kevinklein Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 http://www.buccaneers.com/news/newsdetail.aspx?newsid=4957 This article plucked off of buccaneers.com. Enjoy! Having barely outlasted them to get a November win, and they know they’re drawing a red-hot opponent for the opening of the playoffs Formidable Foe The Bucs expect it to take one of their best defensive efforts to stifle the Redskins on Saturday Jan 03, 2006 - Quick – name the only team in the NFC playoff field that is ranked in the top 11 in both offense and defense. Did you say the Washington Redskins? Then you’ve been paying attention over the last five weeks, as a team that was treading water in late November suddenly put it all together for the best stretch run in the NFL. Washington comes in having won five in a row, outscoring its opponents 142-69 in that span. The Redskins are getting it done on both sides of the ball and the worst part is – at least for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are in the middle of preparations for Saturday’s playoff game against Washington – they’re doing it every way imaginable. “They never stay the same,” said Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden. “That’s one of the great things that they do. Defensively, they mix it up as well as anybody in football. Offensively, Coach [Joe] Gibbs and his offensive staff do a great job of changing looks on a weekly basis. But you still see a lot of Santana Moss, a lot of Clinton Portis, [Mark] Brunell’s making a lot of plays. They’re very balanced on offense and defensively they’re as multiple as anyone we’ll see.” The Bucs have already had a close-up look at Washington’s strengths this year, of course. The Redskins came to Tampa on November 13 and went home with the most narrow of losses, a 36-35 decision that turned on an extremely gutsy two-point conversion call by Gruden. After that game, the Redskins lost a three-point game on the road at Oakland and dropped an overtime decision to the San Diego Chargers before embarking on their current winning streak, the longest in the NFL heading into the playoffs. In other words, they’ve been playing very good football for the last two months, and that includes their last visit to Raymond James Stadium. Washington rang up 389 yards in that contest, second-most against the Bucs’ top-ranked defense all year, and Portis led a 185-yard rushing day. Tampa Bay’s defense did manage three takeaways, which helped balance a kickoff return for a touchdown by Ladell Betts and a fumble recovery that set up another Washington TD. That kept the game close and allowed the Bucs to win it in the final minute. " They’re just playing with confidence right now, making a lot of big plays on defense. If you can run the ball and get turnovers, you’re a tough team to beat." “They did a nice job mixing personnel groupings, from three-tight ends to two-tight ends,” said Gruden of the last meeting. “They spread the field. Portis hurt us. He’s a great back, and with that comes the sting of the play-action pass. Obviously, the more committed you are to stop the run, the better things get for Santana Moss. So they’ve got some really explosive playmakers. I think they’re very talented on the offensive line with [Jon] Jansen and [Chris] Samuels. And Brunell’s a heady, play-making quarterback; he’s had a good season, and he’s been great at times. Chris Cooley, another young tight end, has really come in as a jack-of-all-trades who can make a lot of plays for them.” If anything, those varied offensive elements have been even more dependable since their big day in Tampa, and the Redskins finished 11th in the NFL in total offense at the end of the year. Meanwhile, the defense rose to ninth over the last five weeks on a steady stream of turnovers caused by its multiple pressure packages. “We saw they’re running game has picked up the last few weeks, watching a little tape,” said Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks. “They’re just playing with confidence right now, making a lot of big plays on defense. If you can run the ball and get turnovers, you’re a tough team to beat. That’s what they’ve been doing in the fourth quarter of the season.” Every team wants to be running the ball well when it hits the playoffs, and it’s no coincidence that the 12-team postseason field includes so many premier backs, from Portis to Edgerrin James, Shaun Alexander to Tiki Barber. And if running the ball doesn’t get you over the top, turnovers certainly will. Washington finished just plus-one in turnover ratio this year, but the defense has been hot of late and the Bucs know they have to stay out of the dangerous situations the Washington pass-rushers will try to create. They did that in November, allowing no sacks of QB Chris Simms, and they’ll need to do it again on Sunday. “Washington was blitzing, getting sacks and causing pressure,” said Brooks. “Our offensive line stepped up to the challenge. I don’t think Chris got sacked that day, so they did a good job protecting. Obviously, we’re going to need more of the same this week.” In effect, the Bucs need to do more of everything that got them to 11-5 and the top of the NFC South. Now is not a time for innovation, says Brooks. It is a time to build on your strength and stay the course. “We know what we need to do to keep playing, and it’s the same things we’ve been doing all year,” said Brooks. “It’s not complicated. It’s always about us and not them. We just have to play our game and we’ll get what we deserve.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattskins83 Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Nice article and all...but I think they were trying to come up with excuses why we lost the Raiders games, that being that we were at Oakland. Unfortunetly that wasnt the case at all, just a bad loss all around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC_Native,NC_Fan Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 I don’t think Chris got sacked that day, so they did a good job protecting. Obviously, we’re going to need more of the same this week.” Mr. Simms, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Griffin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nneece Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 As well they should my friend, as well they should... