Tampa Bay Football History Network - 1993 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1993 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

During the off season the Buccaneers attempted to sign another quarterback through the free agent market. While the team's efforts failed, during the time they were attempting to sign another QB, Vinny Testaverde inked a contact with Cleveland as a free agent on March 31. Testaverde left as the team's all- time leading passer with 14,820 yards and a 24-48 record as a starter. He also was the Bucs career leader in pass attempts (2,160), completions (1,126), passing touchdowns (77) and interceptions (112). This left the Bucs with Steve DeBerg and the potential quarterback of the future Craig Erickson. Also signing a free agent contract with Cleveland was Mark Carrier, Tampa Bay's all- time leading receiver with 5,018 yards. Tampa Bay also cut their 1990 number one draft pick Keith McCants during the preseason. Before the season began, the Buccaneers had lost two number one draft picks without receiving compensation of any kind.

The Bucs drafted University of Alabama defensive end Eric Curry with the sixth overall selection in the college draft. Notre Dame linebacker Demetrius BuBose was selected in the second round and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Hardy Nickerson was signed as a free agent.

The season opened against Kansas City on September 5 at Tampa Stadium. Steve DeBerg was named the starter against his former teammates. 63,378 were on hand for Joe Montana's first game with the Chiefs and a 35 yard Michael Husted field goal gave the home team a 3-0 lead after one quarter. The Bucs had trouble moving the ball, did not convert a third down and generated only 25 yards rushing. DeBerg (12 of 20 for 79 yards with an interception) was ineffective and replaced in the second half by Craig Erickson (8 of 15 for 61 yards), who ended up starting the rest of the season. Montana (14 of 21 for 246) threw three touchdown passes, and despite twelve penalties and five fumbles, Kansas City won 27-3. Buccaneers nose tackle Mark Wheeler said of the new Chiefs QB, "It seems like Montana's still got ten years left in him."

The season's first road game was against the New York Giants. In his first NFL start, Craig Erickson was 16 of 28 for 178 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Phil Simms (12 of 26 for 204 yards with 1 INT) threw a touchdown pass and Rodney Hampton ran for 134 yards with a TD to lead the Giants to a 23- 7 victory. Erickson said of his first start, "I think a good start is a win and we didn't win the football game." Head coach Sam Wyche praised his team's effort. "I'm proud of the way they played. Anyone who watched the game saw us take the next step."

The next week, the Bucs visited Chicago and Michael Husted's 20 yard field goal gave Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead after the first quarter. Bears running back Neal Anderson rushed for 104 yards and his second quarter TD run gave Chicago a 7-3 lead. Jim Harbough (17 of 22 for 192 yards) threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score. Craig Erickson (13 of 32 for 240 yards) was intercepted twice, while Steve DeBerg and Casey Weldon were picked off in relief. The Bucs lost three fumbles to go with the four INTs and the seven turnovers lead to 27 Chicago points. The Bucs continued to have problems rushing the ball and finished with 36 yards. Lawrence Dawsey did have 101 yards receiving on nine catches. The 47-17 victory was Dave Wannstedt's first win as head coach of the Bears.

Tampa Stadium saw the Buccaneers post their first victory of the season against Detroit. They trailed 10-0, then three third quarter touchdowns put the Bucs in front. While Barry Sanders rushed for 130 yards, Lions quarterback Andre Ware (5 of 14 for 56 yards with 1 INT) was ineffective and replaced by Erik Kramer (11 of 24 for 120 with a TD). Reggie Cobb rushed for 113 yards and Craig Erickson (14 of 25 for 210 yards) threw for two scores in a 27-10 Bucs victory. "Patience is a tough attribute to hang on to," Sam Wyche commented. "We knew that this was a better team than our record suggests."

After a scoreless first quarter in Minnesota, the Vikings took a 12-0 lead into the locker room. A field goal, an intentional grounding call in the end zone against Craig Erickson for a safety and a 1 yard touchdown run by Barry Wood gave Minnesota the advantage at the break. Jim McMahon (15 of 25 for 157 yards and an interception) started at quarterback for the Vikings and Erickson (12 of 29 for 122 yards) had a rough day. The Bucs QB was picked off four times, sacked five times and the team generated only 169 total yards. The defense did post five sacks and Hardy Nickerson recorded eighteen tackles. Sam Wyche said of the 15-0 defeat, "We as an offense just could not seem to get it going."

The next Sunday, Packers quarterback Brett Favre (20 of 35 for 268 yards) made his first start at Tampa Stadium. Craig Erickson (8 of 20 for 151 yards with 2 TDs) was benched after being picked off twice in the first quarter, then Steve DeBerg (4 of 11 for 30 yards) was intercepted in the second. Erickson came back into the game and connected with Horace Copeland on a pair of scoring passes. It was Favre to Sterling Sharpe that stole the show. Sharpe tied a team record with four TD receptions, caught ten balls for 147 yards and he even played quarterback for two plays. Green Bay jumped to 30-0 lead in a 37-14 victory.

On Halloween, the Bucs made their first trip to the Georgia Dome. Craig Erickson (18 of 28 with 2 INTs) threw for four TDs and his highest passing yardage total as a Buc, 318 yards. Vince Workman and Reggie Cobb caught touchdown passes coming out of the backfield, rookie receiver Horace Copeland (104 receiving yards) caught two long TD passes in the third quarter and Tampa Bay lead 31-3 with two minutes left in that period. Atlanta's Andre Rison (11 receptions for 147 yards) caught a pair of Bobby Herbert (25 of 47 for 277 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT) scoring passes and the home team mounted a vicious comeback. The Buccaneers held on to defeat the Falcons 31-24. Two days later, Steve DeBerg was waived. DeBerg was 8-29 as the Bucs starting quarterback and would later sign with Miami, his fifth NFL team.

