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Rematch on tap Bucs, Rams played a defensive struggle in '79 title game
Posted: Friday January 21, 2000 06:58 PM
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- One way or another, it will be payback time. The Buccaneers-Rams for the NFC championship Sunday is a rematch of the 1979 title game. It also marks the first time since, that either of the franchises have been this close to the Super Bowl. The Rams, who called Los Angeles home at the time, won a defensive struggle 9-0 over a Bucs team that advanced to the title game by beating the Dick Vermeil-coached Philadelphia Eagles 24-17. "I don't remember much about that game, except we got beat," Vermeil, now the coach of the St. Louis Rams, said. Bucs coach Tony Dungy was a player with the San Francisco 49ers at the time. One of Vermeil's former players, Herman Edwards, is the Bucs' assistant head coach. "I remember watching it on TV. We had played both the Bucs and the Rams. I knew it was going to be a hard-fought, defensive game because they both had tough defenses," Dungy said. "I don't remember too much about the game per se. But I know the Rams won, so we'd like to change that around." The Rams rushed for 216 yards, yet settled for three short field goals by Frank Corral while holding Tampa Bay to just 177 yards. The Bucs trailed 6-0 when quarterback Doug Williams, who completed just 2 of 13 passes for 12 yards and one interception, left the game with a torn bicep. Dungy said there are a number of similarities between the Bucs of '79 and '99. "I think the mentality of those teams are very much the same, that no matter what happens, they're going to play 60 minutes, they're going to be physical, they're going to hit you," the coach said. "I think the '79 team knew how good it was maybe before a lot of other people did, and I think the same thing is true with this team."
Chemistry lessonRams tight end Ernie Conwell doesn't expect to get heavy duty on Sunday. He missed more than a season due to reconstructive knee surgery and has played in only two games, each time as a reserve. Coach Dick Vermeil said Conwell is a potential All-Pro, but he got into only 10-15 plays last week against Minnesota. Against the Buccaneers he'll be the third-stringer behind Roland Williams and Jeff Robinson. "I feel good physically," Conwell said. "Part of it is you dance with the one that brung you, know what I mean? You don't want to mess with that chemistry too much."
Dog showRams offensive guard Adam Timmerman doesn't pay much attention to trash talk. "Let's put it this way, I'd rather have a dog that bites hard than barks loud," Timmerman said. So which description applies to Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp, the league's Defensive Player of the Year? "He barks loud," Timmerman said. "He can bite, but it's one of those things."
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