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Bucs-Seahawks: 5 Keys To The Game

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Roy Cummings/The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2008

DON'T TAKE THESE GUYS LIGHTLY
The Seahawks are a mess right now, especially on offense. They started the season in a rebuilding mode, and things got worse when QB Matt Hasselbeck got hurt. The situation is so bad that the Seahawks are making regular use of WR Koren Robinson, who they gave up on three years ago. This is a team ripe for a beating, but that's why they're so dangerous.

A wise man once said the foe you should fear the worst is the foe with nothing to lose. That pretty much sums up the Seahawks. They are desperately close to falling out of the race for an NFC playoff berth, so it's hard to know what to expect from them. The Bucs cannot approach this game as if they're taking on an already defeated opponent. Seattle is still strong defensively and capable of doing plenty of damage offensively. The Bucs seldom take any team lightly, and treating the Seahawks with the proper respect will go a long way toward ensuring they don't stumble in a game they should win.

PICK UP THE BLITZ
One thing that makes Seattle dangerous is its ability to successfully pressure the quarterback from any angle on the field and in any situation. The Seahawks are a little like the Eagles in that they will blitz when it seems almost inconceivable to do so. A strong secondary allows the Seahawks to drop into man coverage and send an extra pass rusher, so the Bucs have to be sharp. Their backs must pick up blitzes, and QB Jeff Garcia must be quick to recognize them and get his offense into plays to counter them.

The Bucs may want to use fewer three- and four-receiver sets than usual to neutralize the blitz. Another weapon against the blitz is a quick-strike attack. Getting the ball out quickly and into the hands of receivers early could result in the Seahawks playing more zone coverage and calling off the blitzes.

CATCH THE BALL
We're talking about the defense here. By S Jermaine Phillips' count, the Bucs left four big plays on the field last week against Carolina, all Jake Delhomme passes that were dropped by defenders. It didn't matter that the Bucs blew so many takeaway chances in a 27-3 win. Sooner or later, though, the Bucs are going to get into a game in which they need a pick, and it will be devastating if the opportunity presents itself only to disappear because someone can't hold onto the ball.

The Bucs have done an exceptional job of creating takeaway opportunities this year. Even the players that participate primarily in their sub packages are getting their hands on balls, but the Bucs can still do better. They have 11 picks. They should probably have 17 or 18.

KEY ON JULIUS JONES
The Seahawks are ranked fifth in the league with a 137-yard rushing average. The key player in the attack is RB Julius Jones, who has to be enemy No. 1 for the Bucs. Tampa Bay's defense always starts with stopping the run, and the Seahawks will look to lean on Jones in an effort to take pressure off their passing game. Jones is capable of beating anyone, pretty much by himself.

He is tied for eighth in the league in rushing with 417 yards and would have had a 100-yard effort last week had a 51-yard run not been wiped out by a penalty. Jones beats teams with his speed and quickness through the hole, sort of like Warrick Dunn. If the Bucs stop him, they can make the Seahawks' attack one-dimensional.

CONTROL THE RED ZONE
The defense has been doing this all year, allowing just three touchdowns in 11 opponent possessions inside the 20. The offense hasn't been quite as strong. The Bucs are 24th in the league in red-zone efficiency, with 10 touchdowns in 24 chances. They were much better last week, scoring a touchdown on two of three red-zone chances. That's more along the lines of what the Bucs need.

This is again becoming a team that relies far too much on its defense to create scoring chances. The offense needs to take some pressure off the defense. The Bucs have moved the ball well between the 20s, but they need to do a better job of moving it inside the 20, because that's what it takes to beat the really good teams.

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