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Despite All The Passing, Bucs Need To Run, Too

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 28, 2008

TAMPA - Deception is a big part of NFL football. Every coach wants to make you think he's doing one thing when he's really trying to do something else.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden is no exception. All that pre-snap movement you see in his offense, it's an attempt to deceive the other team.

There was a lot of pre-snap movement before the season started this year. Most of it left people thinking the Bucs were gearing up to run.

First they signed center Jeff Faine to bolster their offensive line, then they signed tight end John Gilmore, a noted run blocker. They signed Warrick Dunn, a noted running back, re-signed Michael Bennett, another running back, and drafted guard Jeremy Zuttah in the third round.

Was it all just a ruse? Maybe so. After three weeks the Bucs are tied for 26th in the league in rushing attempts with 65.

Meanwhile, they lead the league in pass attempts with 139. That's 19 more than the Colts, who are known for passing the ball - a lot.

The Bucs are 2-1, and it's hard to argue with success. But something quarterback Brian Griese said Sunday can't be ignored.

All this passing "is not a recipe for long-term success," Griese said. Actually, he said that twice, as if to emphasize the point.

It's a good one. But maybe it's all just a set-up. You know, more deception. Make everyone think you want to balance the attack and then throw it all over the lot again.

It's hard to imagine Gruden not liking the idea. He loves to throw the ball. Ten out of 10 times he'd rather throw it than run it. Again, it's hard to complain.

It's a pretty exciting brand of football the Bucs are throwing out there these days. It sure beats some of the stuff we saw when Mike Shula was their coordinator.

But Shula, the son of the coach who coached Griese's father, Bob, knew what Griese knows. All this throwing is a recipe for disaster.

Last week, the Bears crowded the line of scrimmage and dared the Bucs to throw, and Gruden gladly accepted the dare.

At some point, most teams have to tuck the ball and run with it to win in this league. The Bucs appear to be one of those teams.

Sure, their line held for the 67 throws they made last week, but most teams give up a sack once every 15 pass attempts. When it's all said and done this year, the Bucs will probably have done the same thing.

And let's not forget that Griese threw three interceptions before rallying the Bucs last week. He's now averaging one pick every 23 throws the past four years. Not even Brett Favre throws a pick that often.

That doesn't mean you don't want to put the game in Griese's hands. He has a habit of doing what he did against the Bears.

Still, the Bucs will probably be better off in the long run if they put the ball in the hands of their running backs. And sooner or later, they probably will. Until then, don't be deceived. It's a good show they're putting on.

STOCKING STUFFER: It's never too early to start filling the wishes of the people on your holiday shopping list. For the Bucs fan on that list, a new book about Bucs running back Warrick Dunn just may be the ticket.

"Running For My Life," written by Dunn and Don Yaeger with contributions from former Tampa Tribune Florida State beat writer Jim Henry, is scheduled for release Nov. 4.

The book opens with Dunn's visit to death row at Louisiana's Angola Prison, where he met face-to-face for the first time with Kevan Brumfield, the man who murdered his mother, Betty Smothers, leaving Dunn to care for his five brothers and sisters.

The book, which includes a forward written by former Bucs coach Tony Dungy, is available for presale on Amazon.com.

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