San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - The Super Bowl XXXVII offense-defense matchup, statistically-speaking, is the best we've ever seen in Super Bowl history. The Raiders' offense ranked first in the NFL in total yards per game (389.8), while the Buccaneers' defense was the league's best in total yards per game (252.8) and points against (12.3 per contest).
"We know we have our work cut our for us," said Raiders QB Rich Gannon, who has completed 49-of-71 passes (69 percent) for 569 yards with five touchdown passes and just one interception in two playoff games this year. "Tampa Bay's defense isn't ranked No. 1 for no reason. They do a great job up front along the defensive line and their secondary is loaded. Derrick Brooks was the Defensive Player of the Year; there's no question this is our biggest test.
But it should be that way in the Super Bowl. You have to beat the best to be the best." Gannon, the 2002 NFL MVP, is the trigger-man who makes the entire Oakland offense run effectively. While he's not the strongest quarterback in the league, Gannon is a master of the pump fake. He has Bill Callahan's offense down to a science and also can move very well for a 37-year-old quarterback.
Still, Gannon floundered around the NFL before Gruden brought him to Oakland in 1999.
"If it were not for Jon Gruden, I probably wouldn't be here," Gannon admitted.
"He believed in me and gave me the opportunity to succeed with the Raiders." "One of the things that really stood out about Rich when we acquired him in Oakland was that he had a great won-loss record in games that he started," Gruden said. "That was the first thing that I looked at. He had a lot of charisma and dynamic playmaking ability. I talked to Paul Hackett, who had been the Kansas City offensive coordinator at the time, and he said that all Gannon needed was a shot." The rest is history for the veteran gunslinger.
"I think he has a dimension that I haven't seen in a quarterback," Callahan said of Gannon. "Here's a guy who won more games at the quarterback position than anybody in the league [in the last three years]. He's a player that we ask a tremendous amount from. You've seen him improve on a year-to-year basis and ] has been his finest year as a pro." BIGGER AND BETTER Oakland's offense has expanded since Gruden left the team last offseason.
Between Callahan and offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, the coaching staff has opened up the passing game more this season. Callahan likes to throw the ball downfield more than Gruden, making the Raiders' offense one of the most dangerous in the league.
With Tim Brown, Jerry Rice and Jerry Porter, the Raiders have the offensive weapons to spread Tampa Bay's defense thin. RB Charlie Garner, who caught 91 passes during the regular season, and rookie TE Doug Jolley also provide solid options for Gannon.
However, it could be Oakland's offensive balance that is its biggest asset.
Garner, who led the Raiders with 962 rushing yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season, teams up with Tyrone Wheatley and goal-line specialist Zack Crockett to give Oakland a solid complement to its passing attack. FB Jon Ritchie, who is a good lead blocker, is another player utilized in the short- passing game.
"The best thing to do is keep Rich Gannon off the field, get Charlie Garner off the field, get Jerry Rice off the field," admitted Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. "Get off on third downs. When you play a great offense, when you play the Kurt Warners, Marshall Faulks, the [Jeff] Garcias, you play people like that, you try to get off the field on third down. If you’re doing well on third down, defensively, you’ll do well in the playoffs." Kiffin will call for cornerbacks Ronde Barber, who iced the NFC title game by picking off a Donovan McNabb pass as the Eagles were in the red zone and returning it 92 yards to paydirt to extend Tampa Bay’s lead to 27-10, and Brian Kelly to play physical against Rice and Brown. In turn, the Raiders' aging wideouts will likely take what the Bucs give them underneath in the Cover-2 zone defense. Porter is Oakland's big deep threat, but Tampa Bay's nickel corner, Dwight Smith, doesn't match up well against him.
"I might have an advantage, I might not. We'll see come Sunday," said Porter, who caught a touchdown pass in each of the Raiders' playoff games this year.
"I can't sit here and disrespect anyone on [Tampa Bay's] defense because those guys over there have proven to be the best defense in the NFL. If that's the case, they must be doing something right. They've played against some big-time receivers...I have to go out there and prove them wrong." PROTECTING GANNON Tampa Bay's defense has made a living off sacking the opposing quarterback and forcing turnovers. The Bucs had 43 sacks this season (sixth in the NFL) and led the NFL in interceptions (31).
However, Kiffin's defense will have a tough time getting to Gannon. The Raiders have one of the best pass-blocking offensive lines in the league, as the unit has allowed just two sacks in two postseason games this year.
"We have to be at the top of our game," said Raiders RT Lincoln Kennedy. "We have to keep up our level of play because we are facing an elite defense." The biggest task on the Oakland offensive line falls to LT Barry Sims, who will be called upon to slow down Bucs DE Simeon Rice. Tampa Bay won't have much of a chance to prevent the Raiders' high-powered offense from reaching the end zone unless it generates pressure on Gannon. Rice has been a one-man wrecking crew this season, as he led the Bucs with 15.5 sacks.
"I think we’re just facing the 'Bizarro World Buccaneers.' It’s like the Raiders are the antithesis of what we are," quipped Simeon Rice. "The Raiders are No. 1 in offense and we’re No. 1 in defense. It’s the 'Clash of the Titans,' the best of the best. It’s a game of epic proportions and I’ll be there for the whole ride.
"And I think for the NFL and the fans, this is what they want. They want to see the best teams. And you’ve got so many historic things going within the game. You’ve got Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Bill Romanowski, you’ve got legends of the game and you’ve got future legends on this team.
"Last year, you had New England and nobody really knew about those guys. Now you’ve got the stars of the NFL in the game at the end, so let’s play." All-Pro DT Warren Sapp, who had his right eye poked in last week's victory over Philadelphia, will also be looking to disrupt Gannon's passing rhythm.
"Hey, we were the laughingstock of the league for a long time and we had to turn it around," Sapp stated. "Years and years of bad football take a whole makeover, and that means a lot of Mary Kay [cosmetics]. I think we were the biggest Mary Kay project you could ever find. It's great to share this with anyone who ever wore that ugly orange uniform.
"Now, we're on the big stage and I'm not going anywhere. Our defense is like an inferno. It's like somebody started a fire, and everyone has a gallon of gasoline in their pockets, and they drop it on the fire all at the same time.
It's more heat than you can stand." Kiffin does an excellent job of disguising the blitz when he does call it.
Oakland will be looking to take a few shots downfield, but that will be tough with the Bucs coming after him hard and fast.
"The one thing that I think separates us from other defenses is our toughness," said All-Pro strong safety John Lynch, who is excellent against the run and the pass. "We have tough guys all over this defense. We're not going to give in at any point because everything is on the line now. This is what you wait for your whole life, and now the time is here. We're not going to look past that or take it for granted." Brooks leads the Tampa Bay linebacking corps and will be a key to stopping Garner, who is a fast and shifty runner with good power.
"Man, he's a great player," Brooks said of Garner. "When you see this guy on film it's like watching a video game with the speed and moves...we have stop him to be successful, no doubt."
