Bucs offense stopped A.P., too

Coach Jon Gruden made an important point this morning that probably got lost in the shuffle after Sunday's game.

For all the credit we gave the Bucs defense for limiting Vikings RB Adrian Peterson to 85 yards in the win, the Bucs' offense did a yeoman's job, too.

How, you ask? By playing keep away. Frankly, the Vikings didn't have the ball long enough to do a whole lot of damage, particularly in the second half.

Minnesota ran 32 offensive plays in the first half, but in the second half, it was held to just 20 snaps. Meanwhile, the Bucs ran 39 plays in the second half, keeping the Vikings offense off the field, even if Tampa Bay couldn't convert on many of its possessions.

"I thought the offense did extremely well, limiting (Peterson's) opportunities," Gruden said. "That's the best way to shut him down: Leave him on the sideline. I thought our defense tackled, we got people to the football and it's a credit to Coach (Monte) Kiffin and the defense. It's also very much a credit to the offense for keeping them off the field, possessing the ball as long as they did."

Peterson was limited to 14 yards on six carries in the second half.

Comments

[Anthony]

That offense just needs to learn how to score TD's. So far they look like another 1 and done playoff team to me.

[Donovan]

There is this one play called a 'Pass' that can facilitate the offense actually putting 6 points on the scoreboard at a time. I think Gruden's offense is too complicated to have such an intricate scheme installed into it though. I have seem some teams use it, but for now, at least we figured out how to use the shotgun in the last 5 years under him.

So that's what the offence was doing on 1st and goal from the 3. They were intentionally running 3 plays without getting in the endzone so they could run time off the clock and keep the ball away from A.P.

[Slueter]

Gruden haters, this must be horrible for you. The Bucs are 7-3, 5-0 at home. Not a good year to be a Gruden hater. The Bucs are only 14 pts away from being undefeated, and you still complain? Look at yourself and just admit it, you are mad at yourself because you wish you were Gruden. I think they should re-name Dale Mabry to Gruden Highway.

[Ryan]

If it werent for Monte Kiffin we wouldnt be where we are. Our offense is way too complex. I guess i would be a gruden hater. I am glad we are doing good, i just dont like his schemes. He is supposed to be an offensive guru, but we havent ever had a good offense under him.

[Vince]

Ryan, you must have missed Stephen's point. It was the offense, not the defense, that turned "all day" into "half a day." A.P. was running all over our defense in the first half (71 yards?). The offense kept the ball a away from A.P. in the second half with long, long drives. The touchdown was an 80+ yard drive. (BTW, I think it's safe to say an 8th ranked offense is a "good offense")

Our defense is awesome, but you have to give the offense some credit (sometimes, right?). If you want to make the Gruden-haters really mad you just say that the offense did well enough yesterday and it did so without a feature back, a starting tight end and a deep threat. Make them really mad by saying the offense did well with two very successful Gruden reclamation projects (WR, TE) Ooooh, that makes the Gruden-haters cringe!

[Dark Side]

We won, and even thought i am a gruden hater, i will give him and the whole team credit. The redzone problems have to stop, but that TD by bryant got called back for holding and thats not Grudens fault (even though the play was a bad call and Garcia had to make something out of nothing on that play). But I will say this, if we cant totally dominate a winless team next week, or have to come back ala KC, we will go nowhere this year!

[Tony]

Dark Side, if you don't think that there are players on the Lions you need a wake up call. The Lions will be very motivated to win for Marinelli, very motivated. Our key is Jeff Garcia, he has not played very well on the road this season, that has to change. Remember last years game? Garcia's fumbled snap on the goal line. Forget a blow out, just win by one and they are 8-3....period.

[OAR]

DARKSIDE 5 OF DETROIT'S LAST 6 GAMES HAVE ONLY BEEN LOST BY 3 - 6 POINTS, SO I'M NOT SURE THEY ARE AS BAD AS PEOPLE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR. WHAT'S THAT OLE SAYING, "ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, ANY GIVEN TEAM" I'M JUST HOPING THE BUCS PLAY WELL ENOUGH TO WIN.

[Dale]

Did yall forget that EG got knocked out of the game on his first carry and Gruden still won the game.

[joe]

We need a right handed bat

the bucs offense was pretty d%mn good in the playoffs in 2002. the defense was great but with the limited amount of playmakers gruden put together an amazing offense. he still has not had the type of personel to have an awesome offense by the way (Ryan)

[Itch]

Just because someone rightfully criticizes gruden does not mean that they hate him. Gruden could be a great coach if he was a better play caller and simplified his plays. Complexity does not equal yards and certainly not points. We have gotten to ths point because of Garcia's play making, so all the Garcia doubters should be rethinking their positions. Also, for all the Barber slammers, he played a great game and only mssed a couple of tackles on a great RB.