Galloway, Pittman now starring in 'flex' offense

The receiver and tailback show they're the muscle, literally, behind playoff-bound Bucs.

By DAVE SCHEIBER
Published January 2, 2006

One guy pulls up his jersey sleeve and does a body builder bicep flex when he scores; the other has some of the biggest biceps in the NFL.

And Sunday, in the tradition of Hans and Franz, it was wide receiver Joey Galloway and tailback Michael Pittman who pumped up the Bucs in their division-clinching 27-13 victory over New Orleans.

Call it the "flex" offense. The white NFC South championship hats Galloway and Pittman donned were due in no small part to their heavy lifting.

"I'm excited about it," said Galloway when asked about his cap. "But more importantly, we get to come back next week, and that's why this hat is so important.... I'm here to wear hats like this, and hopefully there's another hat coming later in the season."

Galloway did his part by catching a pair of touchdown passes from Chris Simms, setting a club single-season record with 10 (three others had nine). And he almost had a few more if not for a Simms bomb that slipped through his fingers in the third and a holding call that negated a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Pittman, meanwhile, added plenty of muscle on his own. He made the most of his one carry from scrimmage, racing 64 yards to the Saints' 1. That set up the second of Galloway's scores on a 4-yard catch and helped the Bucs to a 14-3 lead.

Pittman also caught three passes for 35 yards, with a long gain of 22. And he looked sharp in a new role as kick returner. He ran back three for an average of 28.3 yards, including a 37-yarder that momentarily looked like it could turn into the first kick return for a touchdown in club history.

"I'm going to take one back, I'm going to hit it," Pittman said. "I'm not going to tippy-toe through the holes. I'm going to hit it fast. ... I'm just going to keep running hard all through the playoffs and hope that I break one. Hopefully I'll keep improving because I haven't done this since 1999 or 2000 back in Arizona."

The job had been handled by Edell Shepherd and Torrie Cox. But last Monday, Pittman approached special teams coach Richard Bisaccia: "I asked if I could do it, just to get an opportunity to get my hands on the ball. I want to help the team anyway I can."

Pittman returned his first kick Sunday 27 yards after the Saints pulled to within 7-3 early in the second quarter. One play later, he burst through a big hole at the 35 and appeared to be on his way toscoring. But he faded near the goal line and was brought down by former teammate Dwight Smith.

"I told him I was tired, that's the only reason he caught me. I had just run a kickoff back," said Pittman, smiling. "But it was a big play and the offensive line blocked great."

Did he think he had scored?

"I thought I was in, but I was too tired to tell Coach (Gruden) to challenge the play, 'cause I was on the bench sitting down," he said. "But it was a big play for this team."

For the record, Pittman did his own bicep move during the game, too.

"Hey, I used to always do that in Arizona," he said. "Joey started doing that when he came here. But that's my trademark."

Galloway's has been as a big weapon, helping secure a string of hard-fought victories.

"I think that these tough situations we've been in - playing each game down to the last second - will be something we can draw on," he said. "We've been in some really tight spots that you don't want to be in, but when you come out on top, that's something you can learn from."

And get to flex about, too.

[Last modified January 2, 2006, 02:30:25]