Tampa Bay offense vs. Washington defense

	BUCCANEERS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	15
	Pass	30
	Tot. Yds.	28
	Scoring	27
	Int's allowed	16
	Sacks allowed	42
	REDSKINS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	27
	vs. Pass	25
	Total yds. allowed	27
	# of Ints.	24
	# of Sacks	40
	Turnover differential	+12

Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Mike Shula has had two weeks to prepare a game plan but don't expect him to deviate from the ball-control scheme that has gotten the team this far. Shula realizes that he can't get into a shootout with the Redskins' offense so it will be important for the Bucs to remain committed to the ground game against a much-maligned run defense that gave up 4.5 yards per carry in the regular season.

As is the case every time a team faces Tampa Bay FB Mike Alstott, Washington must play strong up the middle. DTs Dana Stubblefield and Dan Wilkinson must play stronger at the point of attack than they have all season and should have an easier go than expected against an offensive line that will start two new players. LOG Kevin Dogins, a part-time starter this season, will replace disappointing Ken Blackman and Pete Pierson will start at left tackle for injured Paul Gruber.

The onus will be on Washington's front seven to close down running lanes before Alstott gets a head of steam, but that will require huge efforts from an undersized linebacker corps that has had difficulty shedding blocks and making plays. Because they ran into Kansas City when the team was without one of its healthy bigger running backs, Washington has yet to face a true bruiser like Alstott and it should be interesting to see if the 'Skins are prepared for a tough inside runner.

With WR Reidel Anthony's status in question because of a quadriceps injury, the Bucs will continue to have trouble mounting much a vertical passing game. The team is comfortable starting rookie WR Darnell McDonald in Anthony's place but neither he nor Jacquez Green figure to have much success against an improved Redskin pass defense. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has been more aggressive with his schemes the past month, so the Bucs' receivers should expect to see plenty of press coverage.

Tampa QB Shaun King has done a nice job of playing within the system but he's yet to show the consistent ability to exploit one-on-one matchups on the outside -- something doesn't figure to change this week against Washington's speedy corner tandem.

Aside from concentrating on Alstott, OLB's Shawn Barber and Greg Jones must also contend with nickel back Warrick Dunn out of the backfield. The Bucs will use plenty of motion and formation variation to get Dunn isolated on these two players in order to take advantage of his open-field skills.

This won't be the typical "run-to-set-up-the-pass" philosophy that Washington fans are used to seeing -- it will be exactly the opposite. WR's Michael Westbrook and Albert Connell have to get free on a couple of alley routes against Tampa's zone defense in order to soften up the run defense. The problem with this strategy for most teams is that the quarterback rarely has enough time for these patterns to clear the safeties.

With LOT Andy Heck on the sideline, replacement Kipp Vickers must hold down the left side of line. The Bucs are more creative with their schemes up front on the defensive side of the ball than any team in the league and the athleticism of RDE Steve White and DT Warren Sapp will surely give him problems. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin will use Sapp almost exclusively on the right side on Saturday to create pressure on Johnson's blindside in hopes of catching the quarterback while he's focused downfield.

If the Redskins are intent on pushing an up-tempo game plan, they'll have to do so against a Buccaneer defense that held opponents to just 4.66 yards per passing attempt -- one of the top marks in the league. Tampa's secondary closes on the ball quicker than any in the league because they are well-schooled at diagnosing routes.

If SS John Lynch and FS Damien Robinson can discourage the long ball with big hits in the deep third of the field, Washington will have a tough time scoring points with TE Stephen Alexander and RB Larry Centers as the focal points of the passing game.

Although he's listed as doubtful, the Bucs expect to see Davis in the backfield when they line up on Saturday. Davis, who rolled up 119 yards on 15 carries in limited first-half work against Detroit, is the one player that makes the Redskins' offense click and without him at full strength it's hard to envision them with a consistent ground threat.

Backup Skip Hicks was held to 2.0 yards per carry last week against the Lions but that figure isn't a true barometer because the 'Skins were obviously just running out the clock in the second half. Like Davis, Hicks is a big back that will move a pile, but he doesn't run with the same vision as the NFC's leading rusher. With limited run instincts, Tampa's flowing linebacking unit should snuff out most rushing attempts.