The following week, with Barry Sanders running for 187 yards, the Bucs lost at Detroit. Craig Erickson (13 of 26 for 122 yards with an INT) was Tampa Bay's leading rusher with 25 yards, as the offense generated just 187 total yards and six first downs. The 23-0 final score gave Detroit its first shutout since 1983. Sam Wyche said of Sanders, "He's the most dangerous back in the league." Tampa Bay was 2-6 at the half way point of the season.

On November 14, San Francisco came to Tampa Stadium and Steve Young started against his former teammates for the first time. Young (23 of 29 for 311 yards) threw four touchdown passes to Jerry Rice (172 yards receiving) and lead the 49ers to scores on their first eight possessions. Craig Erickson (17 of 27 for 239 yards with 1 INT) did throw two scoring passes and Vince Workman scored a pair of Buccaneers touchdowns in a 45-21 defeat. Bucs cornerback Martin Mayhew spoke of Rice, "The guy was phenomenal. I'm not going to make any excuses. Basically, I didn't have a good day and he did."

The next week, the Bucs played their only nationally televised game of the year against Minnesota on a Sunday night. Vikings wide receiver Anthony Carter finished with 104 yards receiving and his first half touchdown catch gave the visitors a 7-6 lead at the intermission. On the second play after halftime, defensive back Milton Mack returned an interception 27 yards for a TD and the Bucs took the lead. Craig Erickson (19 of 32) passed for 239 yards, and Vince Workman added a fourth quarter touchdown run, as the Buccaneers won 23-10.

A short Craig Erickson (12 of 35 for 144 yards) to Courtney Hawkins touchdown pass gave the Bucs a 10-6 lead with 7:33 to go at a chilly Green Bay. The Packers drove 75 yards and Brent Favre (23 of 36 for 159 yards) hit Sterling Sharp on a 2 yard touchdown pass with 1:16 left. In a game with nineteen punts, the Packers pulled out a 13-10 victory. Bucs tackle Rob Taylor talked of the missed opportunity. "I remember thinking in the second half that this could be the most important half in the eight years I've been here, as far as getting this thing turned around." Center Tony Mayberry added "It's hard to think of positives when you let a game like this get away."

A 78 yard touchdown run by Reggie Brooks (128 yards rushing) gave Washington a 17-0 third quarter lead at Tampa Stadium. The Bucs battled back and Craig Erickson (15 of 34 for 163 yards) hit Courtney Hawkins (112 yards receiving) on a touchdown pass. Three interceptions by the Bucs QB, including one returned for a touchdown, was more than the team could overcome in a 23-17 loss to the Redskins.

When Chicago came to town, Jim Harbaugh (11 of 18 for 81 yards) started at quarterback for the Bears, but he cracked a bone in his hand and was replaced by Peter Tom Willis (11 of 18 for 86 yards) in the second quarter. A 55 yard Kevin Butler field goal was the longest ever kicked against the Buccaneers, however, a fourth quarter 42 yarder by Michael Husted was the difference in a 13-10 Bucs victory. After beating the Bears, Sam Wyche proclaimed, "We're not going to be in the playoffs this year. We will next year. I might as well say I guarantee it. Didn't Joe Namath say that one time? He became famous. We'll have to back it up."

On December 19, the Raiders started quick in Los Angeles. They scored on their first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead and sacked Craig Erickson (21 of 34 for 295 yards) four times in the first quarter. The Bucs defense recorded three sacks and held the home team to 17 yards rushing. Reggie Cobb ran for two touchdowns and Michael Husted kicked a team record 57 yard field goal, but it was not enough. Jeff Hostetler (19 of 30 for 260 yards) threw for a touchdown and ran for another in a 27-20 L.A. victory.

Despite being 13 1/2 point underdogs, Craig Erickson (14 of 30 for 176 yards with 1 INT) threw two touchdown passes and the Bucs won at Denver 17-10. Courtney Hawkins was on the receiving end of one of the scoring passes and finished with eight receptions for 105 yards. By stopping a last minute comeback bid by Broncos quarterback John Elway (26 of 41 for 225 yards), the team posted its first victory over an AFC opponent on the road since 1980. Sam Wyche was proud of the team's effort. "We had a good day against one of the best teams in the NFL. We beat them at their place, on their turf. This team's in the best shape it's been in since I've been here."

The Buccaneers and San Diego played at a rainy Tampa Stadium on January 2. Anthony Miller (7 receptions for 119 yards) caught a touchdown pass and the Chargers held a 13-3 halftime advantage. While being intercepted three times, Craig Erickson (21 of 41 for 272 yards) did hit Lamar Thomas and Courtney Hawkins on touchdown passes. Horce Copeland also caught seven passes for 101 yards and the home team came back to lead 17-16 with 8:26 left in the season. San Diego rallied for seventeen unanswered fourth points and a victory. The Chargers did not turn the ball over, John Carney kicked four field goals and the Chargers rallied for a victory. 35,587 fans saw the Bucs fall 32-17. Sam Wyche was upset with the official who called an apparent trap an interception late in the game. "It's unfortunate. The tragedy is that it's late in the season and you have somebody that's maybe in a hurry to get back home."

The team finished 5-11 for the second consecutive season under Sam Wyche. Tampa Bay finished last in the division and lost at least ten games for the eleventh straight year. However, they did show some improvement over the final month of the season. Craig Erickson threw for a career high 3,054 yards and 18 touchdowns. Hardy Nickerson proved to be an excellent free agent acquisition by setting a team record for tackles with 214. He was elected to the Pro Bowl as a starter, voted All-Pro by the Associated Press and named the team's MVP by the local media.

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