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Bucs to get feet back on ground

Les Steckel plans renewed emphasis on run for sagging offense.

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By RICK STROUD

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 24, 2000

TAMPA -- It was not exactly a rush to judgment. But after taking a few days to examine a four-game losing streak, the Bucs have decided -- wonder of wonders! -- to run the football more.

And don't think offensive coordinator Les Steckel had to be railroaded into using the A-Train again.

Steckel met for several minutes following practice with Mike Alstott and says he still has confidence in the Bucs' fumble-prone fullback.

"Print this if you want, but I'm going to tell you, I have no thought of him fumbling the ball," Steckel said. "You know, backs fumble the football from time to time."

Perhaps, but Alstott, who lost key fumbles against the Jets and Lions, has only 12 rushes for 40 yards in the past two games. That might say more about what's wrong with the Bucs offense than with Alstott.

Tampa Bay gained 5.7 yards per carry in its 28-14 loss to Detroit, but Alstott and tailback Warrick Dunn attempted only three rushing plays in the second half, though the Bucs didn't trail until midway through the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Shaun King has attempted 40 and 38 passes in his past two games while the Bucs' once-dominant running attack has slipped to 18th in the NFL.

"I think, quite honestly, I haven't given the running game a chance the last two or three weeks, I mean me personally," Steckel said. "So that really falls on me.

"I tell you, I was in shock to see how few times we ran the ball the last two weeks. That's what I told the staff, we've got to give the running game a better opportunity. I think it'll help our defense and keep them off the field. It'll help open up the passing game. So we're going to go back to what we know wins games and hopefully we can execute it."

Four individuals (the Redskins' Stephen Davis, the 49ers' Charlie Garner, the Saints' Ricky Williams and the Colts' Edgerrin James) have more rushing yards than the Bucs' 779.

Part of that has been the Bucs' impatience with the running game. Tampa Bay was so successful passing at Minnesota, it continued attacking the Vikings that way even after taking the lead in the fourth quarter.

"I saw that the last Minnesota game. I made a comment to the guys; I said, "I think we've worn them out a little bit and now we should pound them,' and to a man I think everybody on the staff wanted us to continue to do what we're doing, so we kept throwing the ball and had success," Steckel said. "The following week, as I go back and look at it, when you're trailing, I think there's just a natural tendency to hurry up and catch up, or if the game is close and you've seen you've had some success throwing the ball, just continue doing that."

Steckel relied on the passing game even in short-yardage situations, where the Bucs have been dreadful this season. Tampa Bay was 0-for-5 in situations of third and 2 and fourth and 2 or less against Detroit. Consequently, it converted 2 of 11 third downs, compared with 10-of-16 in its 31-10 win at Detroit on Sept. 17.

"Just history has told us the last three third-and-1s, we hadn't succeeded," Steckel said. "So we'd run the ball several times on third and 1, and I thought it was a changeup to run a misdirection play pass." Steckel, who had the luxury of a lead back at Tennessee in Eddie George, insists he has not struggled with the two-back system deployed by the Bucs.

"I think a back like Eddie spoiled you because of his ability to carry the ball 35 or 40 times," he said. "But at the same time, I think we have some outstanding backs here. Warrick Dunn is a game-breaker. He'll take a 5-yard gain and turn it into 40 like he did on (Thursday). ... It's nice to have both and utilize their abilities, and it's what I think we'll do more often."

Steckel said turnovers have killed the Bucs, who have committed 13 in the past four games. Part of the offensive ineffectiveness has been missed assignments, and Steckel plans to scale back the game plan to try to eliminate mistakes.

"We're just going to make it real simple and get back to the one-on-one battles," he said. "I think we're going to keep it simple so there's no second thinking, "What is it I do?"

Steckel said the Bucs might have expected too much in a season in which they were installing a new offense and turning the quarterback position over to 23-year-old King.

"I think what's happened is the expectations of this season, starting off with a new offense and young quarterback, was a little unrealistic," Steckel said. "But the good news is, it's still attainable. If our guys understand what it is to be mentally tough, and that's an often-used word, but I think very few can define it.

"I still like the challenge. I just feel like at times I've disappointed people, but I still can't throw it, catch it, run it and block it. So it's a challenge and I welcome the challenge and I'm still excited about the challenge. But at the time, you know adversity hits. It's when teams respond. I'm counting on the character of our players because I've worked for a lot of head coaches, and this one is steady Eddie."

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Gary Shelton