Sports: Bucs finally offensive in a way coaches like

Bucs finally offensive in a way coaches like

Coach Tony Dungy joked about scaling back his offense after a 37-point outburst.

By ERNEST HOOPER

TAMPA -- Preseason games don't count in the standings, but the Bucs' latest exhibition game did account for coach Tony Dungy being in a good mood Saturday.

After reviewing film from his team's 37-14 romp over Kansas City, the defensive-minded Dungy joked about scaling down the offense and putting receiver Keyshawn Johnson at running back for next Sunday's season opener at New England.

"We're showing too much of everything," Dungy quipped. "We got 31 points last week, way too many. Thirty-seven this week? We need to get back in the 20s and get back to normal.

"I hope we show less. I hope we just cut back and just run the ball 75 times and win 19-3."

There weren't too many times last season when Dungy could be so jovial about his offense, but the unit's impressive performance against the Chiefs had everyone at One Buc Place smiling Saturday. The first-team offense helped produce 236 yards in the first half.

The Bucs finished with a dominating advantage of nearly nine minutes in time of possession, plus 320 yards of total offense.

"It's nice to finish the preseason on an up note," Dungy said. "I thought our guys did what we asked them and went out there and really played hard and played well. We got a lot of things kind of back on track after not being so sharp in New England. I thought we were exceptionally sharp, especially with our first group."

More than anything, Friday night's offensive execution was a blueprint for what Dungy and offensive coordinator Les Steckel are looking for in the regular season: simple plays that succeed because of execution. Tampa Bay wants to control the ball, get production out of the running game and execute in the passing game to keep defenses honest.

"It's all relative to how well the defense plays and how well you play on offense," Steckel said. "Friday night, I think we were hitting on all cylinders and that was real encouraging because now the players see what they can do and it's just a matter of going out and doing it every weekend."

Steckel said a key to his offense is spreading the field. The strategy is aimed at creating passing lanes, but it also gives running back Warrick Dunn more room. The fourth-year pro had a 48-yard run against the Chiefs, his longest since a 50-yard rush against Minnesota in November 1998.

"It's a positive to see everybody is helping everybody," Dunn said after the game. "I think it sends a message to the team that the defense is not just going to dominate any more. The offense is going to step up to their level."

Two other big keys were the downfield blocking of the receivers, particularly Johnson. Steckel said he felt Johnson's energy, effort and enthusiasm all the way in the press box. Dungy also credited the offensive line. While much has been written about the absence of tackle Jason Odom, the rest of the blockers have quietly gone about their business, not allowing a sack in the past two games.

"I thought Frank Middleton didn't play that many plays ... but that might be the best he's played since he's been here. He really had an outstandinggame," Dungy said. "(Randall) McDaniel and (Jeff) Christy did what we thought they would do when they came here. They're getting more comfortable with what we're doing. But all the tackles, one right after another, all the way down through DeMarcus Curry, the guys came in and did a good job.

"Overall, I'm very pleased the last two weeks with the O-line."

The feel-good victory over Kansas City cannot last long with the Patriots on the horizon. While winning three of four should help carry a positive attitude into the opener, Dungy reflected on what past preseasons have meant in Tampa Bay.

"What you have to look at is if you're playing well and if things are going according to plan," Dungy said. "In '97, we only won one game and as I remember, there were a lot of people alarmed but the coaching staff wasn't that alarmed. I kept trying to tell you guys we were making progress and doing okay, and we came out of the chute pretty well.

"Last year, we were playing very well in the preseason and we didn't come out of the chute well, for whatever reason. Once you kick off at 1 o'clock on Sunday, (the preseason results) really don't mean anything."