Detroit’s Mel Gray was fourth in the NFC in kickoff-return average (24.6 yards) and fifth in punt-return average (8.6 yards) in 1993. He needs 10 kickoff returns and 529 kickoff-return yards to establish NFL all-time records in those categories. Wonder why the NFL is moving the kickoff tee back? Gray was one of only four players to return a kickoff for a touchdown in the NFL last season.
Oddsmakers didn’t have a very high opinion of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season: Tampa was a favorite only once, a Dec. 5 matchup with the abysmal Washnigton Redskins. The Bucs, 2 1/2-point favorites in that game, lost 23-17.
Despite missing the last five games of the season with a knee injury, Detroit’s Barry Sanders became only the third running back in NFL history to record 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first five seasons in the league. The other two: Eric Dickerson and Tony Dorsett.
Tampa Bay quarterbacks threw 25 interceptions in 1993, tied for the league high with the Atlanta Falcons. Buccaneers QBs have tied for or held the NFL interception title in four of the last six seasons. In that same period, no Tampa Bay team has won more than six games in a season. Last year, Bucs starting QB Craig Erickson cut down on his interceptions as the season wore on. He threw one interception for every 16.9 attempts in the first eight games, but only one every 28.2 attempts in the final eight.
Offensive line has been a problem for the Detroit Lions. In 1993, only the Bears allowed more sacks (48) among NFC teams than the Lions (46). Detroit also had more “stuffs” allowed than any team in the NFL, with 72 carries when the ball carrier was tackled behind the line of scrimmage. The great Barry Sanders himself was stuffed a league-high 38 times for a total loss of 91 yards.
Besides throwing more interceptions than any other NFL team besides the Atlanta Falcons-who also threw 25-the Tampa Bay defense picked off only nine opponents’ passes, tied for the league low with the Phoenix Cardinals.
Kicking is one of Detroit’s strong suits. Punter Greg Montgomery led the NFL with a 45.6-yard average last season, and kicker Jason Hanson was second in the league in scoring with 130 points. Hanson has never missed a field goal from inside the 40-yard line in his two-year NFL career.
Tampa Bay’s kickoff coverage improved from last in the NFL in 1992 to fifth in 1993, thanks in part to the powerful leg of rookie plackekicker Michael Husted.
Tight end has been an underutilized position on the Lions in recent years. Last season, Detroit attempted only 43 passes to its tight ends. Only the Cardinals and two teams that don’t really use a tight end-the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons-attempted fewer passes to passes to their TEs. While rarely used, the Detroit tight ends were at least productive, averaging 9.9 yards per reception.
In 1993, Tampa Bay linebacker Hardy Nickerson became the team’s first Pro Bowl player since the 1990 season. Nickerson had 124 tackles and 90 assists.
Linebacker Chris Spielman has led the Lions in tackles for six consecutive seasons.
Tampa Bay had a total of 1,290 yards rushing last season, lowest in the NFC and just 2 yards more than the NFL-low of 1,288 posted by the Indianapolis Colts.
The records as starters for Detroit’s rotating trio of quarterbacks last year: Rodney Peete, 6-4; Andre Ware, 1-1; Erik Kramer, 3-1.
Tampa Bay rookie defensive end Eric Curry tied for second on the team in sacks with five, despite playing only 10 games before being sidelined by an ankle injury.
Detroit wide receiver Herman Moore averaged 20.7 yards per catch in the fourth quarter last season.
Sources: Team NFL 1994 Preview; STATS Inc. Pro Football Revealed 1994.
