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Bucs Aware Of Broncos' Blocking Tactics

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2008

TAMPA - The Bucs have not allowed a rushing touchdown or a single player to rush for more than 100 yards this season, but their prowess as run stoppers will be greatly challenged Sunday.

The Broncos have the league's 14th-best running attack, and it's their unique and somewhat controversial zone blocking scheme that makes it so difficult to stop.

Zone blocking calls for the line to move laterally as a unit and to block an area rather than an individual. It also calls for the lineman at the back end to make a lot of cut blocks, which is where the controversy comes in.

Cut blocks are legal, as long as they are not made from behind. But any time a player lowers himself to cut off a pursuing lineman, there is a danger of someone getting seriously hurt.

"They do it within the rules, but it's borderline," Bucs NT Chris Hovan said. "Of course, everything in this league is borderline; let's not kid ourselves. But with this scheme you really have to be aware of what's going on, because we like to pursue the ball and they like to eliminate that pursuit by backside cutting.

"The thing we have to do is be on our screws and play really well with our hands. If we get knocked down, then we have to get off the ground like it's a hot stove and get to the ball."

UNHERALDED HAMMER: He has started four of the past seven regular-season games, but Bucs followers probably don't know much about Byron Storer.

"He's one of the unheralded guys on our team," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said of the second-year fullback, who hasn't gone unnoticed inside the walls at One Buc Place.

Bucs coaches last week honored Storer with the Hammer Award, given weekly to their top special-teams player. Storer had three special-teams tackles against the Packers and leads the Bucs with six takedowns on special teams. His play as a lead blocker has forced the Bucs to take notice, as well.

"He doesn't show up on these stats, but he's a really good player," Gruden said of the University of California product.

"We ran behind him in short yardage four times last week, and he's up there in the hole doing some really good things. He's a good kid and he's really played well here, but no one knows he played."

ELEPHANT'S MEMORY: Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has an 8-1 record in games against Gruden, including a 7-1 record when Gruden was coaching in Oakland.

"I got him when he was just getting started, and then when they beat us they killed us," Shanahan said. "I think former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon completed about 85 passes in a row against us in that game."

INJURY REPORT: WR Joey Galloway (foot) and FB B.J. Askew (hamstring) are out for Sunday, according to Friday's injury report. S Sabby Piscitelli (elbow) is doubtful; LB Derrick Brooks (hamstring), RG Davin Joseph (foot) and DT Ryan Sims (groin) are questionable, and CB Aqib Talib (illness) is probable.

Roy Cummings

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