Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Culpepper divulges Bucs vulnerabilities

By ROGER MILLS and RICK STROUD

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 8, 2000

TAMPA -- Among the insider information that former Bucs defensive tackle Brad Culpepper is bestowing on his new Bears teammates is a rundown of Tampa Bay's running backs.

Specifically, he has noted how the A-Train loses a car or two now and then.

"Mike (Alstott), obviously, has a propensity to fumble," Culpepper said. "So you've got to grab at the ball."

That's nothing the Bears cannot see on film. But the Bears would be wise to heed Culpepper's advice, particularly when it comes to tackling the Bucs running backs.

"I was telling the guys here, when you think they're down, they're not," Culpepper said. "Even if you see them down, they're not. Both guys. Warrick (Dunn) is a lot like Barry Sanders. I mean you think he's down. You think you can go get your Gatorade because it's third down and out, but he'll be back up and he never touched the ground. Same with Mike."

READY WHEN YOU ARE: Playing behind Dunn, Alstott and Rabih Abdullah, Aaron Stecker isn't likely to get many carries. So his best chance to contribute will be on special teams.

Stecker, who excelled with his returns during the preseasons, may get a chance Sunday.

With Karl Williams recovering from a slight shoulder sprain, Stecker may get the call to return kickoffs.

"During the week I practice like I'm going to be playing anyway," Stecker said. "But sure, all players want to play and get disappointed when they don't get a chance. But I have waited all my life to get the opportunities, so what's waiting a little bit more. In the end, I'm going to get my chance. It may be this weekend."

Williams, listed first on the depth chart as punt and kickoff returner, is a valuable third-down receiver who could be active against the Bears. "It looks like he might be doing okay," coach Tony Dungy said. "My sense is it'll be him. But since we've got so much with the return of Brad Culpepper, we might have to have the return of Aaron Stecker to the Bears."

It means the Bucs will have to juggle the numbers to get both Williams and Stecker in the game.

"They have given me no idea of whether or not I'm going to play," Stecker said. "Last week, they needed to keep all the safeties up and Karl would have played more than I would have on offense, so it was a numbers thing. So, hopefully this weekend I'll be able to have an opportunity to come up."

FEELING THE HEAT: The Bears are worried about the heat, with temperatures expected to be in the 90s Sunday. But offensive coordinator Gary Crowton thinks the Bears might have an advantage by not practicing in the heat and staying hydrated.

"Coming from the South, I know they're going to get tired in that heat, too," Crowton said. "Even though they play in it. I think we're fresh. We should be hydrated because we're not sweating every day down in the 100 degree weather. I think we can push a little bit because we practice fast and hopefully they'll be getting the IVs."

Bears rookie linebacker Brian Urlacher, who has some experience with warm climates playing at New Mexico, said he is not looking forward to Sunday's game.

"I went to Orlando and played there in college," he said. You just can't even breathe down there. It's just terrible. And that was December."

SAFETY NET: He missed the bulk of training camp and played sparingly in the final preseason game. The Bucs were concerned about safety Damien Robinson's ability to play the entire game against the Patriots. He did. And he came out of it with no setbacks to his left hamstring.

"Damien did pretty well, better than we thought," Dungy said. "Fortunately, we had some three and outs where we weren't on the field a long time. But he was able to be on the field in the fourth quarter. He did fine."

The news is good for the Bucs against the deep-passing Bears, particularly with backup safety Dexter Jackson not quite ready.

Jackson, who had two interceptions subbing for Robinson against the Redskins in the preseason, said he's about 85 percent. Dungy said Jackson isn't likely to play Sunday.

RED ZONE READY: In the season opener the Bucs were 3-for-3 inside the opponent's 20-yard line, scoring touchdowns on all three occasions. Tight end Dave Moore said the key is increased concentration.

"It does take a different mind-set," Moore said. "You've got to be real careful hanging on to the ball and real careful with the penalties."

Moore said there's a misguided perception among the fans that scoring inside the 20-yard line should be automatic.

"The defense has less ground to defend," Moore said. "Because of the less territory they have to defend, defenses feel more comfortable blitzing and throwing things at you where they can cause more pressure. Scheme-wise, it's in their favor when you get down there and that's why it's harder to score."

INJURIES: Out -- Jackson (right ankle sprain). Probable -- S John Lynch (right thigh contusion), CB Floyd Young (left hamstring strain). Dunn (flu), DE Marcus Jones (left elbow strain), Williams (left shoulder strain) and G Frank Middleton (left wrist sprain) were removed from the injury list.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

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