TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Assertive, adaptable and resourceful.
The way Jon Gruden and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers see it, they have little choice but to be all of those in their bid to become the first team to win consecutive division titles in the NFC South.
The Bucs (6-3) have overcome key injuries, two changes at quarterback and inconsistency on offense, defense and special teams to put themselves in good position to chase their third playoff berth in four years.
Whether it’s leading rusher Earnest Graham sacrificing carries and becoming a lead blocker when the team has no healthy fullbacks; Brian Griese winning three games after Jeff Garcia was benched as the starting quarterback; Garcia playing well after regaining the job because of injury; or Antonio Bryant emerging as a go-to receiver in the absence of Joey Galloway, the Bucs have found a way to thrive.
“I think everybody just plays well together,” running back Warrick Dunn said. “We’re like a bunch of brothers out there.”
he road in overtime. And they’ve prospered while not having to rely nearly as much as usual on a defense that ranked among the NFL’s best for more than a decade.
For the first time in years, the Bucs’ offense is just as capable of controlling a game as the defense.
“I like this team. We’ve had nine pretty solid outings. We’ve won six, lost three,” Gruden said.
“You go to the stadium (last Sunday) and there is no Warrick Dunn, there’s no Arron Sears, there’s no Jermaine Phillips, we lose Earnest Graham. What can you say? People have stepped up when they’ve been asked to step up. … They work hard, they believe in one another and they’re pretty good.”
Since the formation of the NFC South in 2002, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Atlanta and New Orleans have all won the division at least once. With three titles, the Bucs are the only team that has finished first more than once.
One of the reasons Gruden is optimistic about becoming the first repeat champion has been the steady improvement of young players Barrett Ruud, Tanard Jackson and Gaines Adams on defense, and maturation of a young offensive line anchored by offseason acquisition Jeff Faine.
Another is the way reserves such as second-year safety Sabby Piscitelli and rookies Jeremy Zuttah, Aquib Talib, Clifton Smith, Elbert Mack and Geno Hayes have performed. All have played key roles in victories.
“Since I’ve been here, I think we’ve as a team gotten a lot better at acquiring depth,” said receiver Ike Hilliard, a 12th-year pro in his fourth season with Tampa Bay.
“I’ll let everyone else talk about what we may or may not have, but we feel good about what we’ve been trying to build over the last couple of years. … We do a good job of stressing the team concept. No matter what your role is, do it to the best of your ability when you get out there.”
The Bucs, Panthers (6-2), Falcons (5-3) and Saints (4-4) are bunched within two games in the division. Each team seems improved over a year ago, and Gruden expects the race to go down to the wire.
In hopes of getting healthy for the stretch run, the Tampa Bay coach took the unusual step of giving the players seven days off rather focusing on mistakes and brushing up on fundamentals during the bye week.
The exception is running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, who began the season on the physically unable to perform list and continued to work out in his bid to return from a serious knee injury that’s sidelined him since September 2007.
With Graham (knee) and Dunn (back) less than 100 percent, and the fullback position depleted with B.J. Askew still recovering from a hamstring injury and Byron Storer out for the season, a healthy Williams could have an impact in coming weeks.
“He has a great look in his eye. He is very confident, I think, in his knee and what he has put into this,” Gruden said. “We will see what Earnest and Warrick’s health status is … but there is a possibility that he can help us, and that would be really exciting.”
Last week, the Bucs rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat Kansas City in overtime. It was the largest comeback in franchise history, as well as a victory some believe could propel the team.
“It could be one of those games that can define you as a team,” Hilliard said. “We’ll see now how we react from this point forward.”
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