Sports: Coaches are looking for a 'crisp, clean game'

TAMPA -- The butterflies will be more active on the sideline tonight when the Bucs kick off their preseason against Miami in a game televised on ESPN and Channel 28.

The Dolphins have been in camp a week longer and have a game under their belts, losing to the Rams on Aug. 6.

Warren Sapp twirls a football during practice while a coach goes over line formations.

"It's really not a disadvantage," Bucs coach Tony Dungy said. "They've been in camp a little longer but we should be a little fresher. It kind of balances out.

"We've still had too many penalties and dropped too many balls early in camp. You know that's going to reduce as you go on. But our young guys are going to have to learn how important the details are. If we can have a crisp, clean game, not have errors, know where to line up, be very detail oriented, then it'll be a good night."

For the first time since Dungy's inaugural season in '96, Tampa Bay will not face any of its preseason opponents during the regular season.

AIR RICE: Defensive end Simeon Rice spent part of the spring playing basketball with a select group invited by Michael Jordan, director of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards, to test Jordan's readiness to return to the NBA game.

The group included NBA stars such as Antoine Walker and Wizards No. 1 pick Kwame Brown. So, how does an NFL star get such an invitation?

"Man, I'm from Chicago. I've got game," Rice said. "I play all the time. I can put the ball in the hoop. I can do my thing. In fact, I'm nice, real nice."

The 6-foot-5, 268-pound Rice does have a basketball pedigree, having played in the CBA and the USBL. And what about Jordan?

"He was a little out of shape, not rusty, just out of shape, when I was playing him," Rice said. "But he was still Jordan. Still talking smack, everything."

MORE RICE: After an outstanding college career during which he had 28 sacks in his last two years, Rice entered the NFL with a reputation of being deadly against the pass and not so deadly against the run.

That reputation, he said, is undeserved.

"You understand propaganda from the real thing," Rice said. "When you've been around this game as long as I have, you kind of know the factors that be. That stuff was coming out when I was about to come out my junior year. It was one of those factors my college coach used to try to keep me there. It never left me. It's the concept where if you do one thing very well, you must lack in another area.

"You're going to see what type of player I am and all those questions, all those ills that have been surfacing around my career are going to be answered."

Dungy says Rice will flourish in the team's one-gap defense, which will allow him to use his speed and athletic ability to get to the ball carrier.

"A lot of times, reputations are built on how the team plays and what happens around you," Dungy said. "When you play on a team that doesn't win, you end up having to defend a lot of runs, and some guys play on teams that are ahead all the time and you never know if they are good run defenders or not because the other team is always throwing. So, a lot of times it's just circumstances and the way the game is played.

"This system is perfect for him. We obviously feel he will do well here or we wouldn't have signed him."

SHOO FLU: A stomach virus that has targeted the Bucs secondary prevented safety David Gibson from practicing Sunday, but he is expected to play tonight.

Rookie safety John Howell, safety Eric Vance and cornerback Donnie Abraham all have had the stomach ailment.

"It seems to be about a 24-hour ordeal," Dungy said.

INJURIES: Defensive tackle Warren Sapp (ankle) did not practice but will play tonight. Linebacker Jamie Duncan (hamstring) practiced and will play. Fullback Mike Alstott (hamstring) and punter Mark Royals (knee) will not play. Receiver Jacquez Green, fullback Rabih Abdullah and defensive back Anthony Midget (hamstring) will try to run before the game to determine whether they can play.

Back to Sports

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

From the Times sports desk

Bucs

It's time to get acquainted

At a glance

Coaches are looking for a 'crisp, clean game'

Rays

In a late Flash, Rays are winners again

Maddux falls short of Fischer

McRae stands by Yan as closer

College football

Drop is driving FSU's Morgan

College football around the state

Stress no less for low ranking

Sports Etc.

Gordon's win sets a record

Louisiana makes Series

Daily fishing report

From the wire

From the state sports wire Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
Brown anxious to face old team for first time
Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts