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Bucs: What they're saying

By Wire reports

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 7, 2001

Our choice to win the Super Bowl is the Bucs, a team that looks better on paper than glitter pens.

There is a lot to like about Tampa Bay, from the cool leadership of Tony Dungy to the clutch kicking of Martin Gramatica, and all that goes between. Their aggressive offseason has converted some skeptics, but a couple of acquisitions aren't the only reason to buy the Bucs.

Free-agent pick-up Brad Johnson isn't going to ride in like a knight in shining armor to save the day. To think that would be to dismiss the diligent planning and careful crafting of general manager Rich McKay and the front office. The Bucs have been methodically building to this.

Their homegrown defense, bolstered by the interloping Simeon Rice, never looked better. And, ultimately, if the Bucs make a successful run, it will be driven by defense. "That is as good a defense as I've played against in my career," says Packers quarterback Brett Favre.

Dan Pompei
The Sporting News

Though their D slipped a bit last season, the Bucs' Achilles' heel was still their O. True, they scored the most points in team history (388). The problem, though, was quality, not quantity. Simply put, the Bucs had trouble sustaining drives. Enter Brad Johnson. While Johnson isn't an elite QB, he'll be a big upgrade over Shaun King. With a career completion rate of 61.8 percent, Johnson will keep the chains moving. Still, don't expect the Bucs to open up the offense. Tony Dungy, now on this third O-coordinator (Clyde Christensen) in as many seasons, has vowed that his offensive philosophy will be no different. In fact, a better passing game within the same scheme should translate into success. ... Anything less than a trip to New Orleans would be a disappointment.

ESPN, The Magazine

The Buccaneers are famous for kicking quarterbacks overboard, and their castaways never fail to make a big splash. Doug Williams, Steve Young and -- wonder of wonders -- Trent Dilfer won Super Bowls after leaving Tampa Bay.

So you can't blame the Bucs for seeing how the rest of the NFL lives. Tired of waiting to develop Shaun King, the Bucs raided a few other teams for quarterbacks in the offseason.

First, they claimed troubled Ryan Leaf off waivers from San Diego. Three days later, they signed veteran Brad Johnson to a five-year, $28-million contract.

Even though King did an admirable job, Bucs players welcomed the arrival of Johnson.

"From what I see offensively, what we needed the last two years was a consistent quarterback, someone who could come in week in and week out and play good football," says Bucs running back Warrick Dunn. "If Shaun could've been more consistent in some games, we would have won a lot of games. But he wasn't, and coach (Tony) Dungy and the Bucs thought it was time to go after a quarterback."

Anthlon Sports

Convinced they are oh so close to a Super Bowl, the Buccaneers did two unusual things on draft day: They selected an offensive tackle and they traded up to do it.

Once in need of help everywhere they looked, the Bucs are now cherry-picking in search of that one final piece that will put them over the top.

When they got withing five points of the Super Bowl two years ago, they gave young quarterback Shaun King a chance to develop. When they failed to score a touchdown in the playoffs last year against Philadelphia, they signed free-agent quarterback Brad Johnson. There is no time to wait for King.

The Bucs have runners, receivers, blockers and defense. They have size, speed, youth, toughness -- everything a team could want for a Super Bowl run. They even have an outstanding kicker, although Martin Gramatica's miss in Green Bay in the final game of the season cost the Bucs a home playoff game.

They have everything except time, because if they don't get it done soon, they will begin to doubt their coaches, their teammates, themselves. Then they will have to start over. It is only human nature and it is only a matter of time.

Street & Smith's Pro Football

If coach Tony Dungy allows (offensive coordinator Clyde) Christensen to make full use of his offensive weapons, no one will be happier than members of Tampa Bay's vaunted defense. The unit tired noticeably at the end of last season, particularly against the run. Though the addition of free-agent end Simeon Rice will help the pass rush, tackles Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland will be counted on to plug the middle. "Coach Dungy has made it clear that Super Bowl teams are consistently in the top three against the run," says free safety John Lynch. "We've committed ourselves to stopping the run. It's our top priority."

Along, it seems, with winning the Super Bowl. A full month before the season was to begin, Sapp gave a nationally televised interview in which he said that either the Buccaneers win it all this year or else. "You have nine, 10 Pro Bowlers and you don't win a championship? C'mon, something's wrong. If we don't win, they're going to dismantle this team."

It's quite something when your superstar intimates in August that no one's job is safe. More than anything, it's as if the Bucs, dominant though they may be, are too aware that any slip from Super Bowl contention will be a bloody one indeed.

Sports Illustrated

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