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Bucs NotesNFC Central test will come early
By RICK STROUD, ROGER MILLS, ERNEST HOOPER © St. Petersburg Times, published September 3, 1998 Beginning with Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the Vikings at the Metrodome, the Bucs have four consecutive games against division opponents. Worse yet, three are on the road. After opening the season with the Vikings, the Bucs travel to Green Bay on Sept. 13; play Chicago at Raymond James Stadium Sept. 20; and play at Detroit Sept. 28. Despite opening the '97 season with wins at Detroit and at Minnesota, the Bucs finished 3-5 in the NFC Central a year ago. "It really doesn't matter. We've got to play better in the division," coach Tony Dungy said. "We've just not been able to hold our own in the division and that's hurt us the last two years. So whether you play them the first four games or the last four, whenever we play them, we've got to play better. This would be as good of a time as any." CONSOLATION PRIZES: The Bucs have begun mailing packages to season-ticket holders containing free team merchandise in appreciation for their support. The value of the contents are in relation to the price of the season ticket. But fans can expect to receive items like a Bucs license plate, car window flag, decal, luggage tag, a lapel pin and a thank you letter. HOMECOMING: Dungy, who served as the Vikings defensive coordinator for four seasons and played at the University of Minnesota, will have a large rooting section Sunday. Dungy said he bought 53 tickets. "Oh, yeah, they give me a good price," Dungy said. "Excellent seats, right at the top. I can't complain. There's been enough complaining about tickets and where they are and how much they cost. We're happy with our seats." NEW KIDS ON D BLOCK: They aren't exactly in awe of their surroundings but WR Chris Jackson and TE Melvin Pearsall are giddy about the opportunity ahead. "It's a great chance for me," said Jackson, who joined the Bucs after being cut by Seattle. "I feel good about the opportunities and now have to adapt to a whole new system, getting used to a new coaching staff, the players and how they run things over here. I'm grateful for the opportunity to keep this dream alive." Jackson, who comes to the Bucs from Washington State, where he was Ryan Leaf's teammate, shares a locker with Pearsall, an undrafted free agent out of Florida State. "I've always had to start from the bottom and work my way up," said Pearsall, released by the Colts on Aug. 25. "That's what you're used to doing. It's a learning experience. It's like redshirting all over again." AIR ATTACK: With so much attention being placed on the preseason performance of rookie Randy Moss, it's easy to forget the other, more established members of the Vikings passing game. No one on the Bucs roster has forgotten. "They have always had a good passing game," Dungy said. "When Warren Moon was there and they had Qadry Ismail, they threw for more yards than anybody in the league." The Vikings receiving duo of Cris Carter and Jake Reed have had outstanding games against Bucs in recent years. In last season's 28-14 win over Minnesota, the Bucs gave up 334 passing yards. "Cris and Jake are going to catch about 200 balls between them and probably 2,500 yards, so it's not like all of a sudden they have a good passing game," Dungy said. INJURY UPDATE: While WR Jacquez Green's (turf toe) status for Sunday's game is still in question, the Bucs likely will have everyone else available. OT Paul Gruber (foot) is back and will start. T Jason Odom (rib strain) and T Pete Pierson (elbow bursitis) are listed as probable and WR Brice Hunter (knee sprain) is listed as questionable but should be in uniform. If Green is unable to play, Karl Williams and Reidel Anthony will assume the return duties on kickoffs and punts. Williams has made punt returns in only one game in the preseason, but he handled the duties regularly last season. "I get plenty of reps in practice and it's not really going to affect me that I've only done it one time in a game," Williams said. "I prepare during the week so I think I should be all right, plus being in the dome should make it that much easier."
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AMPA -- The question is not whether the Bucs will join the race for the NFC Central title; it's whether they'll be left at the starting line.
