Analysts focus on running games

By SHARON GINN
Published January 7, 2006

The Bucs are the talk of Tampa Bay, but most of TV's talking heads have found other matters to discuss this week besides the team's re-entry into the playoffs.

Even CBS lead analyst Phil Simms, father of Bucs quarterback Chris, acknowledged that fair or not, there is almost no buzz about the 11-5 Bucs.

Among the hot topics? Tampa Bay coaching alums such as Tony Dungy of Indianapolis and Lovie Smith of Chicago as well as the emergence of Seattle and the long-awaited return of Cincinnati to the playoffs.

When the Bucs have come up, the subject invariably has been Offensive Rookie of the Year Cadillac Williams and the running game. And analysts agree: Even though Williams had just 20 yards in a 36-35 victory over Washington in November, the Bucs probably won't win Saturday without the run.

"I've (called) two of the games when Cadillac Williams didn't play," Fox No. 2 analyst Daryl Johnston said. "The second they took him out of the game, that's a different offense."

Fox analyst Howie Long said while Simms carried the game in the victory over Washington, the way to get the passing game going is for Williams to set the tone early with good runs.

"If Tampa Bay doesn't run the football ... I don't want to say they don't have a great offensive line, but they get exposed," Long said. "Chris Simms' coming-out party was that last game in Tampa Bay against Washington. He made some really big throws in key situations.

"But I think the No. 1 task at hand for Washington is stopping the run. If you make them one-dimensional, you're more inclined to have more success. (Redskins defensive coordinator) Gregg Williams I'm sure will have something up his sleeve."

The same goes for Washington, Long said, pointing out running back Clinton Portis has carried his team with 1,516 yards and 11 touchdowns. But it is unwise to underestimate veteran quarterback Mark Brunell, he said.

"I didn't think Brunell would be standing upright at this point in the season," Long said. "I was wrong."

CBS analyst Boomer Esiason pointed out that Washington got into the playoffs thanks to excellent late-season play at home.

"This is a completely different animal now," he said. The last time these two teams met, there were a lot of points scored. But I don't think it's necessarily going to be the case this week," Esiason said. "It's going to be a defensive battle. I think it comes down to who makes the key mistake in the fourth quarter.

"You have one quarterback (Simms) who is learning to play in this league and another one (Brunell) who has been through the wars before. I do like the quarterback at home. Plus he's tall, left-handed, blond and good-looking. So I'm going to stick with him."

LINEUP: Both Saturday games are on Ch. 28. The Jacksonville-New England game will get the Monday Night Football crew while the Bucs-Redskins will get ESPN's Sunday night team of Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire and reporter Suzy Kolber.

ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown team of Chris Berman , Michael Irvin, Tom Jackson, Steve Young and Chris Mortensen will preview both games at 11 a.m. then appear on ABC's pregame show starting at 3 p.m. The pregame show will feature Kolber's interview of Simms.

[Last modified January 6, 2006, 17:50:04]