1988 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Season Highlights "Team On The Rise"

[Music] [Applause] [Music] this film is brought to you by New York Life and it's over 11,000 agents and representatives who offer you quality financial products and services to help you get the most out of life [Music] [Applause] [Music] improve was the best way to describe the 1988 tampa bay buccaneers a team truly on the ride [Applause] [Applause] [Music] the Bucks featured a talented young quarterback with explosive arm strength and a tough young defense that gets better with experience [Music] this is a team capable of producing head-over-heels excitement the I Tate Eddie spins over the cot stays on his feet [Music] [Applause] the shure improvement of the Bucks is due mainly to a man who has rebuilt the team in his tough competitive image head coach Ray Perkins we drew in a lot of different ways that were not reflected in the one loss record we finished up the season a lot stronger than what we started it and in the last eight games we made a lot more progress in most every area of our football team than we did in the first eight so that's very encouraging to me this progress makes it clear that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are moving up [Music] in 1988 the plan of attack for Ray Perkins bucks could be summed up in the phrase don't give up the ship failing by 17 points against the Phoenix Cardinals Benny Testaverde led a 21-point second-half comeback that nearly salvaged the victory the Bucks rallied to a 24 to 23 fourth quarter lead but while they would eventually fall in the final minutes the message was clear this team would not quit improvement was also evident as tampabay slugged it out with the Saints after giving up 13 first quarter points the Bucks defense shut out the Saints the rest of the way during a tough to take 13 to 9 loss in a sub-zero late season loss that was decided in overtime tenacious Bucks defense stopped rookie sensation John Stephens cold gaining just 10 yards another close call came at the hands of Dan Marino on the Dolphins who were kept in check for most of the day backup quarterback Joe Ferguson number 12 fired a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes but it wasn't enough as the Bucs lost 17 to 14 but of all the close calls fewer as disappointing as the one that got away in Minnesota like so many of their games this was a competitive contest in which the Bucks could have won but simply ran out of time fires Tampa Bay out gained and outplayed Minnesota but trailing 14 to 13 with 15 seconds remaining they were down - Vinny's way in the prayer of a pass but there they got the clock here they get down there quickly while time simply ran out in Minnesota other moments proved they were heading in the right direction like their first win of the season three seconds to go on the clock it's all up to Iggy [Music] the kick is up it is good and the Buccaneers a feat of the Green Bay Packers 13 to 10 the rematch with Green Bay and Tampa stadium was a spirited affair that exploded with big plays by both the offense and defense [Music] [Applause] fires [Music] the bucks tied the game at 24 with only minutes to play then after the defense got the ball back Testaverde came through with the game on the line to put the Bucks in position to win this exciting shootout would again be decided by Donald equally Kate who once again proved to be the Packers worst nightmare this kick is up and it is [Applause] this exciting 27 to 24 victory once again showcased the talents of placekicker Donnell egg wave we came finally Donnell is a great kicker he's a very high percentage field goal kicker he's got an exceptionally strong leg I think Donnell is one of the best kickers in the league and I think he's a very important to our football team Equipe week a won three games in the final seconds and booted three field goals of over 50 yards kickoff returner Donnie elder number 40 averaged nearly 23 yards of return to rank as the NFC's vet but returned her Bobby Futrell number 36 ranked third in the NFC and often performed escapes that only Houdini himself would have dreamed of [Music] Futrell and elder also led the kick coverage team which driven by youth and spirit we're an encouraging aspect all season long [Music] when Vinny Testaverde joined the Bucs in 1987 there was no question that he already possessed all of the physical talents to become a great quarterback in 1988 number 14 demonstrated a big play ability that suggests he will soon be one [Music] in his first full season is a starting NFL quarterback Testaverde improved each Sunday and demonstrated leadership that will guide the Bucs for seasons to come he passed for three thousand two hundred and forty yards and 13 touchdowns and his overall athletic ability gave the Bucks offense flexibility veni has an unusual combination of physical talents he has an exceptionally strong arm he's got great touch he knows when to put touch on the ball he's got great height got great vision of the field the height helps him high vision but his vision