5 key plays under the radar

By DAVE SCHEIBER, Times Staff Writer
Published September 17, 2007

They weren't the kind of moments that would make the highlights on ESPN's SportsCenter, but these five under-the-radar plays contributed heavily to the Bucs' 31-14 victory Sunday over the Saints.

Ruud awakening

Just 4:22 into a scoreless game, Saints running back Deuce McAllister rambled 6 yards to the Tampa Bay 43 on third and 3. But after the play was challenged by the Bucs, the replay showed Barrett Ruud stripped the ball from McAllister and recovered the fumble - setting the stage for Tampa Bay's first scoring drive.

"(McAllister) was coming through ... and I got a block and kind of dove in and tackled him," the third-year middle linebacker said. "I knew the ball was kind of hanging there. I just tackled him with the ball, and it popped out. And I kind of wrestled it away from him. I thought it was an obvious fumble, but apparently, the refs didn't see it. But luckily, it got overturned."

Mr. Smith goes ... long

On the first play after Ruud's fumble recovery, quarterback Jeff Garcia connected with tight end Alex Smith, who was wide open down the right sideline. The 33-yard hook-up put the Bucs in business at the Saints 24 and provided a huge boost for an offense still looking for its first touchdown of the season.

"It was a play we had seen on tape during the week," Smith said. "We figured we had a good chance to hit them with it. We had good field position after that fumble. So while they were reviewing the play, (coach Jon Gruden) said, 'Get ready for it.' There was plenty of space there, and nobody was guarding me at all. They got mixed up with their coverage. Jeff felt pressure a little bit and found a way to get rid of it, and I just tried to get some yards after the catch."

The scramble

Later in the drive, the Bucs faced third and 6 from the New Orleans 8. Memories still lingered from the offense's failure to capitalize on two close-range scoring chances in the season-opening loss to Seattle, settling instead for field goals. But Garcia changed the story line, scrambling away from pressure for a first down at the 1.

"That's how I play the game," he said. "It was a matter of getting forced out of the pocket, finding room to run, knowing where the first down marker was and just doing whatever I could to get the first down and continue the drive. It was just one of those things where I took a (hard hit), but that was really the only shot they got on me all day. It was one of those things where I was able to just bounce back up from it and continue plugging away."

Did Garcia think about trying to punch the ball in at the end of the run?

"I thought about leaving my feet - a lot of things went through my head," said Garcia, who had his bell rung in Seattle and left the game for a stretch. "More so than anything, (it was) get the first down, secure the ball and allow us to have that opportunity to pound it in."

That's precisely what Cadillac Williams did two plays later, giving the Bucs a7-0 lead.

The block

Four plays into the second quarter, Garcia found receiver Joey Galloway over the middle, and No. 84 sprinted away from defenders for a 69-yard touchdown. But it was a crushing block by receiver Michael Clayton on safety Kevin Kaevsviharn, set to tackle Galloway immediately after the reception, that paved the way for the 14-0 lead.

"It was just two slants on both sides, and that's what we do as wide receivers. We headhunt," Clayton said. "Everybody knows me as a physical wide receiver, and Joey Galloway is one of the fastest guys in the league. If he can get a block, he can go to the house."

Ike strike

Galloway got more glory with his second touchdown, a 24-yard catch with 1:05 left in the first half that put the Bucs in full command 21-0. Yet one play earlier, it was receiver Ike Hilliard who split the defense up the middle, catching a beautifully thrown pass from Garcia that resulted in a 41-yard gain.

"I'm just happy to be a part of it in some sense," Hilliard said. "It was a great call by Coach Gruden. And you have to give a lot of credit to Jeff, too. Their middle linebacker got sucked in a little bit by the fake (handoff), and it allowed me just enough time to get to the middle of the field. Jeff anticipated perfectly."

[Last modified September 16, 2007, 23:26:19]