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Bucs' Two-Minute Offense Is No. 1

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 15, 2008

TAMPA - The Bucs have no shortage of offensive problems. Though they are ranked eighth overall in yards, their running game has suddenly stalled, they are struggling to score in the red zone and their 16 giveaways are ninth-most in the league.

One thing the Bucs do exceptionally well, though, is score in the two-minute offense.

The Bucs go into Sunday's game against the Vikings with the most productive two-minute attack in the league with 21 points, one more than second-place New Orleans.

The Bucs scored 11 of those points during the comeback victory at Kansas City, where they got a field goal from Matt Bryant at the end of the first half and a touchdown and two-point conversion at the end of regulation.

They also got seven two-minute points against Chicago and three during the season opener at New Orleans.

The totals include only points scored at the end of drives that began with two minutes or less remaining on the clock. If you include all points scored in the final two minutes, including drives that began with more than two minutes left on the clock, the total is 34.

DITCHING THE DEEP SIX: Something else the Bucs have had trouble doing is throwing downfield. Their 6.24 yards per pass is among the worst in the league, and it doesn't figure to get a lot better this weekend.

Though stopping the run is the true strength of the Vikings' defense, Bucs coach Jon Gruden warned that throwing the ball against the likes of DE Jared Allen and DT Kevin Williams can be tough.

"You talk about not throwing the ball downfield, they don't let you get many passes off," Gruden said. "This is a great right defensive end in Jared Allen, a special kind of player.

"And Kevin Williams is a difference-maker, much like Warren Sapp was for us. He's about 6-foot-10 actually, 6-5, and he bats balls down. He's a problem, a real problem."

In addition to his 54 tackles, Williams has knocked down five passes while recording seven sacks and 25 quarterback hits.

Allen, meanwhile, has knocked down three passes while recording eight sacks - sixth-most in the league - and 30 quarterback hits.

DOING IT THE DUNGY WAY: Former Bucs coach Tony Dungy used to say there are a lot of ways to score in the NFL. This year's Bucs team is proving him right.

The Bucs have scored two touchdowns on interception returns, one on a fumble recovery, one on a kick return and one on a blocked punt.

Those five scores have the Bucs ranked third in the league in such miscellaneous touchdowns. Only Green Bay (eight, including six on interception returns) and Chicago (six) have more.

GARCIA FEELING GOOD: Bucs QB Jeff Garcia will go into the second half of the season feeling better than he did going into the first half. The bye week, he said, gave him a chance to recharge his batteries for the stretch run.

"I feel like I got some much-needed rest, a much-needed break," Garcia said. "I continued working through the bye week just to make sure I didn't mentally or physically lose anything, and it was good for me. I feel great."

INJURY UPDATE: Nothing much changed on the injury front Friday. TE Alex Smith (ankle, doubtful), QB Brian Griese (shoulder, doubtful) and SS Jermaine Phillips (forearm, out) all missed practice. None are expected to play Sunday. RB Earnest Graham (knee, questionable), LB Derrick Brooks (knee, probable), FB B.J. Askew (hamstring, questionable), RB Warrick Dunn (back, questionable) and DT Jovan Haye (foot, probable) all worked out and should play.

Roy Cummings

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