|
|
 |
It wasn't an imposter. It was really O. J. Simpson who ran all day in a cage of white shirts. Trapped. Unproductive. When the biography "Juice" is written someday, there will be no chapter on this Sunday at Tampa Stadium. Rushing average: 1.95.
Tampa Bay's hot pursuit defense hemmed up, crunched and totally throttled the finest runner in the world. Held him to 39 yards in 20 carries. Did everything but beat him.
"I knew their defense would be trouble, but not that much trouble." Simpson said in the Buffalo Bills' dressing room. "They were sharp, calling the right defensive plays most all day. They rolled off blocks and did a job on us. "A job on me.”
He admits he’s not at full gait, but claimed that it's close. "I think next week I'm ready to cook," he said, "My goals? Oh, I always want to be the best. And when we (the Bills) get cooking, we usually cook real good."
Simpson not only had futile statistics but came within a whisker of being a super-goat. His fumble with 2:27 remaining gave Tampa Bay a dandy chance to wipe out Buffalo's 14-9 lead. But O.J. dragged to the Bills' bench with one positive thought. "I knew history was on my side," he said later, a grin busting through on that ample face. "They (the Bucs) hadn't scored a touchdown." History indeed spared him much grief.
Simpson spoke with John McKay, his old Southern California coach, before Sunday’s kickoff. "We had a nice chat." O. J. said. "Coach said he's trying to get me down here (to Tampa Bay). I wanted two things to happen today. I first wanted us to win, then I wanted Tampa to be competitive for my old coach's sake. Both happened. Even if I didn't accomplish much, it was a day when some nice things did happen."
Simpson said he often heard Bucs defensive end Pat Toomay yelling just before the snap. Toomay played for Buffalo last season. "I think he was picking up some things and relaying them to teammates. But that's just good coaching, good playing. This team is coming along. Tampa is better than Buffalo was when I was a rookie in 1969. Better defensively and younger and better morale wise."
He sat on a stool in the crowded visitors' team room, guarded as closely by 11 reporters as he had been guarded all day by 11 Buccaneers. As always, he answered every question with patience and class.
"Our offense probably isn't as good right now as last year," he said. "Jim Braxton, the best blocking fullback and a great runner, is injured. We miss him. Today we were without Paul Seymour, the best blocking tight end in the league. He's hurt, too. We traded J. D. Hill, a fine wide receiver who was a super blocker. We used to call him Crackback Hill. So probably have to add a few more exotics (plays) to do the job. Our schedule isn't as tough as it has been, so I think we still have a shot at this thing (AFC East championship). Our defense is getting better."
Along and along during the interview, new sports writers would arrive at OJ’s stall. He still hadn't removed a bit of uniform, not even his shoes. Many of the Bills were dressed, ready to board a bus for the airport. He kept explaining.
"Look give their defense much of the credit," he kept saying. "My legs aren't quite 100 per cent, so making 'second moves' after being stopped is pretty difficult right now. But the Bucs hustled and hit. They always seemed to have a gang in my way, but that did open it up for our fullback (Jeff Kinney) some. Those cats were in the right defenses and did the right things. They were darn good."
Simpson obviously doesn't have strong hopes of making the Super Bowl. He has some high-paying moonlighting lined up beginning Jan. 3. The off-season actor will be one of the stars in a movie entitled. "Capricorn 1." play an astronaut and be featured with James Brolln. Elliot Gould, Candice Bergen and Richard Wldmark. They've been commercializing for years that there was Tang on the moon. So what next? Juice on the moon?
Pure truth is that Buffalo slipped out of town with a win it didn't deserve. The Bucs outplayed the Bills and could have, with any manner or good fortune, put 24 to 30 points on the board.
But they didn't. They still failed to make a touchdown. But at least they came close. They gave the
$12 customers $12 worth of action. They gave the $8 spectators $12 worth, too. After losses of 20-0 to Houston and 23-0 to San Diego, there wasn't even enough fodder for a good Monday Morning Quarterback debate. People were just frustrated. Almost hopeless.
But the "Zero Gang" is dead now, thanks to Dave Green's three field goals. Sunday was a giant step forward, even in defeat. It was entertainment. I lost count after 10 standing ovations, most of them for a Buc defense that is better than anyone could expect.
If you want to second-guess the play-calling (either McKay's or Steve Spurrier's), go ahead. There's good reason. At least you've got to feel like a real football fan now. You can discuss and cuss the "ifs" and the "almosts." Welcome to the NFL.
It will be difficult for the Bucs' progress to continue uninterrupted during the next two weeks. They are on the road, at Baltimore and Cincinnati. You may have to borrow the positive aspects of the loss to Buffalo to keep from becoming fretful.
After a highly productive preseason, the Buccaneers seemed to be getting outrun by the treadmill since the for-real stuff began. They were mediocre against the Oilers and worse against the Chargers. The offense did almost nothing. Zero in fact.
But on Sunday against O. J. and his Bills, they got going, short of not winning. It was fun to be there. For the first time, the Bay Area television audience missed something by being blacked out.
|
|
|
| |
| |
|