The end zone no longer is out of reach

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By GARY SHELTON

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 26, 2001

TAMPA -- When the cannons began to fire, the first thing that entered your mind was this: Uh-oh, the fans finally have figured out where offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen was standing on the sideline.

It was only later the historians among us discovered, after much research and the reading of hieroglyphics, that the cannons from the pirate ship in the end zone of Raymond James Stadium always fire after a touchdown -- who remembered? -- and this was a celebration, not a revolt.

Frankly, it was getting close to time for one or the other.

The Bucs offense finally made a little noise, finally used a little ammunition, in Saturday night's 20-3 victory over the Patriots. Early reports are that the Bucs found the end zone grass "soft" and, furthermore, "green."

[Times photo: Kevin White] Jacquez Green catches a 17-yard pass from Brad Johnson for a third-quarter touchdown.

The Bucs first-team offense, which cost as much as an office building but heretofore had not been as mobile, finally scored its first touchdown against the Patriots. Then, in a blatant attempt at running up the score, whoops, the Bucs did it again.

Go ahead, then. Breathe easier. Pronounce them cured. Call off the search party. Tell the NFL it had just better watch out.

Then remember this.

It's still just practice.

By now, of course, we should know this by heart, because the Bucs have reminded us every four minutes or so that this is only preseason, which doesn't really count, which is only about timing and such. So take it easy. The Bucs still had their plays where they sputtered. They still have to figure out third down. They still have to convince everyone they have memorized the route to the end zone.

"I'd give us about a C," Christensen said. "We took a sack in the first half and gave (the Patriots) a field goal, and we threw an interception in the end zone. We're still about a week behind. We have a long way to go."

That said, the Bucs finally made a few plays.

Which, technically, is better than none.

For the record, it was 8:29 p.m. when Brad Johnson nestled a soft pass into the palms of running back Aaron Stecker for the first team's first touchdown. And it was 8:30 p.m. when Patriots coach Bill Belichick, fun guy that he is, rushed onto the turf to protest the touchdown on account of, well, it was the Bucs. Who just don't do that.

But if that drive, all 24 yards of it, gave Bucs fans a glimmer of hope, it was the opening drive of the second half that allowed them to smile. For 10 plays, for six minutes, for 66 yards, the Bucs finally resembled something more than a collection of individual talents.

It was a drive that mixed in Warrick Dunn and Keyshawn Johnson and Brad Johnson and Jacquez Green. It was a drive that showed a little imagination, a little cohesion. It was a drive that makes you think that maybe Donnie Abraham won't lead this team in touchdowns, after all. It was a drive that allowed Christensen to ask, "Hey, what's with all the torches?"

Such as a fake reverse on first and 10, where Dunn went 14 yards (he ran for 115 yards on 12 plays; odds are, he'll make the team).

Such as a fourth and 1, where Johnson threw to rookie fullback Jameel Cook for 19 yards.

Such as third and 6, where Johnson threw to Keyshawn (remember him?) Johnson for seven.

Such as second and 14: Johnson threw to Green for 17 yards and a touchdown.

It was a sweet drive. For the first time, the offense was moving forward. For the first time, it was equal to the sum of its parts. For the first time, Johnson was throwing over the middle and over the safeties.

It's odd. If you look at the first two weeks, you can't say the running game was awful. Johnson, when he wasn't throwing to defensive tackles, was accurate. The offensive line has done well since the Dolphins game. Yet it all added up to almost nothing. When it counted, the Bucs didn't make any plays.

"I think we can really be a good offense, I really do," Christensen said. "We should be hard to defend. We can run or throw, screen or play action. I certainly hope we're going to be explosive, that we can score points."

What you would like to believe is that this is an offense blossoming into something, after all. And maybe it is. The Bucs are on their third quarterback and offensive coordinator in three years. Why should you expect offense in a microwave?

Regardless, this was better on the eyes and, given where the talk had gone, it promises to be better on the ears. The natives were restless, and most of the good scapegoats had been claimed already.

This will at least enable reason to enter the discussion. The fans can be quiet because the cannons are not. The Bucs have proven that "The End Zone" is not some mythical place like "Oz" or "Shangri-La" or "the Moon."

Someday, perhaps the Bucs will journey back again.

From all reports, it's nice there this time of year.

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