NFL team previews — NFC Central
By Ernest Hooper
As published in print Aug. 21, 2000
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Bucs DT
Warren Sapp
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Seventeen points.
If the Buccaneers had scored 17 points in the NFC championship game last season, they
likely would have upset the Rams and gone to the Super Bowl. DT Warren Sapp, the 1999 Pro
Football Weekly Defensive Player of the Year, says if the offense scores 17 points a
game this season, the defense will deliver more victories than defeats.
With the additions of coordinator Les Steckel, Pro Bowl WR Keyshawn Johnson and Pro
Bowl OLs Jeff Christy and Randall McDaniel, the Buccaneers seem to be in line for an
improved offensive showing and an NFL first: the chance to win a Super Bowl in their home
stadium.
Still, there are some doubts and concerns swirling around the collection of talent head
coach Tony Dungy and general manager Rich McKay have assembled. How the team addresses
those nagging weaknesses could prove to be the difference between a good season and a
great season.
Top of page
| Quarterbacks |
Grade C+ |
| Dungy, who never played quarterback in the NFL because he was
told he was too short, is the champion of undersized quarterbacks. Starter Shaun King is
generously listed at 6 feet tall, and veteran backup Eric Zeier is about the same size.
Rookie Joe Hamilton, who is likely to beat out Scott Milanovich for the third spot, is
even shorter at 5-10. But Dungy believes all three can be effective, especially King. Both
coach and quarterback share common traits, including a calmness under pressure and devout
faith. King draws supreme confidence from that faith and has been undaunted by all the
questions about his ability. So have his teammates. "What’s the big Shaun
thing?" Johnson asked. "I read and hear, ‘Can he do it?’ I mean, what
is it that he has to do? All he’s got to do is throw the ball from one side of the
field to the other. He’s been doing that his entire life." To make the most of
his ability, King will roll out more and occasionally operate out of the shotgun, which he
did on almost every play while throwing for a school-record 8,419 yards at Tulane. King is
in better shape and has a good grasp of Steckel’s complex offense, which features 60
formations and 42 motions. The Bucs are not going to start throwing the ball 40 times a
game just because former offensive coordinator Mike Shula was fired. Dungy wants a
ball-control attack that gives his defense a chance in every game. That’s why Steckel
is a good fit. His one-RB attack will rely a lot on the tight ends and H-backs, and all of
the Bucs’ ballcarriers are adept receivers. Tampa Bay will dink and dunk to give its
vaunted defense plenty of rest. If too many defenders get in the box, King will look to
Johnson and speedy third-year pro Jacquez Green. Top of page |
| Running backs |
Grade B |
| As a rookie in ’96, Mike Alstott led the Bucs in
receptions with 65. Last season Alstott led the team in rushing with 949 yards. What
Steckel wants to do this year is combine the best of both Alstotts into a versatile
package that never leaves the field. "In Tennessee Titans terms, he will be Eddie
George one play and Frank Wycheck the next," Steckel said of Alstott. Warrick Dunn
provides the perfect complement as a darting pinball. In an injury-plagued ’99
season, Dunn still led the team with 64 receptions. Now that Dunn is healthy, the Bucs are
expecting his rushing prowess to return. Third-year pro Rabih Abdullah should get more
carries in the one-RB sets and may play fullback behind Alstott. Top of page |
| Receivers |
Grade B- |
| Johnson has been everything he was advertised to be, and his
value cannot be overstated. He gives the Bucs’ offense the kind of tough,
over-the-middle receiver it has never had, as well as the vocal leader it has always
needed. Tampa Bay was the league’s worst at scoring touchdowns from inside the red
zone, but that’s sure to change because of Johnson’s height and leaping ability.
Green will make double-teaming Johnson difficult, but the Bucs still have some uncertainty
at the third WR spot. Coaches would love to see Reidel Anthony recapture his ’98 form
after he virtually disappeared in ’99. But his sporadic play in the preseason
prompted them to sign free agent Andre Hastings. TE Dave Moore may have a breakout season.
