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Bucs still have faith in Clyde

Club says execution, not playcalling, is to blame for latest offensive flop.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 18, 2001

TAMPA -- Clyde Christensen was covered in sweat and feeling the heat Monday afternoon.

If you were looking for a metaphor after the Bucs' 27-3 loss at Chicago, this was it. He had just finished running on a treadmill, like his offense working hard but never moving forward.

Despite failing to score a touchdown in a game for the second time this season, Bucs players said Monday they had not lost faith in Christensen.

That was in rather stark contrast to the criticism aimed at the Bucs' first-year coordinator by players after the game Sunday.

"I think it would be unfair to point a finger at Clyde, especially after a game like yesterday because the opportunities were there," tight end Dave Moore said. "If I could say the plays weren't there, or we didn't have the right plays for the right coverages, then fine. But you can see if this guy blocks that guy, (the running back) is out the door. Of course, the coordinator can do some things to help that situation. But the bottom line is, if you look at the film, the plays were there to be made.

"Absolutely (there's hope). Now, if you ask me honestly if I were fan on the outside looking in, I would say there's none. But as a player, when you're on the inside and you can see exactly where the breakdowns are, exactly what it's going to take to get it rolling, then you have all the hope in the world."

Christensen, whose offense committed four turnovers and was held to 8 yards rushing in the second half, admitted his toughest job in preparing for Sunday's game against New Orleans will be convincing players the plan will work.

"It is even harder," Christensen said. "I'm tired of saying the same things, they're tired of feeling the same way, they're tired of hearing this is a big game that we've got to get this going and it's everyone.

"Whatever we hear, we deserve it this week; we stunk it up in a huge game and didn't give ourselves a chance to win."

Despite a rushing attack that ranks 30th in the NFL and despite having one touchdown or fewer in seven of 13 games this season, Dungy said he will not take a more active role in the offensive game plan or playcalling this week.

"I'm in there all the time. I'm in all the game plan meetings. I suggest plays at times," Dungy said. "For the most part, I let the coordinator call the game and I have suggestions, and that probably won't be different. Everybody works harder when it's not going well.

"We're not making the right plays at the right time. I guess a classic example is they make a big play throwing the ball, get it down to the 2-yard line and score a touchdown. We make the same play and fumble at the (8). They throw into double coverage and their guy catches it for a touchdown. We throw into double coverage and it's intercepted. What's not happening, what aren't we doing? We're just not making plays."

As for the running game, Dungy believes the Bucs were back on track in the first half until turnovers and a Bears touchdown made them abandon it in the third quarter.

"If you look at the first half of the game, we're at about 53 yards rushing and we're headed for a decent day," Dungy said. "Then we get down 17 points and we don't run at all in the second half or don't run well. (It) wasn't great, but what we did in the first half is more like us, and we've just got to do that and finish off those drives, not fumble the ball, not throw interceptions so we can continue to play that way in the second half."

The Bucs aren't alone when it comes to being inconsistent this season, Dungy said.

"I think people all over the league are going through that frustration. You play a pretty good game and you win and don't play as well the next week," he said. "Brett Favre has a 30-minute conversation with his coach. These guys (the Bears) are all up in arms because they lost in Green Bay, and they didn't change much. They came out and did what they did and won a ballgame.

"I think we believe, especially the guys that have been around here. So no, I don't think that's a problem."

As Mike Alstott reminded Monday, if the Bucs win their three remaining games at home, they're guaranteed a playoff spot.

"We're in the playoff hunt. We control our destiny. In 1998, we won out but had to wait on other people. We don't want to be in that situation. If we just go out and do our jobs -- our road games are over -- we have three home games left. Things are looking good."

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