Tampa’s Simms is ready to find greatness

By Connor Byrne  |   Sunday, May 21, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose quarterback Chris Simms in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft, they were banking on the former University of Texas star being the leader of their franchise someday down the line. After bursting onto the scene as a serviceable starter last season, it appears Simms' time to shine has finally arrived.

In 2005, Simms wasn't expected to make an impact. However, when rock-solid veteran Brian Griese got hurt nearly midway through the season, Simms was thrown into the fire. Not only did the youngster stop, drop and roll (out), he extinguished the flames of pressure. In 10 starts last season, Simms threw 10 touchdown passes and helped fend off the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons en route to an NFC South Division title.

Simms did what few inexperienced quarterbacks are able to do in this day and age; limit mistakes and let the running game and defense lead the way to victory. In Simms' case, he let rookie back Cadillac Williams and the Derrick Brooks-led defensive unit devastate the opposition each week.

Simms did a tremendous job, but much of the accolades in Tampa should be given to head coach Jon Gruden and offensive coordinator Bill Muir, who kept Simms under control, despite the fact that the young QB was seeing complex defensive schemes week in and week out. Without a steady coach and coordinator like Gruden and Muir, Simms may have struggled mightily, like Buffalo Bills youngster J.P. Losman, who suffered last season under the putrid play-calling of his former coach and coordinator tandem, Mike Mularkey and Tom Clements.

Upon Simms' entrance into the league, there were all kinds of questions about his past inability to deal with pressure. Since he was unable to defeat the archrival Oklahoma Sooners in college, many didn't believe he'd get it done in the NFL. However, much like his father, Phil, the former New York Giants great, he doesn't run and hide when pressure approaches. As mentioned earlier, he helped keep the Bucs afloat in the difficult latter months of last season, which wouldn't have been simple for even the most veteran of quarterbacks.

Even in Tampa's playoff loss to the Washington Redskins last January, Simms didn't crumble under the opposition's excruciating defensive pressure. Simms' stats were poor on paper, but he heaved what would have probably been the game-winning touchdown pass in the late stages of the fourth quarter; unfortunately, it was dropped by receiver Edell Shepherd. Had the ball been caught, the Bucs would have been playing the Chicago Bears in the NFC Divisional Round. For Simms and the Bucs, though, there's no use complaining over what could have been.

This offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' management has clearly put their faith in Simms. Griese, the eight-year man, was released a couple months back in order to officially make way for the 26-year-old. If that didn't give Simms a vote of confidence, nothing will. With the addition of former Notre Dame star receiver Maurice Stovall in last month's draft, Simms will have one more toy to play with next season. Assuming Cadillac Williams and receiver Michael Clayton can stay healthy, Simms and the Bucs might have their most potent offense in recent memory.

The bottom line is, Simms can handle pressure just fine, and he should continue to do so in 2006, now that the starting quarterback job is officially his.

--Connor J. Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com

Get more on Chris Simms at Realfootball365.com
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