5 key plays worth another look

By DAVE SCHEIBER, Times Staff Writer
Published September 24, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [JAMES BORCHUCK | Times] Jeff Garcia was at his best Sunday, especially in the fourth quarter during a six-play, 80-yard drive that stepped on the necks of the Rams. Audio: Shelton: 'Garcia could run for mayor' Photo gallery

Setting the tone

The Rams had a chance to take charge early in the second quarter, facing third and 3 at Tampa Bay's 35. Quarterback Marc Bulger took aim at veteran wide receiver and future Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce along the right sideline, but strong safety Jermaine Phillips made a leaping interception of what would have been a first down - the first pick thrown by Bulger this season - to end the threat. "I played some receiver in college (Georgia)," Phillips said. "I'm just getting it done.

Lining up over the line

Early in the second quarter, the Bucs seemed to have gotten a major break - and apparently a 7-0 lead. The Rams were starting a drive from their 11 with 10:05 left in the half when Bulger hit Bruce for what would have been a 17-yard gain. But a hard hit by Phillips jarred the ball loose and cornerback Phillip Buchanon scooped it up and returned it 30 yards into the end zone. Alas, not so fast. Right defensive end Kevin Carter was flagged for lining up in the neutral zone, and the touchdown was negated.

"You know what? It happens, and I was just sorry that it negated a big play on defense," Carter said. "That's the main thing. It's not about a personal penalty; it's that you don't want to let the other guy down. That could have been a turning point in the game for us, still 0-0 at the time. You don't want to negate plays like that with foolish penalties, like lining up offsides."

Did he think it was the correct call?

"It doesn't matter," Carter said. "It was called. It's officially my fault, so we'll just leave it at that. I'll eat that one."

Dropped opportunity

Late in a scoreless second quarter, quarterback Jeff Garcia was moving the offense well. On a first down from the Ram 42, he found wide receiver Michael Clayton cutting across the middle for a potential long gain. The pass was right on the mark but Clayton, who has not matched the form of his stellar rookie season in 2004, dropped it. Two plays later, he fumbled after a 12-yard catch, but tight end Alex Smith recovered. The Bucs settled for a field goal with seven seconds left, but might have had a shot at touchdown if not for the drop.

"You just have to put it out of your head and go on to the next play," Clayton said. "Obviously you don't want something like that to happen. But if it does, you have to get it behind you and catch the next one. My teammates did a great job of picking me up. I'd been waiting on a play for a long time. I tried to run before I caught it."

Garcia said he tried to boost Clayton's spirits over the back-to-back miscues. "I believe in the guy and it was a stretch of tough plays on him," Garcia said. "It was unfortunate, but fortunately for us it didn't cost us anything. ... I just wanted him to keep his head up and keep fighting and get back to the huddle."

Off to the races

Mark Jones' 36-yard kickoff return to open the second half put Tampa Bay in excellent position at its 47, culminating with Cadillac Williams' 7-yard touchdown run and a 10-0 lead.

"It's definitely a good feeling when you're running and hear the crowd cheering for you, and you're seeing things open up and happen for you," Jones said. "Hopefully you can just keep hitting it and take it to the end zone next time. ... I really just wanted to hold on to the ball because it was wet."

Cadillac would like it back

On the first play of the fourth quarter and Tampa Bay leading 10-0, Williams was stopped for no gain at the Bucs 33 and fumbled. The Rams recovered and cashed in with a field goal to cut their deficit to 10-3 with 11:36 remaining.

Williams, playing with sore ribs, left the game briefly late in the third quarter after being hit hard. Was the rib injury a factor in the fumble? "It's tough, but as far as the fumble, the guys just made a good play on the ball, stripped the ball out," he said. "I definitely wouldn't say the rib was a factor."

[Last modified September 23, 2007, 22:18:34]