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Not A Pretty Flashback

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 25, 2007

You no doubt felt the urge to head to a place of shelter and hide under the tables when you saw Jeff Garcia walk slowly from the field less than two minutes into Sunday's game at Ray-Jay. It was basically time for the Civil Defense drill, children.

In Garcia's place was, well, you know who.

Bruce Gradkowski.

Nice kid. Means well. Has occasionally looked good in exhibition games.

But as the quarterback on whom your season depends? We were afraid this day would come and it did. All those fears were justified as Gradkowski played like Gradkowski.

The day ended up on an up note for two reasons, though: Garcia returned, albeit not until the fourth quarter, and the Bucs held on to beat Washington 19-13.

Actually, there was another reason: The Bucs' defense played heroically.

More on that later.

A disclaimer: I'm writing this as the game is ongoing for the most part, so we don't have the benefit of a trip to the locker room to find out Garcia's overall health. He appeared to move OK after returning and Bucs fans better hope that's not just a testament to adrenaline.

If he's truly well enough to play at something resembling full strength, this season could be special. If he wakes up in traction, better cover your eyes the rest of the way.

Offense Couldn't Move

The Bucs recovered four fumbles in the first 19 minutes of this game but led only 13-0 after those gifts. If Garcia had been healthy, that margin would have no doubt been considerably higher – 24 points, maybe 28. The ballgame would have been over.

Instead, Jon Gruden had to pull in the reins tightly because – sorry Bruce – the quarterback kept missing plays. He had Joey Galloway open for a touchdown that would have made it 23-3. Overthrew him.

Other times he was high, wide, wild, and just not very good.

He finished with 9-of-19 for 106 yards. Although backup quarterbacks are backups for a reason, it's just not good enough. The Bucs become too one-dimensional without Garcia in there.

The Redskins were able to load up against the run and that sent the Bucs into a time machine of sorts back to 2006, when their offense couldn't move. They didn't even make a first down in the second half.

Yet they were able to win the old-fashioned way because the defense played like champions. Derrick Brooks stood Clinton Portis up on fourth-and-1 at the Bucs 3-yard line near the end of the third quarter. Ronde Barber had his team-record 32nd interception inside the 30 with less than four minutes to play.

And when Washington had one final drive at the end, Brian Kelly stepped in front of a pass for Santana Moss to complete the sixth turnover of the day.

All That Matters

The Bucs came out of this game 7-4 and still in front of the NFC South by two games. If they beat New Orleans next week, the division race will be all but over.

It really is quite remarkable.

We know they're far from a complete team. We know what the season would look like this morning if Garcia had been hurt worse.

Give 'em credit, though.

They found a way on a day that began with people hiding under the covers.

In this league, that's all that matters.

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