Good reading.........
Good reading.........
Super Bowl primer: Bucs have the answers
January 21, 2003
Stripped down, the matchup in Super Bowl 37 isn't much different from what we saw in Super Bowl 36. Last year, Bill Belichick and the Patriots calmly played "Who Wants to Stop the Rams' Offense?" and won it all. This year, the Bucs' daunting defense must have an answer for the Raiders' prolific offense.
More specifically, the marquee subtext is:
1) "Will Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp unnerve Rich Gannon?"
2) "Will Derrick Brooks make another big game-turning play?
3) "Will Ronde Barber and the Bucs' secondary get the better of future Hall of Fame receivers Jerry Rice and Tim Brown?
Digging past those questions and the hype overload of Jon Gruden coaching against the team he coached just last year, it comes down to why Gruden was brought to Tampa in the first place -- to give the Bucs' a Super Bowl-worthy offense.
Gruden has succeeded. He has brought life to their passing game and raised their intensity. Now the Bucs are capable of dictating play on both sides of the ball.
There are many sides to this matchup, which means it has serious Best Super Bowl Ever potential. It's also means I will need a Super-sized primer to break it down:
GAME OF THE SEASON
Raiders' passing game vs. Bucs' pass defense: A good place to start is with the league MVP. Gannon and the Raiders have perfected the short passing game this season. Not only does he work quickly, his offensive line keeps him without a scratch.
Gannon has redefined "pitch and catch" with the way he peppers the ball all over the field. A dumpoff to Charlie Garner. Crossing routes to Rice and Brown. Over the middle to Doug Jolley. Down the field to Jerry Porter. When the ball leaves Gannon's hand, it could be headed anywhere -- and it usually gets there.
The Bucs' pass defense is known for its cover 2, which is based on giving up plays underneath to avoid giving up plays deep. They rely on their front-four pass rush, back-seven speed and sound tackling to frustrate offenses.
But the Bucs can't afford to exclusively play cover 2 against the Raiders, because Gannon will be content to take what he gets underneath. Rice and Sapp will also have their hands full with the Raiders' line.
So look for Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin to be aggressive and change up how he uses his linebackers and defensive backs. That includes blitzes and moving his players around to clog up the intermediate zone -- Brooks, Barber and safety John Lynch will be vital to that strategy.
Gannon is in too much of a zone to be completely stymied. The Raiders may not move the ball consistently, but he will make sure they complete a few drives.
Raiders' running game vs. Bucs' run defense: Without a healthy Anthony McFarland next to Sapp, the Bucs are vulnerable to teams willing to be patient and pound the ball inside. With Garner, Tyrone Wheatley, Zack Crockett and their solid line, the Raiders have proved they can run effectively when they want to.
The Raiders made it this far because of the passing game, so that will remain their primary method of moving the ball. But mixing in some runs vs. the Bucs will eventually give Gannon more field with which to work.
Bucs' running game vs. Raiders' run defense: Gruden has tried to get his running game going all season, but unlike the Raiders, he has neither the line nor the backfield talent to dominate games here.
The straight-line power game of Mike Alstott won't do much inside against Raiders defensive tackles John Parrella and Sam Adams. Michael Pittman has shown only flashes. Aaron Stecker has the perimeter style that has caused the Raiders problems, but he won't be used enough. Expect about 20 total carries to keep the Raiders' defense honest, but the yardage will be limited.
Bucs' passing game vs. Raiders pass defense: The Bucs' pass protection has improved, but Brad Johnson is making it look better than it is. He is making quick decisions and has developed a great rapport with his receivers. Now he holds the Bucs' Super Bowl fate in his hands.
Wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius have the luxury of working against a Raiders secondary that has been hampered by injuries and mistakes. With cornerbacks Charles Woodson, Tory James and Terrance Shaw exposable, the Bucs should have plenty of big-play opportunities.
The key is giving Brad Johnson enough time to get the most on his throws so he can convert those big plays. He has been very efficient, so when there's nothing available to his wideouts, Pittman and tight end Ken Dilger will be viable alternatives against the Raiders' inconsistent linebackers.
Because of Johnson, the Bucs' defense won't have the pressure of being perfect vs. Gannon to win. They will keep up if the scoring gets past the teens.
Other Super factors in my primer equation: It's Martin Gramatica over Sebastian Janikowski by a toe. Punting is a wash. The Raiders have better coverage units and more return potential. . . . The Silver and Black must avoid the yellow -- frequent penalties will prove costly. . . . The Raiders have plenty of thirtysomethings, but the Bucs have an experience edge considering how long their defensive principals have played together. . . . Gruden has a big coaching edge over a team he made what it is.
The pick: Not surprisingly, the most important presence in the Super Bowl will be someone in his late 30s. But it's 39-year-old Jon Gruden, and not any of his former Raiders players.
Four high draft picks. Eight million to Al Davis. A five-year, $17.5 million contract. All that will pay off on Sunday as Gruden gets his current team to put everything together against his old team. Buccaneers 24, Raiders 20.
STATS OF THE WEEK
Championship game record: 1-1
Postseason record: 6-4
Final regular-season record: 150-105-1
Games of the Week: 12-11
Locks of the Week: 15-3
Upsets of the Week: 7-11
