Tampa
Bay Buccaneers
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HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2002
(Injury Report)
“John Lynch was able to play, although he did have some pain in his
right knee. We are going to list John as probable for the game against
Philadelphia. We were very impressed with what he did yesterday. (Safety)
Dexter Jackson is the only guy we added to our injury list with a turf
toe. We are going to list him as probable for the Philadelphia game, but
he will probably be limited on Wednesday at practice.”
(On fullback Mike Alstott’s role in the offense)
“Mike is our starting fullback and Michael Pittman is our starting
tailback. There are some backfield sets where Mike (Alstott) becomes the
tailback. I am not going to outline a specific plan at this time, but
we are going to try and be as creative as we can and utilize both of these
backs and that’s the bottom line.”
(On whether Mike Alstott will get more carries)
“We like to see Mike Alstott carry the ball, particularly if he is
running like he did yesterday, but I am not going to start a running back
controversy. Mike Pittman also had 150 or 160 all-purpose yards yesterday.
We are going to use both the backs the best way we can.”
(On defending Eagles QB Donovan McNabb)
“That’s a real challenge. This guy is built like a halfback,
he’s 240 pounds, he’s very elusive and a very strong-armed guy.
They have a very good supporting cast in Philadelphia and it will be a
real challenge for us. We’ve just got to continue to play 11-man
football on defense, very disciplined, high energy and we’ve got
to control the pocket and limit some of the opportunities that he creates
for their offense.”
(On if he will study the film from the last two Buccaneers games in Philadelphia)
“We’ll look at it. We’ll see how Philadelphia defended
the Buccaneers offense. We’ll see how we matched up and played against
their offense. It will be a tool for us, but obviously we will look at
this year’s tapes also.”
(On if the Buccaneers have been looking toward the Eagles game)
“We have been very short-term goal oriented. I am not aware of anybody
with one eye down the line in terms of this game or us being distracted
in any way. I just approach this thing one game at a time and I have not
felt any ill feelings toward Philadelphia whatsoever. I know it’s
that time of year where we play Philadelphia on the road and it is going
to be an exciting opportunity for us.”
(On if Buccaneers game plan to get certain players the ball)
“Yesterday when we saw a lot of double zone coverage the best thing
for us to do in our opinion was to run the football. They were playing
two-deeps and five underneath and Mike Alstott obviously had a lot to
do with our success yesterday. We are no different than any other team
in this league. Everybody has five eligible players and most of them are
pretty good and if they are not, they are going to find five that are.
Our distribution of the ball is something that we are working on here.
We’ve distributed it pretty evenly I think between (Keenan) McCardell
and Keyshawn (Johnson), though that’s not our primary goal on this
team. Mike Alstott has done this type of running over the years, he’s
just a guy that you really got to try to find ways to utilize just a little
bit more.”
(On if they had planned on using Mike Alstott late in the game)
“That was the plan. It was something we felt we could lean on late
in this game. We went to him earlier because of the style of defense that
they played. They hadn’t played any of their previous opponents like
they played us yesterday so we made some adjustments at halftime and we
came out in the second half with the intent of running the football. Fortunately,
our offensive line blocked well and Mike Alstott ran extremely well.”
(On the problems with the field goal unit)
“It wasn’t a problem, it was a catastrophe. It was an inexcusable
display, honestly. When you have Martin Gramatica, you can make an argument
and I will say that he is the best kicker in the universe. You better
give him a snap, put it on the tee and you better protect him because
he is capable of hitting three-run homers every time he steps up to the
plate. I was not pleased with that at all and it is a scenario we are
going to look at carefully the next couple of days.”
(On how to change the recent lack of success vs. the Eagles)
“It’s all going to be determined by the players between the
lines. We’re going to try and put together the best plan we can.
We’re not going to concentrate on what’s underneath the bridge
and what’s happened in the past. I think the big thing we got to
do is go out there and concentrate and play our best football and not
investigate into what happened last year and the year before that. We
just got to concentrate on what’s happening now with this year’s
football team and get ourselves mentally and physically ready to play.”
(On if this week is the Bucs’ toughest challenge)
They’re tough. There’s no question about that. I know people
in Philadelphia. They don’t like the other team that’s coming
to town. It’s going to be a real challenge. Who are we to compare
who is tougher than someone else? The St. Louis Rams looked pretty tough
to me in the game I saw yesterday. So, who knows? They’re a great
football team, Philadelphia. They’re the defending [NFC] Eastern
champion. It’ll be a good test for us. I don’t know if it’s
the most challenging or the least challenging, I know this, it’s
a challenge.”
