For now, Gruden has done enough
By GARY SHELTON, Times Columnist
Published November 11, 2007
Try as he might, he could not run.
For the life of him, he could not throw.
He could not block, he could not tackle, and he could not stay onsides. He fumbled too much, he scored too little, and every week, his reputation seemed to slip a little bit further. This time last year, you could not help but wonder about his career.
All things remembered, wouldn't you have to consider Jon Gruden to be the NFL's comeback player of the year?
If it is true that a team takes on the characteristics of its coach, then the opposite is true as well. This time around, Gruden seems smarter, more disciplined, more controlled. He seems more creative, more resilient, more determined. And he seems to smile a lot more often.
It has been a week now since Gruden walked out of his office at Raymond James Stadium, but still, the image lingers. He was wearing a black shirt and jeans, and there was a boyishness to his face. He paused to greet the military veterans who were gathered outside his locker room. As Gruden moved away, quarterback Jeff Garcia walked past. Gruden threw his left arm around Garcia and pinched his neck, and the two laughed together in one of those small moments that seem to disappear when winning does.
In other words, it seemed like a pretty good time to be Gruden.
And when you think about last year, why wouldn't it be?
Gruden's team is 5-4, after all, and two plays from being 7-2. This time last year, the Bucs were 2-7, and they were two plays from being 0-9. The difference has been roughly the same as oxygen and a lack of it.
At the break, it seems like the perfect time to say it out loud:
Gruden has had a pretty good year, hasn't he?
Oh, perhaps it will not silence all of his critics, and who knows if it will satisfy the Glazers? The Bucs still do not have the look of an elite team that can do damage in the playoffs. Although they are better, they are older, and that has to be a concern when you think of seasons to come. They have still beaten only one team with a winning record and a lot of quarterbacks who should be selling cars for a living.
On the other hand, they are vastly better than last year. Perhaps the Bucs have not conquered the world, but they have managed not to fall off it.
How do you judge an NFL coach?
By victories? Gruden has three more than this time last year.
By points? The Bucs are averaging five more per game.
By yardage? The Bucs are averaging 56.5 yards more per game, more than half a field.
Most of the legendary coaches - Don Shula, Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh - were always considered great because their teams always seemed to be among the league leaders in the discipline categories of fewest penalties and fewest turnovers. The Bucs have gone from minus-12 to plus-3 in turnovers. They have gone from 24th in penalties to ninth.
Sometimes, however, the only way to truly evaluate a coach is by feel. Does he seem in control? Does he adjust to the flow of a game? Does he adapt to the inevitable injuries? Does he develop talent? When all things are considered - the clock and field position and weather and matchups and injuries and personalities - does he give his team the best chance to win?
Last year - the games against the Giants and Steelers come to mind - there were times when Gruden did not.
This year, he has.
True, Jeff Garcia has given him a quarterback to believe in. True, the defense is back in the top 10 (sixth in points and yards against). But a coach has something to do with both of those, too. Gruden has been patient with the running game despite the losses of Cadillac Williams, Mike Alstott and Mike Pittman. And - with only one game against a team with a winning record remaining - Gruden has his team in good position for the playoffs.
As for the Glazers, it is as easy to wonder what they are thinking this year as last. From the start, this has been seen as an "... or else" season. That hasn't changed. Do the Bucs have to win in the playoffs for Gruden to keep his job? Is a winning season enough? Who knows?
For now, Gruden has performed well enough to quiet the talk. Gruden has been as steady as Garcia, as determined as Earnest Graham, as sturdy as the secondary. Worse things have been suggested.
Here at the bye, no one is ready to say bye to Gruden.
For now, that seems to be enough.
FAST FACTS
Better, so far
Jon Gruden's Bucs are much better this season than they were a year ago. A comparison between this season after nine games and last year's final numbers:
'07 '06
Points 18.2 13.2 per game
Yards 326.6 270.1 per game
First downs 17 4.8
Third down % 44 37
Yards per play 5.5 4.4
Rush per game 113 95.2
Offense rating 17th 29th
Defense rating 6th 17th