Bucs bounce back
By NICK PUGLIESE of The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - It was difficult to tell who had playoff potential and who was the perennial patsy Sunday at Houlihan's Stadium.

One team dominated the clock by running for 209 yards, avoiding turnovers and shutting down the opponent's offense.

The other team had two turnovers in the first quarter to fall into a 10-point hole, totaled 41 yards on the ground and didn't score a touchdown until 2:49 remained in the game.

In a tale of teams suddenly headed in opposite directions, the Bucs upset the Washington Redskins 24-10 before 44,733 fans.

Tampa Bay (5-9) has won four of its last five in a classic case of too much, too late.

"We thought last week was kind of an aberration and we wanted to prove that,'' said Coach Tony Dungy, who was pointing his index finger and raising a clenched fist to the fans as he trotted off the field.

"I thought our guys came out very hungry, came out with a lot of emotion. Washington does a lot of things real well and we were able to take some of those things away, and that's a credit to our guys.''

Dungy said it would be nice if Tampa Bay had another win or two and was challenging for a postseason berth.

"We weren't ready to do that,'' he said. "We weren't playing well enough. I don't think we were quite mature enough. I wasn't doing a good enough job coaching. If the season were a little longer, maybe it would come on. But that's why you have to take advantage of every [game].

"We said we wanted to play our best ball in November and December and people that play us will know we're a pretty good football team whether we make the playoffs or not.''

That's why even after Tampa Bay stubbed its toe last week against Carolina, no one should have been surprised by Sunday's outcome. The Bucs have been showing steady improvement since losing eight of their first nine and the Redskins (8-6) now have lost five of their last six.

Plus, the Bucs have ground up the Redskins recently, having beaten them four consecutive times.

This time around, it was Errict Rhett and Mike Alstott posting season-high rushing efforts to help Tampa Bay hold the ball for 35:25. Most of the damage came up the gut against the NFL's worst rush defense.

"Our middle running game matches up really good against their middle defense,'' center Tony Mayberry said. "We were trying to exploit the fronts they were giving us.''

Quarterback Trent Dilfer said the bruised middle finger on his right hand suffered Wednesday didn't bother him, but he was more than happy to hand the ball to Rhett and Alstott all afternoon.

"It's easier to play mistake-free football when the running game is working,'' said Dilfer, whose 15 pass attempts were the least he has thrown while playing a complete game.

One of the keys to the win was Tampa Bay's ability to convert on third down (seven of 15) and fourth (two of two).

"We were just making plays,'' Dilfer said. "It was nice to execute like that.''

Alstott a key element in Bucs' scheme
By TOM MCEWEN/Tampa Tribune Columnist
The suddenly mighty Buccaneers were leading Washington 16-3 here Sunday and positioned at the Redskins 22- yard-line with a first down, 4:11 remaining in the third quarter. Bucs quarterback Trent Dilfer slipped a handoff to rookie fullback Mike Alstott, who ran a counter to his left, cut inside and gained 9 yards to the 13. He carried players on his big back (6-foot-1, 250 pounds) the last 5 yards. Now hear Alstott after the well- played, well-deserved 24-10 win: The same play was called again. This time, they jumped inside closing that off, so I bounced outside and was one-on-one with the safety, and ran over him. No, having players in front of me like that doesn't bother me. I like it. What I like is when I see the official raise those two arms up signaling,'' a touchdown, which head linesman Bob McGrath did at the end of that run.

A pleasure to block for

But, Alstott was told, you're wrong.

"What?''

He ran over two defensive backs: Bryan Walker and Scott Turner.

"If there had been three, he'd have run over three,'' Buc center Tony Mayberry said.

"He's a pleasure to block for,'' said guard Ian Beckles, who had a strong block on that 13-yard touchdown run. "Give him a crease and he's gone.

"You like to look up, see him still going and you run downfield to see if you can block for him again.''

After running over two Redskins, Dilfer passed for a two-point conversion to tight end Jackie Harris and there would be no way Washington could overtake this ever-improving Buc team.

After Alstott scored, he received a standing ovation from fans behind the Buc bench.

When told, the big guy from Purdue seemed embarrassed.

"Sure I saw. Sure I like it. We're a team. The players, the fans and the community,'' Alstott said. "There's nothing in the world I'd rather be doing than running out on that field before our fans and playing good and helping us win for us and for the fans.''

Against Washington on Sunday, the bullish player from Purdue was especially effective, strengthening his case for the all-rookie team, hey, perhaps even rookie of the year in the NFC. He carried eight times for 67 yards and the touchdown and caught three Dilfer passes for 24 yards, one of them for 17, another for 3 on fourth down and short. The third reception was his 56th of the season, besting Lawrence Dawsey's 1991 previous rookie high of 55. Alstott has started every game this year. He is a fan favorite.

Hard runner to bring down

Dilfer repeated Sunday what he has said before: "I think he's the best fullback in the league. He does it all and he's getting better.''

"I do feel like if I get up a full head of steam I'm hard to bring down,'' admitted "All-ee.''

"I call him that,'' defensive tackle Warren Sapp said, "because he does it all. He's like a 4x4 truck. Water, mud or snow won't stop it and nothing stops All-ee. You know he comes to play every day.''

"He's unassuming, tough, knows his job and does it the best he can,'' defensive tackle Brad Culpepper said.

"He's good. He's getting better,'' Bucs coach Tony Dungy said.

Now hear Buc safety John Lynch, who hits ball-carriers as hard as Alstott hits would-be tacklers.

"I'm glad we don't hit much in practice,'' Lynch said, "so we don't have to try to tackle Mike. He's 250 and still nifty when he has to be. He's a perfect fit for this offense. When we on defense watch him play, it inspires us to play as hard as he does.''

Put simply, Mike Alstott is a key building block in Dungy's scheme, has proven he can hold up his end - and dare we say - a potential Pro Bowler.

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