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Friday, September 10, 2004
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Bucs Have Some Familiarity With Skins' Offense
Tampa Bay coach John Gruden is notorious for studying film until all hours of the
night, and
has unearthed some tapes of Gibbs's glory years leading up to Sunday's game.
Of all the teams in the NFL to have to face Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs in his first
game back
from an 11-year football hiatus, Tampa Bay -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC21A2949E17F3F5CE4B90
may be one of the best equipped to do so. The Buccaneers have several people who are
very
familiar with Gibbs's offense system and they have an astute head coach of their own,
Jon Gruden,
who has steeped himself in the history of Gibbs's attack as well.
Former Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, who won a Super Bowl in Washington under
Gibbs,
is now an executive for the Buccaneers and he scouted all of Washington's preseason
games looking
for any tidbits that might help his team in the opener. ("Hopefully, he won't guess
right,"
Gibbs said of Williams.)
The club's general manager, Bruce Allen, is the son of former Redskins coach George
Allen,
and Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has spent over 20 years in the NFL
and has
worked against Gibbs's offense firsthand ("He's the best," Washington assistant head
coach-offense,
Joe Bugel, said of Kiffin).
So there is no shortage of Redskins lore going around in Tampa, and Gruden bristled
when asked
repeated questions about Gibbs and that franchise during a conference call with the
media.
"After a while you get tired of talking about the history of the Washington
Redskins," Gruden
said. "You'd better just concentrate on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because that's
basically
all we can control."
Gruden is notorious for studying film until all hours of the night, and he has
unearthed some
tapes of Gibbs's glory years leading up to this game. Gruden said he has shown some
clips to
his players to alert them to certain tendencies but is unsure how much will be
replicated when
the players get on the field this weekend.
"We showed them a little bit," Gruden said. "Fortunately, some of us nostalgia
coaches here
kept some of those tapes."
Gruden admitted that his team will face a difficult task Sunday given the excitement
surrounding
the return of Gibbs. The crowd will be pumped and a crowd of more than 90,000 people
is expected
at FedEx Field. However, Tampa Bay can draw some experience from last season, when it
played
the first game ever in Philadelphia's new stadium on a Monday night. Suffice to say,
the atmosphere
during the Buccaneers four preseason games was much more restrained.
"It's tough to simulate that kind of enthusiasm," Gruden said.Players Say They're
Tired
Several Redskins said they felt tired after a grueling training camp that included
five preseason
games and a particularly demanding set of practices this week, but expect to be fresh
for Sunday's
game. "This week they've worked harder than any team I've seen," assistant head
coach-defense
Gregg Williams said. . . .
Tampa Bay defensive end Simeon Rice said he does not expect Gibbs's 11-year layoff
from coaching
to deter from Washington's effectiveness. "That doesn't matter," Rice said. "The guy
has been
a success in anything he's done from coaching football to car racing, NASCAR. So
whatever he's
done, it's kind of like his M.O. is success." . . .
Wide receiver James Thrash is now wearing No. 83.
-- Jason LaCanfora
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--------------------
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--------------------
Taylor Delivers the Hits -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC4012949E17F3F5CE4B90
Sean Taylor's blend of speed and size has helped him fit right into Washington's
defense even
as he slowly adapts to life in the NFL.
--------------------
TONY KORNHEISER
Gibbs May Be Back, but The Bandwagon Isn't -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC5002949E17F3F5CE4B90
Joe Gibbs is back coaching the Redskins but this fact alone does not mean that it's
time for
The Bandwagon to come out of the garage, writes Tony Kornheiser. It's been a long 11
years
here in Washington.
--------------------
REDSKINS NOTEBOOK
Portis Ready to Work - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC3022949E17F3F5CE4B90
Clinton Portis said he is ready to get a substantial number of carries each week as
the featured
tailback and focal point of the offense.
--------------------
NFL INSIDER
Officials Show They Will Enforce Contact Rule -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC20C2949E17F3F5CE4B90
Yes, officials will do as instructed this season and crack down on
clutching-and-grabbing tactics
by defensive backs.
--------------------
2004 Preview
_____Redskins_____
Joe Gibbs returns to the sideline knowing a modification of the rules will have
a major
impact - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC00E2949E17F3F5CE4B90
on his approach to the passing game.
Gregg Williams oversees a defense that has been revamped since finishing 25th -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC7082949E17F3F5CE4B90
among the league's 32 teams last season.
The Eagles appear to be the class of the NFC East -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC40A2949E17F3F5CE4B90
, which may be on the way back after having fallen on lean times the past eight years.
Offensive depth chart -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC5342949E17F3F5CE4B90
Defensive depth chart -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC2372949E17F3F5CE4B90
_____NFL_____
With what may be the most talented group of receivers the NFL has ever seen, look
for the
game to be more wide open than ever this season.
Receivers should get a big boost -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC3362949E17F3F5CE4B90
from the rule modification.
Darrell Green - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC9302949E17F3F5CE4B90
knows a thing or two about receivers and shares his all-time top five.
Complete 2004 Preview section. -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC6332949E17F3F5CE4B90
--------------------
NEWS FROM THE REST OF THE NFC EAST
Dallas - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC53D2949E17F3F5CE4B90
N.Y. Giants - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC33F2949E17F3F5CE4B90
Philadelphia - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT044DFC0392949E17F3F5CE4B90
--------------------
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