Sports: Sapp focused on stopping the run

Sapp focused on stopping the run

By ROGER MILLS, RICK STROUD and DARRELL FRY

TAMPA -- The Bucs have made it clear the key to winning is stopping the run, and they seem to be locked on the concept.

Against the Browns on Saturday, the Bucs allowed 44 yards on 26 carries (1.7 average). In the preseason the Bucs are limiting opponents to 2.1 yards per carry.

Tackle Warren Sapp said the defense made a conscious effort to improve its run defense and noted that the tone is set by the defensive line.

"It starts with us, it ends with us," Sapp said. "We get off the ball and control the run. If all four of us are doing what we're doing in the backfield, creating havoc, there's no room for a running back to run. Then we get ourselves in the position we love, third and long going after the quarterback. So we have to make a conscious effort, as a front four, to dominate. Make them double all of us."

KEY OUT: Receiver Keyshawn Johnson did not practice Thursday because of a swollen right elbow. Johnson's arm collided with rookie defensive back Corey Ivy's helmet Wednesday.

The injury is not serious and Johnson is scheduled to start against the Patriots on Saturday.

Punter Mark Royals (knee) and fullback Mike Alstott (hamstring) will not play.

TRANSACTION: The Bucs signed linebacker Al Rice to a one-year contract and released receiver Mike Chandler.

The 6-foot-2, 218-pound Rice was signed to take the place of linebacker Marq Cerqua, who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder.

"We started to get down on our numbers, so we signed Al Rice to kind of help us that way," coach Tony Dungy said.

Rice entered the NFL in 2000 as an undrafted free agent with the 49ers. The Ole Miss star was released in June but re-signed by the 49ers after the season. He was allocated to NFL Europe with Amsterdam.

Rice started all 10 games for the Admirals, finishing with two interceptions, 44 tackles, a half-sack and four passes defensed.

Chandler, who played at Kansas, did not have a reception in the preseason.

LOOKING BETTER: The return to One Buc Place and once a day workouts has benefited the team this week, Dungy said.

In addition, Johnson (before the elbow injury), Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green worked with starting quarterback Brad Johnson for the first time in training camp.

"It's been good for us to get to our normal routine where we're working the groups that we're going to be working in the game, practicing the things we're going to run," Dungy said. "That always helps. ... We've been sharper each week and that's good."

NO WORRIES: Fans might be worried about the team's lackluster offense in the preseason, but Brad Johnson isn't.

The quarterback was with a Vikings team that barely scored until the last preseason game, then went out and scored 556 points during the regular season. And he remembers his time with the Redskins when the offense didn't score a touchdown until the final preseason game (against the Bucs), then scored the second-most points in the league in the regular season.

"So you go through these kinds of things," Johnson said, referring to the fact the Bucs have scored 20 points in two preseason games. "But the biggest thing right now is just alignment and assignment and making plays."

SPEAKING OF DEFENSIVE LINE: Last season, Sapp indicated that rookie defensive tackle Chartric Darby was having a good preseason and training camp. Darby was cut at the end of the preseason but was re-signed and spent the 2000 season on the practice squad.

After three weeks of training camp, Sapp again has been lauding the play of Darby.

"We didn't know who Chuck was until he went down the whole (offensive) line and whupped them all, tackle to tackle," Sapp said. "The whole day long. He was playing so well that they made a highlight tape just to p--- the offensive line off. He's a workaholic."

Darby said he has learned a lot from playing with Sapp and is flattered by the praise.

"I'm progressing but I'm not where I want to be," Darby said. "Warren has taught me a lot and I'm trying to improve every day. It feels good to have somebody like him compliment me."