Bucs defense eyes another showdown with potent Rams

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers say there's no formula for slowing down the St. Louis Rams.

But as the New England Patriots showed in last season's Super Bowl, the Cover 2 defense the Bucs perfected under former coach Tony Dungy is as effective a scheme as any against the so-called "Greatest Show on Turf."

The Denver Broncos and New York Giants also used a variation to frustrate the Rams (0-2) the past two weeks.

"Everybody talks about the Patriots finding the blueprint to beat them," Bucs safety John Lynch said. "But what I think the Patriots did was go back and look at our film over the years against them."

Success containing Rams

Over the past three seasons, no team has had more success containing the explosive Rams than Tampa Bay (1-1), which has won two of three meetings between the clubs during that span.

Since losing to St. Louis 11-6 in the 1999 NFC Championship Game, the Bucs have beaten the Rams 38-35 at home and 24-17 on the road. The teams meet again tonight at Raymond James Stadium.

"Every time we've played it's been a tough game that's come down to the wire, and there's been one or two plays that made the difference," Rams quarterback Kurt Warner said. "I expect nothing different this time."

St. Louis coach Mike Martz scoffed at the suggestion that the Rams have struggled against Cover 2, which is designed to limit big plays by discouraging teams from throwing the ball deep.

The Bucs forced six turnovers, two of them interceptions, in last year's game.

Warner said personnel -- not the scheme -- has been most responsible for Tampa Bay's success against one of the league's most prolific attacks.

"A lot of people try to take off what they do, but nobody plays it as well as they do," Warner said.

"We've had a lot of success against the other teams that have tried to do it, a lot more success than we've had against Tampa. ... Unless you play it the right way and have the right players in the system, it's not ever going to be as effective."

Offense has struggled

Going back to their Super Bowl loss to New England, the high-scoring Rams have been held to 17, 16 and 21 points in their last three games. Six turnovers have contributed to this season's 0-2 record, supporting Martz's contention that mistakes have been the biggest cause for the team's woes.

"We're missing a play here or a play there. We've had a couple of opportunities over the last few weeks to make a couple of plays on either side of the ball and we just didn't get it done," Martz said. "Last year at this time we could have been sitting here very easily at 0-2 as well, but we made a play or two."

The Bucs, coming off a 25-0 shutout of Baltimore, said they won't be deceived into thinking the Rams are vulnerable. They believe it's only a matter of time before Martz gets his offense back in sync.

"They're just not on it right now, as far as executing and reaching their potential. But I'm sure we'll get their best shot. We always do," Lynch said.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden agreed.

"We're shallow thinkers here," Gruden said. "I don't care who has what record. ... They're going to come in here and play an aggressive football game on both sides. They realize that they need to have this game, and so do we."