Behind him, battles were still being waged among a good group of pass-catching threats,
including fifth-round pick James Whalen, rookie surprise Todd Yoder and journeyman Henry
Lusk. Top of page |
| Offensive linemen |
Grade C |
| McDaniel and Christy give Tampa Bay the athleticism needed to
revitalize the running game and allow for more traps and perimeter running. The Bucs’
struggles in short-yardage situations should also be eased. However, offensive tackle has
supplanted King’s inexperience as the biggest question mark on the team. Jason Odom,
coming off season-ending back surgery, has seen very little practice time, and Paul Gruber
was still unsigned at presstime as he continued to rehab from a broken leg suffered in the
’99 regular-season finale. Fifth-year pro Pete Pierson, who started both playoff
games last season, and veteran George Hegamin have been filling in, but there were no real
prospects behind inconsistent ORT Jerry Wunsch. Top of page |
| Defensive linemen |
Grade A |
| Asked how he could top his Defensive Player of the Year
season, Sapp said, "MVP is up for grabs. I got a space on my mantle for that."
Having never finished the year atop the statistical standings, the Bucs’ defense has
the same attitude. Of the narrow 11-6 loss in the NFC championship game, coordinator Monte
Kiffin said, "There’s no reason we couldn’t have won that game 6-5."
Sapp anchors a unit that is clearly in its prime. Just consider this: The line has two
first-round picks on the bench. DT Brad Culpepper continues to hold off ’99
first-round selection Anthony McFarland, but McFarland will play in relief of both
Culpepper and Sapp. The other former first-rounder, DE Marcus Jones, was pushing for a
starting spot in the preseason. Jones subbed for both DLE Chidi Ahanotu and DRE Steve
White last season, finishing with seven sacks, second behind Sapp’s 12½. No matter
who starts, all three will play a lot. Special-teams standout John McLaughlin has bulked
up from 245 pounds to 265 and will add even more depth. Top of page |
| Linebackers |
Grade B |
| How do the Bucs fill the void left by free-agent defector
Hardy Nickerson? Use three people. Third-year pro Jamie Duncan inherits run-stuffing
duties in the middle, strong-side LB Shelton Quarles will work in pass coverage in nickel
situations and weak-side LB Derrick Brooks will fill the leadership void with help from
Sapp and John Lynch. Clearly, the unit is solid, with Brooks’ all-around play leading
the way. He’s had at least 180 tackles in each of the last three years, and he may be
the league’s best open-field tackler. When Duncan and Quarles handled the same roles
in ’98 with Nickerson unavailable for the last six games, the defense improved from
sixth to second in the league. Depth is plentiful with veterans Jeff Gooch, Alshermond
Singleton and Don Davis, as well as rookie Nate Webster, who will have an immediate impact
on special teams. Top of
page |
| Defensive backs |
Grade B |
| DB coach Herman Edwards wants his unit to produce more
turnovers in 2000, even though the Bucs play a lot of zone coverage. CB Donnie Abraham
should lead the way. He’s a good bet to become the next Pro Bowl player on this
defense after tying for the NFC interceptions lead with seven. Third-year pro Brian Kelly
is pushing Ronde Barber for the starting spot at right corner, but both will play a lot,
no matter who gets the nod. Veteran Floyd Young will be the fourth corner if he holds off
the challenge of some promising rookies. SS Lynch is a Pro Bowl stalwart who continues to
use a heady approach to play tough against the run. Damien Robinson returns at free
safety, but he’ll be challenged by second-year pro Dexter Jackson, who has a penchant
for big plays. Top of
page |
| Special teams |
Grade B+ |
| Martin Gramatica was well worth a third-round pick after
converting 27-of-32 field-goal opportunities. He has developed a good relationship with
punter/holder Mark Royals, whose gross (43.1) and net (37.4) averages were among the
league’s best. After using a committee of returners in ’99, Dungy was looking to
settle on one player for punt returns and one for kick returns. Green and fellow WRs Karl
Williams and Yo Murphy may return punts, while NFL Europe Offensive MVP Aaron Stecker and
Murphy are in the running for kick returns. Top of page |
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