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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 12, 2000
Opening up can help Bucs' productivity
The Buccaneers won a somewhat dull battle against a not very good Falcons team in Atlanta (on Sunday). Ho-hum. Another day at the office for the superb Tampa Bay defense and a rather unspectacular showing by the offense. Shaun King threw for three touchdowns (very good) but a mere 110 yards passing. That type of performance will not put the Bucs into the highest echelons of NFLdom. If not for the great field position constantly handed to King, the Bucs could have lost that game.
But a win is a win, and the Bucs needed that game badly.
The question remains: Are the Bucs developing into the big-time juggernaut the pundits expected? It all depends on the offense. To be a true Super Bowl threat (this year and in future years) the Bucs need to develop a big-time passing attack. They must more often lead with the pass to open up the runs. They must become known as a passing team -- a smart, productive, passing team.
The game against Minnesota showed us the Bucs can be a championship team if they have the guts to go for it. Those offensive displays, particularly in the passing game, should be the norm for the Bucs. In short, no guts, no glory.
By the way, Trent Dilfer came through for the Ravens. Hooray for him. Trent is a nice guy, and he has talent. I was a big critic of his when he was with the Bucs. But I have always said that he also was weighed down by the inept and ultraconservative offensive game plans of Bucs management. I hope Dilfer goes on to big things.
-- Malcolm Hathorne, via e-mail
It bothers me to read the Sunday comments about the team and how terrible it is. I wonder if any of those people ever held a football. Shaun King is the man, and Keyshawn Johnson is showing what he can do.
And don't give up on Mike Alstott. He is still an asset to the team as much as Warrick Dunn.
-- Tony Morabito, St. Petersburg