Hearty feast on turnovers

Defensive players grab four fumbles, setting the table for 16 points.

By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published November 26, 2007

Washington's Clinton Portis fumbles after a hit by Bucs linebacker Barrett Ruud (51), Bucs defensive tackle Chris Hovan (95) and others in the first quarter. Bucs safety Tanard Jackson picked up the fumble. Photo gallery Audio: Instant analysis with Gary Shelton
	[Brian Cassella | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT Bucs coverage In-game blog: Stephen F. Holder breaks down the game Barber's big day even more special for ailing youngster Gradkowski struggles in relief role Tom Jones: BucShotz 5 plays worth another look Romano: Gimme 5 Shelton: Bubble Wrap that back Taking one away Quotebook [Brian Cassella | Times] Defensive end Greg White, left, gets a sack and forced fumble against Jason Campbell in the second quarter. Kevin Carter pounced on the ball.

TAMPA - Rookie safety Tanard Jackson filled the final hole in his turnover resume on the Redskins' first play from scrimmage. Jackson made his first career fumble recovery.

Two snaps later, he had another.

Moments later, he had company.

The Bucs defense matched a team record with four fumble recoveries, all in the first half of Sunday's 19-13 victory. The rash of turnovers staked Tampa Bay to an early 16-0 lead.

"Score and get the ball back," said Jackson, reciting the defense's mission statement for 2007. "As a defense, we pride ourselves on getting the ball back and scoring.

"We didn't score, but we definitely got the ball back."

The four fumble recoveries were part of a six-turnover day for the Bucs defense, giving it 10 in two games. They say turnovers come in bunches, but this is bananas.

"You don't expect to get six every game," linebacker Barrett Ruud said. "That's pretty good."

Four of the Redskins' first five possessions ended in fumbles inside their 32-yard line, a Groundhog Day epidemic that left Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs at a loss for words. Running back Clinton Portis fumbled twice, receiver Santana Moss and quarterback Jason Campbell once each.

"Why we started the game off like that is hard to explain," Gibbs said. "I don't think any of us can explain. We have real good football players and we turn the ball over."

It began with Ruud, who helped strip Moss at the end of a 7-yard reception on Washington's first play, though it wasn't intentional. He dove to make the tackle and hit the ball.

"Sometimes, you get the strip where you see the ball and rake it out," Ruud said. "Sometimes you just have to throw your head in there, and that's what happened."

Again.

And again.

And again.

By halftime, defensive end Greg White had two forced fumbles - including a sack-fumble against Jason Campbell - and one recovery. Safety Jermaine Phillips and corner Phillip Buchanon had one forced fumble each. Lineman Kevin Carter recovered one.

"It's that mind-set where you get one or two, and you get ball conscious," Ruud said. "You start thinking, 'I need to get some action; I need to recover one of these or pick one off.' You start getting greedy."

White, who had two sack-fumble plays a week ago against the Falcons, has forced four fumbles in two games. Against the Redskins, he forced the second and third fumbles of the game, both of which the offense converted into field goals.

The Bucs scored after each fumble.

"We're looking for the offense to capitalize off of them," said White, who leads the team with 5.5 sacks. "And once that happens, we can pin our ears back and start pass rushing. It's going to change the game, sooner or later, whey they have to catch up."

Twice before the Bucs recovered four fumbles in a game: at St. Louis on Nov. 26, 2001, and at Pittsburgh on Oct. 30, 1983. Bottom line: four fumbles in one game don't happen often.

Surely, some force was at work.

The alignment of the stars?

The phase of the moon?

"It might be the shoes," Carter said.

But seriously ...

"People say that luck favors the well-prepared," Carter said. "We're always talking about making things happen and making big plays. We're conscious of it. We're not just out there playing hard and if it happens it happens. We're not pressing for it, but we're trying to get the ball out."

Joanne Korth can be reached at korth@sptimes.com or 727 893-8810.

FAST FACTS

Takeaway day at Ray Jay

Quarter Turnover Start Result

First Tanard Jackson recovery Skins 19 Touchdown of Santana Moss' fumble

First Tanard Jackson recovery Skins 19 Field goal of Clinton Portis' fumble

Second Kevin Carter recovery Skins 18 Field goal of Jason Campbell fumble

Second Greg White recovery Skins 32 Field goal of Clinton Portis' fumble

Fourth Ronde Barber interception Bucs 31 Punt of Jason Campbell pass

Fourth Brian Kelly interception Bucs 20 End of game of Jason Campbell pass

[Last modified November 25, 2007, 23:03:23]