(On the Bucs defense)
“They’re tackling extremely well. They believe in one another.
They really do. They got a real good concept of this defense. They communicate
well. They adjust easily, formation changes, personnel substitutions take
place. They play with high energy. I mean all 11 men are tackling very
well. We’ve had a good solid pass rush, at times excellent and at
times unbelievably excellent. We’ve been able to stop the run. We
have put some teams in obvious down and distance situations, which is
always, and will always, be the key in my opinion is first down success.”
(On the offensive line)
“We felt the guys played pretty solid football. There are some things
in pass protection that we will have to do better but when you rush for
nearly 200 yards and I don’t believe you give up a sack, there’s
a collection there of pretty good effort. Every one of those guys battled
on a very hot day and played hard and did some good things. But, we still
can improve.”
(On whether Sapp was in Coach’s ear to get in on offense or if it
was planned to use him in short-yardage situations)
“It was a combination of the two. Warren [Sapp] is a part of our
goal-line offense when we go to what we call our ‘Hurricane’
personnel. It’s three tight ends and two backs. Warren becomes one
of the eligible tight ends. Unfortunately, his debut was not a blockbuster
play, but he is part of the offense. He’s a part of our goal-line
package we practice every week.”
(On a meeting between Coach Gruden and FB Mike Alstott and how to keep
everyone happy)
“It’s part of being a coach in the league. I don’t know
any offensive coaches or head coaches that don’t have the same problem
I have. I really don’t. Philadelphia has the same problem, I’m
sure that I have. It’s not about the back of people’s football
cards, it’s about winning football games. We’re going to do
everything we can to please as many people along the way as we can. We
really are. But, it all comes down to winning and that’ll never change
as long as I’m here.”
(On not being sharp on offense)
“We took a step back in some ways yesterday throwing the football.
Again, it’s a credit to Cleveland and the style of defense that they
came in here and played. We had a game plan basically set up for a lot
of looks and a lot of different coverages. When a team comes in here and
basically plays two deep and five under, you have to hold the ball a little
bit. You have to try and get enough people out and create some options.
And Brad [Johnson] did have some good looks yesterday. We missed a couple
of throws that are un-characteristic for him. At the same time, I think
the coverage that Cleveland came in here and played kind of threw us out
of rhythm a little bit. I thought we re-grouped at the half and came out
and threw the ball the first three drives of the second half very well.
Then, after that, I don’t think we threw it very much.”
(On the uniqueness of Philadelphia)
“Unique makeup of the city? I never saw anything but the dark going
to-and-from over the Walt Whitman Bridge. I don’t remember the makeup
of the city. I know this; it’s a passionate city. They love their
football. It’s going to be a very exciting atmosphere there, it always
is.”
(On the kicking unit and deep snappers)
“We’re going to look at that overall team. We’ll look at
that as a staff here shortly, from the snap to the right wing to the left
wing. And, yes the snapper is included.”
(On WR Keyshawn Johnson lining up in the backfield)
“We’re just trying to get a little movement. We were trying
to take advantage, honestly, of a secondary man that hadn’t played
very much. [They] had a new safety. We were just trying to shift around
a little bit early in the game, making sure they were dotting the I’s
and crossing their T’s and to get a pre-snap look for our quarterback.
We did move the formation early in the first drive of the game. But, when
we realized they were just going to play a lot of two-deep zone, it became
a moot point. It wasn’t having any impact on them whatsoever. So,
we kind of canned some of the movement we had scripted for yesterday.”
(On offensive-minded coaches tempering their offense and if he is struggling
with the same situation as Brian Billick did when he started out at Baltimore)
“I’m not struggling at all. I’m feeling pretty good. You
play some regular season games and get a better feel and better pulse
of the team you’re working with, day in and day out. There are some
areas we are excited about. It was our best rushing game to date and our
fifth straight win. There are some areas we are going to have to improve.
Will this become a wide-open offense at some point? That’s our goal.
Our goal is, again, to win. It could be a close formation, turn around
and slam it in with (Mike) Alstott. If that’s what it takes to win.
That’s something I’m going through a little bit. I learned a
great thing yesterday, that that is not a bad thing.”
(On the CB Dwight Smith personal foul call)
“I didn’t like that call. I, again, don’t always agree
with everything that takes place on the field. I, obviously, voiced my
displeasure for that particular call. But, I can’t say anything further
because these are taped. I don’t want to question the officiating,
they’re doing the best they can but I did not like that call.”
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