Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Uncertainty at running back won't be enough to derail a return trip to the Super Bowl

By Jeffri Chadiha

Team Page | Schedule | Depth chart | 2002 Stats | Predicted finish: Ist in NFC South

Jon Gruden has never had a problem exuding confidence. It's in his determined walk and chilling gaze, which can unnerve even the most hardened opponent. More than anything, it's in his smirk. When the Tampa Bay coach curls and purses his lips, he's telling the world he has everything covered. Gruden smirks often when asked about his running game.

The Bucs aren't sure who'll make the bulk of their carries, but Jones will get more than a few. David E. Klutho

But why is this man smiling? While the Bucs have nearly everything else in place from last year's Super Bowl championship team -- including nine starters returning to the NFL's top-ranked defense -- they have no clear idea who will be carrying the ball. Gruden's top choice is Michael Pittman, who led the Bucs in rushing (718 yards) last season and gained 124 yards in the Super Bowl. Pittman, however, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault following an altercation with his wife, Melissa, in Phoenix on May 31; each count carries a penalty ranging from five to 15 years in prison. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3. If convicted, Pittman would be in violation of the probation he's serving for misdemeanor charges of criminal trespassing and criminal damage after arguing with Melissa in 2001, for which the league suspended him for one game. He could be sentenced to as much as six months in jail for violating probation.

"We're obviously hoping that Mike will be available, but we do have other options," says Gruden, whose offense ranked 27th in rushing (97.3 yards per game) last season. "We have Thomas Jones. We have Aaron Stecker. We have Mike Alstott. Those are all good backs. But it's not just the backs who will help us run the ball. It's the line, the tight ends, the decision-making by the quarterbacks and my play-calling. All those factors play a role."

Pittman, who isn't speaking publicly, is the player who impressed Gruden most early in camp, particularly with his conditioning. If he's not available, the Bucs would be forced to lean on the same backfield-by-committee approach that brought Gruden success in Oakland. The top threat in that scenario would be Jones. Tampa Bay traded for the fourth-year veteran shortly after Pittman's arrest, thinking the former first-round bust of the Cardinals might benefit from playing in a winning atmosphere. Jones is a shifty runner and a polished receiver who needs to stay healthy. (Last year he missed one game with a hairline fracture in his left ankle and six games with a broken left hand, but still gained a career-high 511 yards.) Stecker, one of the Bucs' top special teams players, has vision, patience and good hands, making him valuable as a third-down back. Alstott is the banger who will carry primarily on goal line and short-yardage situations.

"Gruden will find a way to make it work," says Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson. "He knows how to utilize each person to the best of their abilities. Even with Michael available, there won't be one featured guy. The only question is how to get everybody enough touches."

Tampa Bay has all its key offensive playmakers back from a unit that averaged 26.4 points in its last seven games. Johnson led the NFC with a 92.9 passer rating. He still has big targets like Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius. And the line, the unit that struggled with chemistry issues and ineffectiveness early in 2002, has stabilized. "We had a lot of new faces up front last year, but now we know each other," says tackle Roman Oben. "And we know what to expect."

That -- and, of course, the defense, which led the league last season in fewest points allowed (12.3 per game) -- will be essential to Tampa Bay's hopes of repeating this season. By the way, Gruden doesn't even use the word repeat. "We talk about winning a championship, not defending one," he says. "Let's talk about what we know, and we know how to win a title."

That said, the Bucs know that a healthy running game was an important factor in their march to the title. If the running game isn't in place, Gruden will have to work overtime to keep the smirks off the faces of Tampa Bay's opponents.

Enemy Lines: An opposing scout's view

"They lost Al Singleton [at linebacker] and picked up Dwayne Rudd, which I think hurts them. Rudd's not as aggressive or instinctive as Singleton. Plus he's a natural weakside linebacker who's moving to the strong side. Putting him with Derrick Brooks and Shelton Quarles gives them three weakside linebackers playing alongside one another. Those guys can all run, but I think Rudd will be a weak link.... Switching Dwight Smith from nickelback to free safety is a great move. He has range, and he'll hit you. I see only two problems: When you move to a thinking position and have to call defenses, it can hinder your aggressiveness, and it leaves a hole at nickelback. When Smith was there they could put him on an island and he'd cover everybody. He also allowed [defensive coordinator] Monte Kiffin to send Ronde Barber on blitzes.... On offense Brad Johnson is their most valuable player. He doesn't have a great arm, but he's good at throwing those short crossing routes.... They can repeat, but it will be harder to win it all this year. They have a tougher schedule, and everybody is going to be gunning for them. The key is, Are they still hungry?"

Under the Gun

John Wade takes over at center for Jeff Christy, who, though released because he was past his prime, was smart and excelled at making line calls. The 6'5" Wade will have to mesh quickly with a unit that struggled to jell early last season. Although he has the toughness and strength, Wade's quickness and mobility leave much to be desired.

Issue date: September 1, 2003