is great as far as seeing things on the field and mentally he is a football guy he understands football he understands defenses he understands what you're trying to do with certain things he's easier to coach he's a hard worker and you know for these combinational reasons is why I have no doubt that he'll be a great player Perkins watched his young and talented passer struggle by throwing 35 interceptions but through it all number 14 could never be faulted for his effort I think he did learn a lot of things I think he progressed very very well in most areas I thought in a lot of situations where he could have lost a little bit from a poise standpoint and a composure standpoint he maintained the great poise in the composure and still fought and competed against the Indianapolis Colts Testaverde rebounded from a disastrous start to lead the Bucs back from a thirty five to ten deficit [Music] totally in control number fourteen past four 469 yards the tenth highest in NFL history and led the Bucks offense to three fourth quarter touchdown [Music] brother shotgun Testaverde fires for Bruce Hill touchdown Buccaneers Bruce Hill and fitty is back to pass fires out to Hill he's got it touchdown Buccaneers though the Bucks come back fell just short 35 to 31 Testaverde had earned the respect of teammates like tackle Paul Gruber I think his potential is unlimited I think he's gonna be one of the greatest if not the greatest quarterback and a matter of time well I think as the year went on I got used to being with my teammates working with them and then with me and it just seemed to get better towards the end especially the last few games we played well together and if we can just carry that over into into camp and it's a preseason through the season a lot of good things are gonna come from it Testaverde took advantage of a young and talented pass-catching corps that was headed by receivers mark carrier and Bruce Hill number 84 in only his second NFL season he'll caught 58 passes for a thousand 40 yards and nine touchdowns Mike Hill who was in his second NFL season mark carrier number 88 caught 57 passes for 970 yards and five touchdowns [Music] Carriere sure hands and elusive open-field running blended well with the rest of the Bucks receivers number 80 Frank pillow was a comforting target along with Diamond Smith Jeff parks and Greg Richardson over the middle tight end Ron Hall number 82 was a big inviting target who could make the difficult catches look easy even in a crowd Ron halls toughness fit right in with the rest of an offensive line that was anchored by rookie tackle Paul Gruber number 74 who was a rock-solid fixture on the left side of the line [Music] groover Pro Bowl alternate Randy Grimes at center and tackles Rob Taylor Tom McHale and Mark Cooper and guards Rick Mallory Dan Turk and John Bruin became a dependable blocking unit that not only bought time for Benny but also tore open holes for running back James why they're number 32 those slowed by late season injuries Wilder averaged over four yards each time he carried the football and he was the experienced runner in a backfield that included two rookies number 34 Laura's take and number 43 William Howard Howard was the Bucs second leading rusher behind tape number 34 who gained most of his yardage by slugging it out with the defense [Music] Tate also scored seven touchdown sometimes by turning a short yardage play into an improbable scoring run [Music] the combination of Mars Tate and William Howard proved to be too much for the Lions to handle in the Detroit silver dome as this rushing tandem helped the Bucs roll up 225 yards on the ground [Music] it was the sixth highest rushing total in team history Howard bangs off of what tackler stays on his fate to the 25 20 15 10 five times touchdown Buccaneers but while the ground attack controlled the contest the passing game led by Vinny Testaverde provided the field position to win it tied at 20 in the final minute of play Bruce Hills clutch catch and run set it wave week a up to win the game with 10 seconds remaining Maggie's kick is up it's drifting it's drifting this 23 to 20 win was further proof that this team is going places a late surge by the buck defense was one of the most encouraging developments in 1988 their improvement was week to week and play to play and their ability to hit as a team allowed them to lead the NFL in fewest yards allowed per rush [Music] [Applause] [Music] their secret was teamwork Ron Holmes number 90 containing the suite and number 79 Reuben Davis cutting it down and forcing a fumble strong safety mark Robinson is definitely team oriented defense you know not having a soul player who's just the greatest thing on the team having a lot of people working together the team unit like that I think that that's key and I think that we can really use that in the upcoming year together or solo the Bucks played with an aggressive nature that was instilled by three veterans who were obtained from other team Eugene Marv Mark Robinson and Harry Hamilton number 39 I think those three did more than anything