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

Back once again, the incredible D

The Bucs defense is healthier and finally seems to be rounding into form.

By BRUCE LOWITT
© St. Petersburg Times,
published December 12, 2001

TAMPA -- Monte Kiffin thinks the Bucs defense is pretty much back where it should be.

In 1999.

Tampa Bay has allowed two touchdowns in the past three games, one apiece in victories at St. Louis and Cincinnati and none in Sunday's 15-12 heart-stopper over Detroit.

After which Lions coach Marty Mornhinweg said: "This defense could be one of the best defenses, maybe the best defense in the league at this point."

To which Kiffin, the Bucs defensive coordinator, commented: "It's nice of him to say that. Players take a lot of pride in hearing something like that; coaches do, too, especially when it comes from a head coach who calls all the plays himself on offense.

"When you don't let a team score a touchdown you've got to say you played pretty good, (and) I do believe that we're playing that kind of defense right now," Kiffin said. "When you look back to the '99 season (when the Bucs' total defense was No. 1 in the NFC and third overall), we're playing more or less the way we were then, even if sometimes our stats don't look that way."

True. For one thing, the sacks are way down. After 12 games in 2000, the Bucs had 49 and were 7-5. This season they have 30 and are 7-5, and in a slightly better position in the chase for a playoff berth.

"Our games have been very close; we're not ahead by three touchdowns where the other team is going to throw, throw, throw," Kiffin said. "So it's hard to get those big sack numbers. And that's okay. Sacks are great, but if all you can do is get sacks, that doesn't mean you're going to win."

The big difference in this three-game run is the Bucs' elimination of the big plays.

Well, maybe not elimination. Rookie quarterback Mike McMahon did complete a 32-yard pass to fullback Cory Schlesinger, putting the Lions in position for Jason Hanson's fourth field goal and a 12-7 lead. And the Rams' Kurt Warner burned the Bucs with pass plays of 32, 42 and 36 yards, although only the last one led to a touchdown.

Still, the Bucs haven't lost since Chicago came to Raymond James Stadium Nov. 18 and won 27-24 when Jim Miller threw touchdowns of 28, 44 and 66 yards to Marty Booker.

"The last three weeks, we've been better, no doubt about it. We're not giving up the big plays like we did then. And we're making the big plays," Kiffin said.

Such as:

-- Linebacker Shelton Quarles' 6-yard sack of McMahon with six minutes remaining, pushing Detroit out of field-goal range.

-- Safety John Lynch forcing and recovering Corey Dillon's overtime fumble at Cincinnati, setting up Martin Gramatica's winning field goal.

-- Defensive tackle Warren Sapp recovering one fumble (forced by Quarles) and causing another, leading to the Bucs' first 10 points at St. Louis, and interceptions by cornerback Donnie Abraham and Lynch, killing the Rams' final two possessions.

Why the turnaround?

Pick a reason. Kiffin will give you several.

The return of Derrick Brooks. The star linebacker sprained his left foot on the final play of the Oct. 7 victory over Green Bay. He was pretty much healed by the Nov. 26 Monday night game at St. Louis. "He puts himself into position to make some third-down plays and get us off the field," Kiffin said, "plays he wasn't making earlier in the year."

A healthy Anthony McFarland. The defensive tackle strained his right medial collateral ligament Oct. 28 against Minnesota. He sat out games at Green Bay and Detroit, saw limited duty against the Bears and was back in business for the Rams game. "You watch the tape (of Sunday's game), you won't see him in the sacks, stuff like that," Kiffin said, "but against the run he was just unbelievable."

Simeon Rice fitting in. The Bucs signed the 27-year-old free-agent defensive end in March, making Chidi Ahanotu expendable (he signed with the Rams). "Simeon being new here, it takes a little time to adjust," Kiffin said. "But the last two, three weeks, he's probably played his best ball."

Whatever it is, it seems to be working, as is Kiffin's theory on defense.

"We give the offense a chance to win it, and they'll win it," he said. "Like I told them at halftime Sunday. 'Just keep stopping these guys. Our offense is moving the ball. It's hot out there. The fourth quarter, it's going to be tough on (Detroit's defense). You wait and see.' And that's what happened. We kept it close and our offense won the game for us."

© 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