Bucs coach Jon Gruden has a reputation for preferring veterans to rookies, but even he makes an exception to that rule when the kids are exceptional.
An outstanding draft class, led by running back Cadillac Williams, blended nicely with a graying defense that finished No. 1 overall in the NFL to complete a worst to first turnaround for the Bucs (11-5) in the NFC South.
Defining moment of season
If there was a turning point in Tampa Bay’s season, it may have been Gruden’s decision to go for a game-winning two-point conversion against the Washington Redskins on Nov. 13. Trailing by a point with just less than a minute left in the game, fullback Mike Alstott powered his way into the end zone for the winning points in a 36-35 thriller. Before that decision, the Bucs had lost three out of four games, including two straight with Chris Simms taking over as the starting quarterback.
“I don’t know if it was a no-brainer,” Gruden said. “I’ve never done that before and you don’t see it done very often, where a team goes for it.”
Team MVP
At 34, when most NFL receivers are ready for the gold watch, Joey Galloway (left) keeps cleaning everyone’s clock. The speedy receiver enjoyed a career-best 83 catches for 1,287 yards and a club-record 10 touchdowns in his second season with the Bucs. Galloway routinely drew double-teams, helping the Bucs running game by taking the eighth man out of the box.
Rookie of the year
Carnell Williams (right) was not only the Bucs’ best rookie, he was named the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,178 yards, a club record for first-year players.
Unsung hero
Rookie Alex Smith. No, not that Alex Smith, the first overall pick of the 49ers. The Bucs’ Alex Smith had a better year. Much better. The rookie tight end was second on the team with 41 receptions for 367 yards and two touchdowns.
Surprise of year
Simms looked wobbly when he took over for injured starter Brian Griese, losing at San Francisco and to Carolina. But he found his sea legs against the Redskins, directing the first of three fourth-quarter comebacks as the Bucs went 6-2 down the stretch.
“Not a lot of teams in the playoffs are playing with their second quarterback, either” Gruden said. “Chris Simms has been a huge factor.”
Controversy of year
Flashing a wide smile, Simeon Rice showed little remorse for missing a team meeting that led to the Bucs’ decision to send him home before their 15-10 loss to the 49ers on Oct. 30.
Rice, the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end who finished with 14 sacks, said he was unaware the team meeting had been moved from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“I didn’t forget about the meeting, I thought it was at the regular time, 8 o’clock,” Rice said. “They moved it to 7. Yeah, I showed up late. That’s all it was. It was an honest mistake. Human error.”
Revealing statistic
The Bucs wrestled the ranking of No. 1 defense in the NFL from the Bears in the final week of the season. It’s the third time in club history Tampa Bay has finished in the top spot–1979, 2002 and 2005.
Biggest problem Bears pose
The Bears’ defense mirrors the Bucs’. Tampa Bay’s weakness is pass protection and the Bears were able to get pressure by rushing just four. Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye had two sacks each in the first meeting between the teams.
They are unbeatable when . . .
Williams rushes for 100 yards. The Bucs are 6-0 when he reaches the century mark.
They rarely win when . . .
The Bucs allow an opponent to have a 100-yard rusher. It doesn’t happen often, especially because Tampa Bay improved its run defense from 19th to sixth (94.7 yards per game) this season. But in the last five seasons, Tampa Bay is 3-16 when an opposing player gets 100.
