Crumpler sees Bucs' weakness, exploits it
A tight end burns the defense for the second straight week, this time for two long passes.
By ROGER MILLS
Published November 15, 2004
ATLANTA - After last week's bye, Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler watched film of the Bucs-Chiefs game and liked what he saw. Sunday, he almost duplicated it.
A week after tight end Tony Gonzalez caught nine passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, Crumpler caught four for a career-high 118 and a touchdown and proved quarterback Michael Vick isn't Atlanta's only threat.
"The biggest thing was when I popped in the tape and saw the way Tony Gonzalez was working those guys. I started licking my chops a little bit and was excited about the opportunity that I had," Crumpler said. "I'm a guy that makes big plays, and whenever we get in a heated situation, I want Mike to know, our offensive coordinator to know, that I'm going to be there and try to come out for our team."
During the Falcons' first possession, Crumpler's 45-yard reception helped them take a 3-0 lead.
"Alge is a wide receiver in a tight end's body," Falcons running back Warrick Dunn said. "He's got the best hands on the team along with (receiver Peerless Price). And if it's thrown his way, he's going to try to go and get it."
Crumpler, 6 feet 2, 262 pounds, and the Falcons believed they could exploit the Bucs' tendency to defend the tight end down the middle of the field with a linebacker. Twice, linebacker Ian Gold did not stay with Crumpler, and twice, the Bucs paid a price. "Sometimes, you get those coverages, and Alge is a great player," Falcons president and general manager Rich McKay said. "It's hard for any linebacker to cover him."
The decisive blow came during the fourth quarter. The Falcons had stopped the Bucs on fourth and 1, and three plays later, Vick hit Crumpler with a perfectly thrown 49-yard touchdown, again leaving Gold grabbing at shoestrings.
"We had to put them out of it," Crumpler said. "It was going back and forth a little too long. Our defense was playing great and saving us, and we were too stagnant an offense at the time. And somebody needed to step up and make a big play. Mike sat back there in the pocket and threw a perfect ball."
Said Bucs safety Jermaine Phillips: "He's a good athlete. He went to the Pro bowl last year, and I guess he went for a reason."