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Tampa Bay's long layoff helps injured center Jeff Christy return as a starter.
By ROGER MILLS
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 20, 2001
TAMPA -- The Bucs are the first to say that fourth-year center Todd Washington need not feel unappreciated. Over the past month he has done everything the team had asked, and more.
But as the Bucs wrap up their bye week with a brief practice today, the sight of three-time Pro Bowl player Jeff Christy back with the starting lineup appears to be one of the bright spots from the layoff.
Christy is where he needs to be. On the field, in the starting lineup.
"Jeff is our starting center, and we know he'll do a good job coming back," offensive line coach Chris Foerster said. "He's part of the group that we thought would comprise our best starters, and we'll be glad to get that unit back and on the field."
Christy, who signed with the Bucs in 2000 to replace Tony Mayberry, entered training camp having started 48 consecutive regular-season games. In Cleveland, early in the second preseason game, Christy sprained his left knee, an injury team officials thought would keep him out about four weeks.
While Christy worked out and rehabilitated the knee, Washington filled in for the rest of the preseason and started the season opener in Dallas.
Now, Christy said, he's ready to return.
"(The knee) feels great," Christy said. "It's hard when you're not out there practicing. Although I was here every day, you don't feel like you're part of it. As much a you sit in meetings, as much as you do, you're just not out there, you didn't go through it.
"We had a tough game in Dallas and when you don't go through it, some part of you feels like you're not part of it. You can't really get away from that until you get back on the field and start doing it again."
Originally the Bucs thought Christy was on pace to return for Week 2 in Philadelphia, and had the game not been postponed because of the terrorists attacks he likely would have played.
"Obviously, with the situation last week, the cancellation was probably the best thing that could happen for me because it gave me an extra week to get back on the field," Christy said. "There are certain (moves) where it bothers a little bit, but I did them (this week) and it feels fine."
Had the Bucs played Sunday, Christy might not have started. Now he intends to reclaim his starting role.
"I think there was a point where it wouldn't have mattered and I would have done whatever was best for the team," Christy said. "But at this point I feel like I could start and play a whole game, I feel everything should be as normal."
Considering how efficiently Washington played in Christy's absence, the question is, does it really matter who starts?
"Yes, it does matter," Foerster said. "We made a determination at the beginning of the year that one player is better than the other, and if at some point we think that changes, then we'll start the other player. You determine the starting five and you would like to not vary from that. That doesn't downgrade the other guy. When we play Todd Washington, we expect him to play at the level of a Jeff Christy. That's the role of the backup guy."
Coach Tony Dungy said the difference between the two players is marginal. Although Christy is about 39 pounds lighter than Washington, he has five extra years of experience.
"I don't think there's a lot of difference," Dungy said. "Jeff brings a little more athleticism to the position. We pull him a bit more, but other than that we're just happy to have the depth, where now we know if there's an injury or a guy has got to take a blow during the game, it's not going to be catastrophic."
Christy's presence may benefit the running game. He is 6 feet 2 and 285 pounds, considered light for the offensive line, but the Bucs are more prone to run the ball to the outside because of his mobility.
"It's one thing that we try to do," Foerster said. "We try to create some running lanes to the outside for Warrick (Dunn) and get Jeff one-on-one on the inside linebackers. We feel we can win those matchups. Things like that. When we get a matchup like that, with him pulling, I think that's one of his real strengths."
And then there's this: The Bucs return to action at Minnesota, where Christy played his first seven seasons. He still has ties to the city and the team. Playing against the Vikings is a must.
"I definitely would not have wanted to dodge that game," Christy said. "I would have played that game with one leg."