I can think of a coach who I believe did as bad: Lovie Smith in Super Bowl XLV, Feb 4, 2007.

In my opinion, the second half of the Bears’ game compared to the first half was awful. Clearly, Chicago was better than Indianapolis in that rainy, messy first half. Then, Lovie Smith changed his game plan and it stalled the Bears in the second. I believe that by changing the plan in the second, it allowed his buddy, Tony Dungy, to win: Colts 29, Bears 17.

Tony Dungy was the first black coach to win the championship. In so doing, he was able to beat his good friend and protege in a history making game that featured the first two black coaches in a Super Bowl.

I’m not saying Lovie Smith gave the game to Tony, but it appeared to me his surprisingly different coaching in the second half made it possible for his dear friend and mentor, Tony Dungy, to be the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl.

Call me off sides for my observation and opinion, but that’s the way it appeared to me.

I think he meant that the 2002 Buccaneers Defense was the best defense of that era. Which, statistically, they could have been. I don’t think he’s trying to say that the 1990-2010 Buccaneers Defense was the best every year. Realistically, the Bucs didn’t even have a winning season until 1997, and wasn’t a good team from 2005-2010
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Even if he did mean to say the 2002 Buccaneers had the best defense he’s stuck on stupid. The 2000 Ravens Defense was easily the best defense and statistics back that up. The 85 Bears D held the record for least points allowed in a 16 game season and the 02 Ravens allowed less points than they did throughout the regular season and playoffs with room to spare.

Overall the Bucs caused a lot of havok forcing turnovers in their secondary. The Bucs were very good against the run, so running the ball was not a sure thing.

However, if you look at the Bucs offense: mediocre passing and terrible running game, it’s probably not a bad game plan to run the ball, minimize turnovers, and play a field position game with Lechler and Seabass.

I’m sure Al Davis would have had his overhead projector out in a second hearing about such a gameplan.

Just heard Shane Lechler agree with the game plan change and that he thought it was stupid. He did not go as far as to say sabotage. He also said that the pre game speech did not sound like gruden and callahan were friends. this was on the game 95.7

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Who listens to a punter for anything but golf tips or good places to relax in the afternoon?

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I think he meant that the 2002 Buccaneers Defense was the best defense of that era. Which, statistically, they could have been. I don’t think he’s trying to say that the 1990-2010 Buccaneers Defense was the best every year. Realistically, the Bucs didn’t even have a winning season until 1997, and wasn’t a good team from 2005-2010.

Its exactly what that passing game looked like to me. Something that wasn’t practiced. Raiders went 2 weeks without any knowledge of what they were doing. Thats the disadvantage.

Now we know Gruden was simulating Gannon during their practices…Then all of a sudden a game plan is changed to PASS the ball. Well, hell thats what Gruden had been working on all week right? Gannon had 3 picks six’s.

I don’t know why this seems far fetched. Its suspicious at the very least. The guy’s who don’t want to understand it are WWE fans who think wrestling is real.

Jon Gruden who was traded for draft picks and cash. The Raiders were in such disarray that they didn’t even bother changing the offense, something Gruden did with the Bucs, who peaked as a complete team in the playoffs by destroying SF and taking out a tough Philly team at the Vet. I hope those pics and the 8 million was worth it, because it sure was for the Bucs.

I understand that the Raiders have a large and dedicated fan base, and I respect that. What I can’t respect is a sore loser, and I know the Bucs were the better team. Scoreboard, son. That Bucs defense, along with the Ravens and 85 Bears are the three best defensive units of the last 30 years. So hit the thumbs down, haters, I’ll savor every moment.

Face it, you played the BEST defense of the 90s and 2000s in that game and it showed.
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You are high if you think that defense was better than the Baltimore defense that won in Super Bowl XXXV. Bath salts high.

Ps check the stats of the 2008 Steelers, compare them to the 2002 bucs and 2000 ravens, lots of great defensive seasons of the 2000s not just Tampa Bay.

Face it, you played the BEST defense of the 90s and 2000s in that game and it showed.

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Are you seriusly suggesting that the Bucs we’re the best defense over a 2 decade period?

I’ll give you late 90′s early 00′s

Now that everything’s even time for Gruden to come back to Raider Nation.

The Bucs defensive guys talk about it all the time…they knew what was coming out of Gannon’s mouth and running more would not have fixed that. They would have had to change all of their offensive calls over those 2 weeks and they didn’t.

So let me get this straight. The #1 offense in the NFL, with the league MVP in Rich Gannon, was going to run the ball against Sapp, Brooks, Rice and Lynch? They actually tried: 19 yds in 11 carries. Please.

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TBrown may or may not be correct, but the fact is that Tampa was easy to run on. They averaged 270 lbs on that light line.

Rice was a pass rusher, Sapp could be moved by our line. did you actually name the Safety as part of some great running defense? lol. If he is getting a lot of involvement, you don’t have much run defense.