Challenge in Week 1 refocuses D

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published September 23, 2007

TAMPA - If the Bucs defense continues its turnaround, the reason might be traced to a single play late in the loss to Seattle.

During the Week 1 defeat, the Bucs were in full retreat late in the third quarter against Shaun Alexander, who had gashed them for 41 yards rushing and receiving during a series.

It was third and 1 on Tampa Bay's 25-yard line when cornerback Ronde Barber issued a challenge.

Barber could tell by the body language of some of the Bucs defenders that a total collapse was imminent. So as the quarter changed between plays, Barber began changing attitudes.

On the next play, Alexander was stopped for a 3-yard loss by Kevin Carter, who forced a fumble that the Seahawks running back recovered.

Seattle had to settle for a field goal and won the game. But Barber had kept the Bucs defense from losing its confidence.

"It's a matter of changing your demeanor," Barber said. "There was an instance when they were driving and we made a third-down stop. It was the change of a quarter. It was the third quarter going into the fourth quarter in Seattle. We were starting to get run through, starting to have that feeling.

"I said something to the defense: 'Just change your demeanor. Don't assume that demeanor because we were 4-12 last season.' That's kind of what I didn't want to see happen. Guys took it to heart. We got a stop, got off the field and continued to play."

Barber is not a very verbal guy or one to give many speeches.

"I don't have a lot of false enthusiasm," Barber said.

But when you are 4-12, the way the Bucs finished 2006, it's easy to attach each loss to the previous record. Instead of 0-1, it's 4-13, and so on.

Barber had a different perspective on the defense, which fell to 17th overall last season.

"On the road and we lost a pretty good game where we played poorly in the second half," Barber said. "Don't put your chin on your chest. Some things went wrong in the second half, the injuries to (Jeff) Garcia and Cadillac (Williams) being two of them. We could've won that game. I didn't walk off the field in Seattle feeling like they were a much better team than us and completely outplayed us. Give them credit. They made two plays that won the game. But it's not just like they beat us up.

"A lot of people in this community and on this team and probably in this building had that feeling that this is a 4-12 team. I don't think so."

Last week, the Bucs defense started fast and forced two turnovers in a 31-14 win over the Saints. If you noticed, the unit played with a different demeanor.

KEY REFUSAL: Former Bucs receiver and current ESPN broadcaster Keyshawn Johnson attempted to interview Jon Gruden last week in Tampa, but his request was denied.

It's not that too much bad blood had been spilled between Gruden and Johnson. It's just that, at 1-1, Gruden thought the season was too young for sit-down interviews.

Johnson understood and hopes to visit Gruden later this season. "If he turns me down again, I'll start to think it's personal."

HOT WEATHER OR WITHER: The forecast calls for temperatures to be about 90 degrees today at kickoff against the Rams, a team that plays its home games in a dome. Is that an advantage for the Bucs? "I never really rooted for steaming hot, you know what I mean?," Gruden said. "I don't really believe the weather is going to determine the outcome of the game. If you're mentally weak, it'll affect you. If you're mentally tough, it won't. I think in the NFL, these guys are all mentally tough. I'd like for it to be as comfortable as possible for all the fans and all the people that attend the ball game."

[Last modified September 22, 2007, 17:52:03]