TAMPA, Fla. — Walking into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers locker room isn’t too far removed from a stroll into the NFL Films archive. And while that may be good for a nostalgic look back, cynics say that may be a reason the team ranks 14th in the league on defense — pretty good by Broncos standards, maybe, but down 12 notches from its 2007 rank.
Linebacker Derrick Brooks practically has taxidermists lining up to service his 35-year-old frame, while cornerback Ronde Barber, 33, is in a decidedly negative groove — giving up touchdown passes in each of the past three weeks. And if the D’s leadership can’t function, the argument goes, there’s no way for the unit as a whole to succeed.
Providing the counter argument is Bucs coach Jon Gruden.
“Unfortunately, today everybody judges an offense or a defense by total yards allowed or total yards gained. That to me is hogwash,” Gruden said. “I think the great defenses don’t give up touchdowns in the red zone. They get off the field on third down. I think they create impact plays, whether it be sacks or turnovers. And I think the great defenses, at least the ones I’ve been around, they score themselves.
“We’ve got some guys back there that are very opportunistic. . . . We have some playmakers back there and we’re trying to emphasize getting turnovers and scoring, finishing the plays. We’ve got three defensive scores. I believe that’s tops in the league.”
To use a baseball term, a great defense also “picks up” a struggling offense. Such was the case last Sunday in Tampa Bay’s 30-21 victory over Green Bay. The Buccaneers threw for only 149 yards, and for three quarters, the team had only one run longer that 10 yards. But that barely mattered. Tampa’s defense was so stout that of the team’s five scoring drives, the longest was only 48 yards. That of course, didn’t include the six points gained on Jermaine Phillips’ 38-yard fumble return.
“We really don’t have an offense, defense and special teams; we have one team,” said quarterback Brian Griese, who may be the biggest beneficiary of the defense’s clutch performances. “We believe we’re going to get the job done, no matter what the time or score is. And that’s a powerful thing to have this early in the season.”
That feeling certainly will be put to the test Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High. The Bucs’ lone defeat this year came to a New Orleans team that has moved the football well offensively — just not as well as the Broncos, who, despite laying an egg last weekend in Kansas City, still lead the league in offense, at 435.5 yards and trail only San Diego with 33.2 points a game.
If that seems like a daunting challenge, well, say the Bucs, what else is new?
“It seems like in this league, that’s just the way it is — every week you’re playing another great quarterback, another great running back,” defensive end Kevin Carter said. “It’s the biggest game of the season. It will have so much impact.
“That’s the test of the National Football League: It is mentally draining. There are those who can keep it together and move forward, go to the next game, win lose or draw, and go out the next week and put it together again. The teams that can do that on a consistent basis are the teams that win over the long haul.”
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
