Tampa Bay Buccaneers Winning But They Violate Don Shula's "Rules"

Perhaps one of the most important things a young writer can do is learn about a particular sport from someone who knows.

Hall of Fame coach Don Shula knows a lot about football.  You might tend to agree on that.

I was fortunate some 30-plus years ago to get a half-hour one-on-one tutorial from Shula, in Miami, at a Florida State football practice prior to the 1980 Orange Bowl.

I can still remember quite clearly what Shula said was MOST important in the game of football.

"It doesn't matter what level, high school, college and especially the NFL," Shula said. "You have to run the football and stop the run. Do that and you can win a lot of games."

Shula's rule. Bear Bryant's rule, a rule followed by many of the history's great football coaches.

Which brings us to your 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

These Bucs have had themselves one heckofa first quarter of the season.  Three up, one down and that was to the team that many believe will be in the Super Bowl—the Pittsburgh Steelers.

These Bucs have a nice record and they've broken Shula's rules in the process.

Quite simply, these Buccaneers CANNOT run the football and they CANNOT stop the run.

That was so very evident again last Sunday in Cincinnati.

Cedric Benson totally had his way with the Buc defense. He rushed for 144 yards and probably would have gone for 200 if the Bengals staff hadn't quit calling his number. Bad for them, nice for the Bucs.

And the Bucs?

Cadillac Williams looks oh so very slow, so very old and so very used up. Sorry Caddy, you're a wonderful guy, a nice fellow but this is your last season with this team. Caddy churned up 33 yards on 11 carries. The bulk of the Tampa Bay rushing yards came on that 61-yard scamper by Earnest Graham, which has us wondering why Raheem Morris doesn't quit wasting him as a blocker and let the poor guy run the football?

Morris promised a shift, perhaps, to the Kareem Huggins-LeGarrette Blount duo. Nice. They produced seven yards on five carries, combined.

Yes, these Bucs are Shula Rules Breakers.

But they are getting by, somehow.

Last week it was the defense that saved the day but you have to start asking yourself if this team can find some form of rushing attack.

They've gotten away with it so far.

But sooner or later they'll have to follow the "rules" if they want to keep winning.