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Tom Jones, The St.Petersburg Times, published 20 November 2006
Obviously, higher fines imposed by players on teammates for dropped passes didn't work. Michael Clayton, Mike Alstott and Alex Smith dropped the Bucs' first three passes of the game. Next week, they start taking digits.
Best advice
Simeon Rice's agent might want to start checking those classified ads. After another strong showing by Dewayne White (a sack, three tackles, two QB hurries), it's hard to imagine the Bucs won't consider cutting Rice loose and signing White to a long-term deal.
Worst day by a Buc
Matt Bryant picked up a 15-yard penalty for a late hit on one kickoff then kicked another out of bounds to give the Redskins the ball at the 40. Yes, we remember the 62-yarder, but someone ask Jon Gruden what the statute of limitations is on "one shining moment."
Worst pass
The only Bruce Gradkowski pass worse than the one picked off by Shawn Springs at the Redskins 3 with 36 seconds left in the first half? The one on the play before that should have been intercepted by Carlos Rogers.
Best pass
Bruce Gradkowski's go-ahead-for-good TD strike to Joey Galloway, made possible by great protection as the Redskins rushed eight defenders. Speaking of great protection, it might have been the best all-around performance by the Bucs offensive line all season.
Best insight
Less than six minutes into the game, the Bucs tried a double reverse to Michael Clayton to gain 5 yards. "When you're running plays like that early," Fox analyst Bill Maas said, "you have a problem with your basics."
Worse use of timeouts
Once again, the Bucs squandered timeouts. They ran out in the first half with 11:49 left in the second quarter. Maybe instead of throwing on the last drive of the half (and, as a result, getting intercepted), the Bucs could've run the ball another play or two if they had some timeouts left.
Number of the day
20. That's the number of assistant coaches the Redskins have, including the following: associate head coach/offense, assistant head coach/offense, offensive coordinator and offensive assistant. Maybe if they had one more, they would've scored more than 17 points against the 24th-ranked defense in the NFL.
Funniest comment
On Fox's pregame, Terry Bradshaw, when talking about Washington starting Jason Campbell for the first time, said: "Joe Gibbs will actually be more excited about his rookie driver for the FedEx car, Denny Hamlin, than he is a rookie quarterback. That's just the way Joe Gibbs is. I think Joe is gone, but I think all Redskins fans are happy to see him play the young man." Bucs fans, too.
Best rebound
Anthony Becht rebounded from two penalties on the same drive in the first half with his excellent rebound catch on the touchdown in the third quarter.
Biggest callout
Fox's Bill Maas suggested Bucs wide receiver Joey Galloway didn't go all out to catch a pass over the middle because he was afraid of getting "jacked up" by Redskins defensive back Sean Taylor. "That was just jogging and throwing an arm out there."
Best point
Midway through the fourth quarter, Fox's Bill Maas said, "The Bucs have 185 yards rushing. When you have 185 yards rushing, you should have more than 17 points."
Best coaching
We've chewed up Jon Gruden for abandoning the run this season, so we have to give him credit for calling 36 running plays vs. 27 pass plays (including the six times Bruce Gradkowski took off with the ball).
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