else for anybody else to tie that group together those players because of their years in the league gave us some veteran leadership that we diurna needed number 99 Marv was rock solid at inside linebacker and free safety Hamilton led the club with six interceptions strong safety Mark Robinson rounded out the trio the young defense also received valuable contributions from improving young veterans like number 95 nose tackle Curt Jarvis Ryan Holmes number 90 linebackers Kevin Murphy in Winston Moss number 57 and cornerback Ricky Reynolds number 29 the rookie class was outstanding defensive end Robert golf number 94 was dominating at times and in reserve number 97 Sean we showed a good feel for the pass pocket but the biggest surprise was the play of number 79 Reuben Davis who began the season as a long shot to make the team and ended up in the starting lineup [Music] we're just very surprised to put it simply taken that left us out of North Carolina and he plays like Reuben Davis played last year I think he's got a chance to be a premier player in this league but we had several other young players you know a Sydney Coleman an inside linebacker moti Harris with strong safety both free agents that came along and have a chance to be really fine players we have the potential of being a really fine defensive football team certainly the way that we finished up the year and some of the evidence from a statistical standpoint that they can see feel touch read and know that they did well toward the end of the year I think is a big boost for us coming up for 1989 the Bucks finished up the 1988 season by winning two of their final three games and finally getting a grasp on what it takes to win in the NFL against the Detroit Lions in week 16 the Bucks were a vastly improved team from the one that had started the NFL season veterans John cannon and Mark Robinson made big plays for a defense that all but shut down the Lions offense and Benny Testaverde past the Bucs to a 21 to 10 victory Testaverde to throw a long [Applause] Testaverde tries to throw fires in but while ending on a winning note was nice Tampa Bay's most impressive performance came just two weeks earlier against the Buffalo Bill who were on their way to the AFC Championship Game this was a day for the Bucs to show how far they had come [Music] the Bucks pounded anything that moved and their offense use deception as well as muscle [Applause] Tampa Bay's offense managed to score 10 points against one of the NFL's best defenses and on a day dominated by fierce hitting it was all they needed late in the third quarter the bills were inside the Bucs 10-yard line and threatening to tie the score until an inspiring call one up from the Bucks faithful defensive end Reuben Davis until there we've never had that much Noah's in the stadium it was in crowd why is ringing inside those helmets it's like a 12th man on the field and we sort of had that that weekend I could just sense you know the people feeling that you know things are going to come out of the defense on third down Harry Hamilton saved a touchdown and suddenly it was down to one big play basically what we had there was four from one ever ran the poor to stay together I said this is where we start for us building on makeshift young guys got to pull your own weight and let's get down in the dirt play ball on the final play of this goal line stand a young football team learned what it takes to win in the NFL for the fans who helped to fuel this emotional stand it was a moment that suggested that there are great days ahead for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this was further Illustrated late in the fourth quarter as the defense stifled one final threat [Applause] beating the bills was a positive lesson for a team that is still learning when you're young team one of the hurdles that you want to get over is beating a really fine football team that hurdle tells them hey we can compete I think it was a big boost it really showed us along with the media what we could really do if we really would play they didn't lie down and die they want to win that game just as much as anybody and so I think it's a real important you need to beat the good teams in order to go to the Super Bowl and I think you know it's a step in the right direction we've coming off a long way and tease them with Vinny the other day and I said hey we've come a long way baby but we've still got a ways to go I don't think we're that far away from being a pretty good football team I don't have any question but what we're headed in the right direction I think our players see that and I think our players know that this video is part of a complete blockbuster lineup of NFL Films capturing pro football's greatest plays and biggest heroes with crunchy follies highlights and Super Bowl hits plus new releases each season we've got action back videos of 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Channel: Sports Odyssey

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Id: 1qDKb4B1THg

Length: 23min 54sec (1434 seconds)

Published: Thu Sep 19 2019