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It's Never Too Early For Must Win

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2008

It sounds silly when they say it.

But it's true.

"We got to win this game," Bucs fullback B.J. Askew said.

"You don't want to say 'must win' this early, but at the same time, it is," Bucs linebacker Barrett Ruud said.

It's only the second week of the season. But the Bucs are the only 0-1 team in the NFC South. And today against the Falcons is no time to double down.

"Oh-and-two in the division is a pretty good uphill climb," Ruud said.

It seems as if the Bucs have been trudging uphill for months. It's nothing like the heart of darkness Atlanta went through with Michael Vick, but climbing is climbing.

Nothing has gone right since the Bucs went sleepy sleep to end last season. It's been injuries, intrigue, drama, melodrama, disloyalty, and on and on. As if that wasn't enough, the local chapter president of the Brett Favre Fan Club, Captain Panic Button himself, Jon Gruden, has switched quarterbacks. Oh, and Derrick Brooks might not be in the lineup for the first time since the Sam Wyche days. Well, that just about covers it.

Sounds like Must Win to me.

Just A Dream

I say the Bucs win today.

If they don't?

Here's a worst-case scenario:

Gruden pulls Griese. He turns to Jeff Garcia.

Gruden: "Get in there, Jeff."

Garcia: "Why don't you put Simms in?"

Just a dream we had.

It's a strange sensation, having Griese back at quarterback. The only stranger thing is the idea of Brooks not in the middle of things on defense. His hamstring pulled him from the opener at New Orleans. The last time he'd missed any real time in a game was in high school. Feeling strange yet?

That opener couldn't have helped. The Bucs defense gave up big plays, Garcia and the offense never truly clicked and Gruden picked up right where he left off in the playoff loss to the Giants, not running the ball enough against the Saints. It was a deep, dark sign.

The Bucs rushed for 146 yards last week. They averaged 7.3 yards per carry. Earnest Graham averaged 9.1 yards per carry. The Bucs had a rusty Garcia, a rusty Joey Galloway, some lousy pass protection. So naturally Gruden threw twice as much as he ran.

Here we go again.

Or do we?

The Bucs' Kind Of Game

I say the Bucs win today.

Today is their kind of game.

For one thing, it's Atlanta, and Gruden loves beating Rich McKay. McKay has been drummed out of general managing, but Gruden's heart must still goes thumpity thump at the idea of beating him.

Second, Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan is starting just his second NFL game. He wasn't asked to do much in Atlanta's win last week, unless you count handing the ball to Michael Turner, who ran to Valdosta and back.

The Bucs defense loves rookie quarterbacks. It loves challenges, too. No Brooks is definitely one. Turner is another. Good defenses love gut checks like this.

"Nothing will fire you up like an offense that just wants to run over you," Ruud said.

"They want to impose their will," Bucs defensive lineman Chris Hovan said. "This defense can make a statement this week."

Lastly, Gruden often performs well, short term, amid chaos, even when he creates the chaos himself. Look for him to have a temporary loss of insanity. The best way for this quarterback switch to work today might be for the Bucs to run as much as they can.

Gee, what a concept.

All of that might add up to 1-1.

"You go 0-2, everybody is on edge, everybody is walking on egg shells," Askew said.

It's never too early for Must Win.

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