Sports: Long way to go on short-yardage play

Long way to go on short-yardage play

By ROGER MILLS

TAMPA -- There were times last season when the offense struggled on third and short, even with the power running of Mike Alstott.

It corrected itself before the playoff run, and after the first three games this season, short-yardage woes seemed to have been a thing of the past.

Not so fast.

The Bucs have struggled in their past three losses.

"We've missed a lot of thirdand 1s," coach Tony Dungy said, "and that's something that we were very efficient at last year and started out the year pretty well. We just seem to have a breakdown one way or the other, block it wrong, call the formation wrong."

Monday night against the Vikings, the Bucs had first and goal at the 2-yard line, and after three plays -- one that drew a 15-yard taunting penalty -- they had to settle for a 35-yard Martin Gramatica field goal.

Then, trailing 27-23, the Bucs had a first down at the Vikings 44 with a little under eight minutes left. Quarterback Shaun King threw an incomplete pass and then hit Keyshawn Johnson for a 9-yard gain to set up third and 1. Alstott was stopped for no gain, and then a halfback option to Todd Yoder on fourth and 1 was five yards too long.

The Bucs have the option of giving seldom-used running back Rabih Abdullah more carries. Abdullah is a 230-pound power back whose style falls between Alstott's and Warrick Dunn's.

"I think we're going to have to look at the whole way we're doing things and how we're going to line up," Dungy said. "We've gone a couple of different ways, and (involving Abdullah) is one option to look at. We have to evaluate the whole process of third and 1 because we should be 85 to 90 percent and we're probably at 35 to 40 percent right now."

THE BIG PLAY: The Bucs did everything to keep Randy Moss out of the end zone, but the big play receiver got in when the Vikings needed him most. And just in the nick of time.

The Bucs sniffed out the play and sent cornerback Brian Kelly on a right-side blitz. Kelly got there a wink after Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper threw the ball up for grabs.

"They just made a play," tackle Warren Sapp said. "We had a blitz on and were a little late coming, and by the time we realized we were supposed to be coming, he was wide open. (Culpepper) put it up in the air, and it was a jump ball situation. And I haven't seen No. 84 miss too many of those."

Cornerback Donnie Abraham and Dungy said Moss, known for his ability to ward off defensive backs with the inside hand, made one of his typical plays.

"I didn't think (he pushed off)," Dungy said. "On that particular one, he just waited for the ball to come down and caught it."

SPEAKING OF CATCHES: Bucs receiver Keyshawn Johnson had a chance to make a highlight catch when King tried to connect with him on a 40-yard bomb with 21 seconds left. Johnson did well to get behind the defense, lunge and put himself in a position to make the catch at the Minnesota 5, but safety Orlando Thomas delivered a hard hit that jarred the ball lose.

"As far as the last catch on the last drive, I got hit, and that's what happened, you lose the ball," Johnson said. "The guy made a great play; that's what he gets paid for."

Said Dungy: "I'm sure he feels like he should catch every pass, and that was a big play. You would like to catch it, but again, you would like to not put yourself in a desperation mode where you've got to make a great play."

SCHEDULE: The Bucs don't play until Oct. 19 against Detroit at Raymond James Stadium. The players practice today and Thursday, and get Friday and Saturday off. They return to practice Sunday.

DUNCAN'S RETURN: Starting middle linebacker Jamie Duncan, who sat out the game recovering from a concussion sustained against the Redskins, is expected back in the lineup for the Detroit game. Rookie Nate Webster played in place of Duncan and "did a good job," Dungy said.

The only significant injury was defensive end Steve White's sprained right ankle. Dungy said White likely will benefit from the extra days off and could be ready by the Detroit game.