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'The Play' was close to never happening

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By RICK STROUD

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 17, 2000

TAMPA -- Bucs players have been reminded a lot this past week about their 11-6 loss to the St. Louis Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

But you can only imagine what torture that is for Brian Kelly, who is remembered for getting beat on the 30-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Proehl in Tampa Bay's loss.

That's unfair to Kelly, who had pretty good coverage on Proehl and was in that situation because of a weakside blitz by free safety Damien Robinson and linebacker Derrick Brooks.

The Rams had planned to throw to running back Marshall Faulk on the opposite side of the field for a first down. But a late discussion with Rams coaches and quarterback Kurt Warner changed those plans.

"I talked to Kurt Warner about it at the Pro Bowl," safety John Lynch said. "We hadn't shown them that blitz all day and he said they didn't discuss it until he was jogging onto the field after a timeout and they called him back to tell him to watch out for it. Hearing that just made it worse."

Warner, who had been intercepted three times, hung in the pocket until the last second before unloading the pass as he took a shot from defensive end Steve White.

"Making that final play. It doesn't get any better than that to step up and make a play in a championship game that puts your team in the Super Bowl," Warner said.

"We just discussed it right at that timeout, right before that play to say what do we want to do if they do that this particular situation. And we decided to go for it and try to make a big play and fortunately we were able to make it.

"It was designed to originally go to Marshall on the other side of the field. And just based on what Tampa did brought me back to Ricky."

Kelly has declined interview requests this week. But he talked about it at the start of training camp.

During the game, he said he didn't think the play would become such a focus because the Bucs still had 4:44 remaining to reclaim the lead. He didn't watch a replay until he got back to California and noticed that his body could've been in a better position.

"I've put it behind me," Kelly said. "It's over."

NEW ROLE FOR DUNN?: The success of Warrick Dunn over the past three weeks that Mike Alstott has been hurt has the Bucs re-thinking how the 5-foot-8 running back might be used next season.

Dunn has averaged 125 yards rushing per game as the featured back and the Bucs are 3-0.

"With Warrick, our plan has always been to get him 10-15 carries and five touches in the air (so) he could be a factor," general manager Rich McKay said. "That was based on his size, it was based on Mike, who was already here. When Mike went out, it made us go away from the plan a little bit.

"We'll sit down at the end of the year and make sure we're comfortable about how the best way to use him. His performance certainly merits more running opportunities for him."

NOT GOOD ENOUGH?: How would you rate the current Bucs season?

Disappointing? Underachieving? Frustrating?

How about the best ever? McKay approached coach Tony Dungy after practice the other day and provided a little perspective on what kind of year 2000 has shaped up to be.

"I believe after 14 games, we have the best record in the history of the franchise," McKay said.

He's right. The Bucs are precisely where they were last season after 14 games and the 1999 team set the franchise mark for wins with 11 before advancing to the NFC Championship.

A victory Monday night will mark the third time in four years the Bucs have reached the playoffs. But expectations have a way of erasing memories.

"All that's good though," McKay said. "That's where you want to be. We've experienced the other side of that."

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