 | | Jaworski on the Bucs |  |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a work in progress. When a team has an entirely new coaching staff on offense, it takes time. Jon Gruden took over and kept Monte Kiffin in charge of the defense. And Kiffin's defense is solid as usual. But Gruden is still getting a feel for his offensive talent, something that can only happen when the lights go on for real during the regular season.
The Bucs are not an explosive team; they lack the speed to make too many big plays. They are more of a possession-type passing team. After two games, Gruden is starting to understand his offense's strengths and weaknesses. Without any vertical threats, Gruden will have to manufacture points, but I expect the Bucs offense to start coming alive, maybe even as soon as Monday night against St. Louis.
Five keys for the Bucs:
1. Tackle well: Against the Rams, tackling is always the No. 1 defensive key. The Rams will throw a lot of short passes. Kurt Warner will dump the ball off to Marshall Faulk and look for runs after the catch. I think back to the NFC championship game in 1999 when the Rams barely beat the Bucs on a Ricky Proehl touchdown. It was the best tackling game I've ever seen; that was why the Bucs held the Rams to 11 points. They need the same type of defensive performance Monday.
2. Pass protection: The Bucs offensive line was dreadful through training camp. But Cosey Coleman is now back at right guard and Kenyatta Walker is at right tackle. They played much better last week against Baltimore. Gruden helped them out by using a lot of maximum protection, keeping a tight end or a back in to give Brad Johnson confidence that the line would do a good job. They took a big step in the right direction. But the Bucs tackles in particular have a big test trying to block Leonard Little and Grant Wistrom coming off the corners.
3. Pitch it to Pittman: The Bucs must get the ball in the hands of Michael Pittman. Pittman is a playmaker; he is a power runner, but he can catch the ball out of the backfield and make people miss. He is the one player who can give the Bucs explosive plays. At the same time, Travis Stephens should start to see some action. Although Stephens has only has one touch so far this season, he is even quicker. He is not a durable back, but he needs five or six touches on the perimeter, where he can make defenders miss.
4. No turnovers: Johnson must continue making efficient throws and not turning the ball over. He has zero interceptions through the first two games. Against the Rams' high-risk offense, teams have to make them march 70-80 yards to score a touchdown. When that happens, the Rams have a tendency to get a little bit impatient, and Warner may throw some interceptions. He is not off to a good start. The Bucs can't help the Rams by shortening the field.
5. Pressure Warner: Warner is a bit out of rhythm. The way a quarterback finds his rhythm is by standing in the pocket, having a cushion between his offensive line and the pass rush, and stepping and delivering the football. The Bucs want to get people in Warner's face and break down his timing and rhythm. Pass-rush pressure will be critical. Simeon Rice, who is a great edge pass rusher, must come up big. |
 | | Salisbury on the Rams |  |
At 0-2, the St. Louis Rams may be reeling a bit, but they are still confident in their abilities. The Rams believe they can win the next 14 in a row. So they've lost the first two games? Big deal. The Rams are not alarmed; they just go about their business. They know they can fix their problems on both sides of the ball and get back to winning football games in a hurry.
The Rams have talent everywhere -- from the players, to the coaches to the front office. They will continue to preach confidence. No matter what, the Rams will continue to play according to Mike Martz's aggressive style, attacking on both offense and defense. St. Louis is capable of fixing things in a hurry -- as soon as Monday night against the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Five keys for the Rams:
1. Protect Warner: The Rams offensive line must protect Kurt Warner and allow him to establish a rhythm. When Warner is getting hit, he holds onto the ball a little longer and loses his timing. When his rhythm and timing are off, as we've seen the past two weeks, the Rams' offense begins to malfunction. When he and the Rams offense are on, the passing game -- the in-cut, out-cut, slant, deep ball -- comes together. If the line can protect Warner, the Rams will get their swagger back.
2. Two words: Marshall Faulk. Faulk must be involved in every aspect possible -- line him up wide, in the backfield or in the slot and either hand the ball or throw it to him. Get him the ball. So far he has only carried the ball 24 times in two games. He should average around 24 carries a game. He is the best football player on the planet. The Rams must allow him to make a difference.
3. Pressure Johnson: Predominantly a zone defense, the Rams like to sit back and play a "Cover 2" scheme. But Bucs QB Brad Johnson loves to throw against the zone. If the Rams play zone all game, he will beat them. Johnson is an accurate passer; his strength is planting his back foot and throwing from the pocket. The Rams must change their coverages and schemes to keep the pressure on Johnson. They have to take him out of rhythm, make him run out of the pocket and force him to do things on the move.
4. Score early: I have yet to see the Rams get off to a fast start this season. Although they can play catch-up, the Rams need to jump out early. They're at their best when they hit the ground running -- first series, take it down the field and BOOM! The Rams need to come out like they've been shot from a cannon. Fast, fast, fast. They need to run a sprint, not a marathon. Tampa is not a great catch-up team. If the Rams jump out early, they will put the Bucs in a chase mode.
5. Two more words: Marshall Faulk: I'll say it again, because it deserves repeating. Hand him the ball to establish the run game and throw him the ball. I don't care how you get it to him; give Faulk the ball. Great things happen when the ball is in his hands. |
