Gruden's Bucs also have lost five in a row. This afternoon, Tampa Bay not only has to contend with the NFL's top-ranked defense but the return of their adopted prodigal son, Broncos safety John Lynch.
Only Derrick Brooks, Mike Alstott and Dave Moore are left from the 1996 Bucs team to get off to such a poor start. What can they do now to dig out?
"I think when you're kind of in that situation, you feel like it can't get any worse," Lynch said. "So lots of times, and I know what Gruden is selling to them, it's an us-against-the-world mentality. And a lot of times, teams seem to thrive under that kind of situation. You rely on each other. And a lot of times, you come up with great efforts there. There's a little bit of, not desperation, but a feeling of urgency that you've got to get one under your belt. Again, I keep going back to that's why we expect to get the Bucs' best shot."
Everything is stacked against the Bucs in today's game. Gruden is 1-7 against Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. Denver has a shutdown corner in Champ Bailey and Tampa Bay's receivers have trouble beating ordinary defensive backs. Then there's the revenge angle with Lynch.
But if there's a formula to pulling off the upset, it might be one that's worked for the Bucs in the past.
Tampa Bay has to rely more on its defense and execute a game plan that plays to that strength.
That means remaining committed to running the football to eat clock, shorten the game and keep the defense fresh for the fourth quarter, when NFL games are won and lost. Three plays and a punt is okay if you are able to change field position and get the ball right back. It's the same formula the Jaguars used to beat the Broncos 7-6 two weeks ago.
"Oh, sure. I think that's typically what you're trying to do," Lynch said. "It's not necessarily the old style of Buc ball, but most games in this league are going to come down to tight games and I'll tell you what, we played the Chargers last week and some people in the press and fans were grumbling when we beat them 23-13. But you take wins when you can get them in this league. Yeah, you want to play perfect but that doesn't always happen. You do whatever you can to get a win."
Of course, it won't be easy to stick to. For starters, the Bucs rank 30th in rushing offense. And Gruden sometimes lacks patience in his play-calling, preferring to put the ball in the air often.
Nonetheless, the formula worked for offensive-minded Ravens head coach Brian Billick, who rode his defense and a strong rushing attack to a Super Bowl XXXV title.
"I think you can do that if you're that great on defense, if you're getting turnovers and getting field position," Gruden said. "Then again, they had a 250-pound back (Jamal Lewis) who wasn't bad. Jonathan Ogden wasn't too bad, either. Their tight end was a pretty good player, Shannon Sharpe. It's not like the cupboard was bare. They had some players. I'm not saying we don't have players. But we've done some good things on offense. We just have inflicted so many wounds upon ourselves that it's frustrating to a lot of people.
"You can win ugly, as long as you win. I would just be happy winning. Of course, I would like to have a beautiful day at the office. But that's what our goal is here is to continue to have tough skin and show resiliency and get right."
Like most NFL teams, the Bucs break the season into quarters. A 1-3 quarter won't kill the Bucs if they post winning records in each of the next three. With all the parity in the league, teams just need to be near .500 when the final quarter begins in December.
"That's the way it's always going to wind up in the NFL," defensive tackle Anthony McFarland said. "At the end of November, everybody will kind of be packed together. It's the team that finishes the best that's going to have an opportunity. You just have to get into position to be in the pack."
Three-game losing streaks are cause for concern when they come in the middle of the season. They are cause for alarm when they occur in September.
"We are what we are at this point," cornerback Ronde Barber said. "We're definitely not forgetting we're 0-3. But we're not going to let it be a burden trying to win the fourth one."