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Good read. Gruden really reminds me of a young Gibbs. I hope we can make him admire us a little more on Saturday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinthemboys Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 They should be worried. Over our win streak I dont know if 1 team we played showed us much respect. I think tampa may have learned from their mistakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzzah Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Mr. Simms, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Griffin. I hope all the guys are forcing the pocket back and getting pressure, then we get Simms looking at the line and send some outside blitzes and knock that ball outta little Simm's hands! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinstzar Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 They should be worried. No one has really talked about just how much playoff experience Mark Brunell has. MB led the Jags to two divsion championship games. One of which I believe he did as a 6 seed. He knows how to win big games. The last five weeks have all been virtual playoff games for us. MB has shown up in all of them. Couple that with the fact that he had one of his biggest days against this Tampa Defense in Tampa. Now trhow in the number one difference between this game and the last time we played them. A healthy Sean Taylor and a healthy Cornellius Griffin. The Bucs shouldn't just be worried. They better start booking their offseason vacations. The Redskins are coming and Hell is coming with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashburnskinsfan Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Good read. Gruden really reminds me of a young Gibbs. I hope we can make him admire us a little more on Saturday! I like Chucky too. One of my favorite Monday Night Football moments was a game a few years ago when Keyshawn Johnson was miked up. They caught Meshawn complaining to Chucky who interupted him to say, "Can you shutup for a minute and listen to some feedback?". :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themurf Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Anyone else read this and think "Chucky is a classy guy who does his homework?" I do enjoy him much more than, say ... Jim Mora or some of the other clowns out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richanathai Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 I like Chucky too. One of my favorite Monday Night Football moments was a game a few years ago when Keyshawn Johnson was miked up. They caught Meshawn complaining to Chucky who interupted him to say, "Can you shutup for a minute and listen to some feedback?".:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: Yes I remember that, what an aSS Meshawn was, im so glad Parcells made him frown all the time. :dallasuck :dallasuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Full Monty Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 It's no secret that the interior of the Bucs o-line is where they are the weakest. John Wade does not handle inside pressure well. It's also no secret that Cornelius Griffin has been feasting on guards and centers since he became a Redskin and that is why he'll prevent Simms from stepping up in the pocket and throw some INT's in our direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinFan63 Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 A very nice article. The Bucs are to be looked up to for not acting like the Eagles. Their website contained nothing but stories about how Philly was going to "spoil" our playoff hopes....blah blah blah. Not one mention of credit for how are team is playing. Thanks Gruden! May the best team win! Hail!:point2sky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redphoenix Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 httr........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 The last time I talked trash about a team we went up against, was our first game against NY this year. I got to attend the second game where we destroyed them. :2cents: With this game against the Bucs, I'm just gonna say that... it's gonna be a HELL of a game and both teams are going to bring their best games. We've got a lot going for us and some killer momentum on our side. But the Bucs are a nasty team to go up against and I'm sure they'll be prepared for us. heheh... but let's not forget they lost to both the Jets AND the 49ers this year.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :dallasuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gube79 Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Well I think the article is thrown at us to butter us up so we will think they worship up and then BAM they hit us with their best effort of the year. I like to call it the "Suck Up" approach... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttr77 Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Almost every player and coach in the league acts worried about the upcoming opponent. Remember Gibbs before the 49er game this year? I don't think it's anything newsworthy. One thing about Gruden though, I think he is one of the few coaches in the league that can match Gibbs' work ethic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Almost every player and coach in the league acts worried about the upcoming opponent. Remember Gibbs before the 49er game this year? I don't think it's anything newsworthy.One thing about Gruden though, I think he is one of the few coaches in the league that can match Gibbs' work ethic. heheh... with all due respect, Gibbs acts worried about every game no matter how big or small the threat is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skins'89 Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Yes, good one, he really should meet him, thent he turf. Mr. Simms, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Griffin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheREALJBird Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 Good read. Gruden really reminds me of a young Gibbs. I hope we can make him admire us a little more on Saturday! Yea i've always been a Gruden fan, he's a great coach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No_Pressure Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 They should be scared. Only once has Gibbs gone to the playoffs and not won at least 1 game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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