Simms loving the gun

   Chris Simms is under the gun - in more ways than one.

   The Bucs quarterback, who took the majority of reps with the first-team offense, said he is excited about the use of the shotgun formation this year. If three days of voluntary workouts is any indication, Simms said it will be a big advantage for him this season.

   ""It really does feel great,'' Simms said. ""It's a new feel, a new look for our offense. We can do a few new things out of that set. So I'm really excited about it. I think our whole offense is.''

   Simms struggled last season before suffering a ruptured spleen, going 0-3 with one touchdown and seven interceptions. Several of his passing attempts were batted down at the line of scrimmage, particularly during three-step drops.

    The shotgun may help alleviate some of those problems.

   ""It can really make you see the big picture a little bit better,'' Simms said. ""It's a little different viewpoint when you're underneath the center, three or four feet off the ground and you've got people moving around. You've got to kind of look back and say, "What's going on here?' In the shotgun, you can really see everything and really be in control of the situation. And then of course, you're a few extra steps away from the linemen now, so it's easier to move in the pocket and easier for the linemen as far as knowing where the quarterback is. It should be good.'''

  Because Simms is more of a down-the-field passer, the shot gun may benefit him more than some quarterbacks.

   ""I would say so,'' Simms said. ""I don't think it's a secret I can throw it pretty good. You let me sit back there and usually with the shotgun, the ball is thrown down the field a little bit more on a regular basis and that's definitely one of my strongpoints. But at the same time, I don't think we're going to do a whole lot of crazy stuff out of the shotgun.''

    Simms also said he also has felt no affects from his surgery that forced him to miss the final 13 games of the season.

   ""No ill affects,'' Simms said. ""And I took a few hits today, too. I took a few good ones. I'm not supposed to get hit, but I guessed they wanted to test the spleen...or they wanted to test the space where the spleen was.''

    

         

Comments

[T.j.]

So what will be his excuse when we get the same old same old, We need to get Jake the snake Plummer in here and quit messing around or there is Drew Bledsoe out there ,Anyone but Chris the sissy SIMMs

[Steve G]

Did you just call Chris Simms a sissy? You are an idiot T.j. The guy may not have accomplished anything yet in the NFL, but he certainly proved he is a warrior by playing through the ruptured spleen. Let's see how Chris can do with another year under his belt and if it doesn't work, Garcia can come in and hopefully save the day.

[kim]

Chris Simms has more guts and talent in his big toe than you have brains why does Tampa have such idiots for fans

[kim]

Chris Simms has more guts and talent in his big toe than you have brains why does Tampa have such idiots for fans

[drinklime]

Playing with a ruptured spleen isn't courageous; its called being afraid of your psychotic coach.