Tampa Bay’s Sam Wyche should get an award for Unselfish Coach of the Year. He drafted quarterback Trent Dilfer knowing he might not be around long enough to enjoy Dilfer’s talents.
Craig Erickson is the quarterback of the present, quite capable of helping the Buccaneers get off their knees. Whether he can eventually hold off Dilfer is a question Wyche may or may not be able to answer.
Only Green Bay’s Brett Favre threw more interceptions than Erickson last year, but only Favre threw more touchdown passes than Erickson within the NFC Central.
“We can go to the playoffs with Craig Erickson,” Wyche said.
First, the Bucs must avoid their 12th consecutive double-digit losing season.
Wyche had to wait until the second round to address a more pressing need, running back. There, he landed Florida’s Errict Rhett, who must immediately fill the void left by Reggie Cobb, who went to Green Bay. In truth, it was not much of a void last season; Cobb averaged only 3 yards per carry. Clearly, the Bucs have a problem running the football, a fatal flaw in a division where running is so important.
If the Bucs had a redeeming virtue, such as an ability to stop the run, they wouldn’t appear so helpless. Alas, they were 23rd against the run, lower than any division rival. This weakness was apparent despite the presence of linebacker Hardy Nickerson, a Pro Bowl starter who made a whopping 214 tackles.
The obvious improvement in the off-season was the free-agent signing of tight end Jackie Harris from the Packers. Not only did it strengthen the Bucs’ passing and running attack, it weakened the Packers and contributed to overall division parity. Whether the Bucs can exploit Harris may depend on the ability of wideouts to stretch defenses. That’s up to Courtney Hawkins, Horace Copeland, ex-Lion Willie Green, Lamar Thomas and Lawrence Dawsey.
The Bucs’ embarrassing track record with top draft choices continued when linebacker Broderick Thomas was dumped-and signed by Detroit. The Bucs never could find a place for Thomas or another ex-No. 1, Keith McCants, who’s now with Houston. This is either a curious commentary for a defense that is traditionally shaky or a telling reflection on those players.
Last year’s No. 1, Eric Curry, was having a good rookie season until he was injured. He returns at right end. Tackles Santana Dotson and Mark Wheeler are joined by Miami pickup Jeff Hunter.
The Bucs lost outstanding cornerback Ricky Reynolds to New England, but picked up Dallas safety Thomas Everett. They added Kansas City linebacker Lonnie Marts to help Nickerson in a defense that will feature two linebackers and five safeties, including safety-linebacker hybrid Barney Bussey. Safety Marty Carter averages 100 tackles a season and is one of those anonymous good players the Bucs have hiding here and there.
Tired of the inevitable jokes that cling to the Bucs like itch on chicken pox, the team actually endured a chicken pox scare this summer that downed Milton Mack, Nickerson, Rogerick Green and Tyji Armstrong. A national paper illustrated an article with a forlorn football being kicked around while wearing a Bucs helmet. The article introduced a book by a Bucs fan titled: “The First Unofficial Buccaneers Jokebook.”
“They left out virtually every good thing that’s happened in the last couple or three years here,” Wyche said. “They kind of drew the line just about three years ago and said, `Look what a lousy team. It must be lousy again this year. Let’s draw a funny caricature and introduce a book-that isn’t selling any copies, I understand-and use it as the lead copy.”‘
Starting Sunday in Chicago against the Bears, the Bucs have the chance to laugh last.
