1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

Last updated

1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
Ownerthe Hugh Culverhouse estate
General manager Rich McKay
Head coach Sam Wyche
Home stadium Tampa Stadium
Results
Record6–10
Division place5th NFC Central
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Team MVPLT Paul Gruber

The 1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 19th season in the National Football League (NFL). The year began with the death of owner Hugh Culverhouse. Ownership was transferred to a three-man board of trustees. Season ticket sales dwindled, and rumors of the team's location were a persistent distraction all year. At mid-season, the new ownership removed all personnel responsibilities from coach Sam Wyche, and gave them to Vice President Rich McKay, who they named general manager. They also put the team up for sale. [1] On the field, Errict Rhett became the first rookie in the team's history to rush for 1,000 yards, despite not starting until the ninth game of the season.

Contents

The Buccaneers had one of the weakest offenses in the league, even while led by a coach who had consistently produced top offenses while with the Cincinnati Bengals. [2] At 2–9, most people in the Bay area were ready to hang Wyche and pack his bags, but the defensive line improved as Eric Curry finally matured in the second half of the season, and the Bucs began their first 4-game winning streak in 15 years. It started with an overtime win against the Minnesota Vikings. Two wins over the Washington Redskins and one over the Los Angeles Rams set up a big game in Tampa against the Green Bay Packers, who were trying to secure a playoff spot. "We've arrived", Wyche announced prematurely. [3] The final game was called "Orange Pride Day", and was attended by 65,000 fans (although many were rooting for the visitors), most of whom expected it to be the last football game in Tampa. The Packers won, 34–19. [1]

Offseason

NFL draft

PickRoundPlayerPositionSchool
61 Trent Dilfer Quarterback Fresno State
342 Errict Rhett Running back Florida
693 Harold Bishop Tight end LSU
1365 Pete Pierson Offensive tackle Washington
1656 Bernard Carter Linebacker East Carolina
2007 Jim Pyne Center Virginia Tech

Preseason

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 2–2 in the pre-season, winning their first game against the Bengals at home. After a loss to Seattle Seahawks on the road, the Bucs beat cross state rival Miami Dolphins in game three. The last game of the preseason was lost to the New York Jets by one point. Expectations were for a break even season in 1994.

Personnel

Staff

1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff

Front office

Head coaches

  • Head coach/director of football operations – Sam Wyche

Offensive coaches

 

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams/tight ends – George Stewart

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Brad Roll

[4]

Roster

1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Practice squad

Reserve

53 active, 3 inactive, 3 practice squad

Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Regular season
WeekDateOpponentResultGame siteAttendanceRecord
1September 4at Chicago Bears L 21–9 Soldier Field 61,8440–1
2September 11 Indianapolis Colts W 24–10 Tampa Stadium 36,631 [a] 1–1
3September 18 New Orleans Saints L 9–7Tampa Stadium45,522 [a] 1–2
4September 25at Green Bay Packers L 30–3 Lambeau Field 58,5511–3
5October 2 Detroit Lions W 24–14Tampa Stadium38,012 [a] 2–3
6October 9at Atlanta Falcons L 34–13 Georgia Dome 52,6332–4
7 Bye
8October 23at San Francisco 49ers L 41–16 Candlestick Park 62,7412–5
9October 30 Minnesota Vikings L 36–13Tampa Stadium42,110 [a] 2–6
10November 6 Chicago Bears L 20–6Tampa Stadium60,821 [a] 2–7
11November 13at Detroit Lions L 14–9 Pontiac Silverdome 50,8142–8
12November 20at Seattle Seahawks L 22–21 Kingdome 37,4662–9
13November 27at Minnesota Vikings W 20–17 (OT) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 47,2593–9
14December 4 Washington Redskins W 26–21Tampa Stadium45,121 [a] 4–9
15December 11 Los Angeles Rams W 24–14Tampa Stadium34,150 [a] 5–9
16December 18at Washington Redskins W 17–14 RFK Stadium 47,3156–9
17December 24 Green Bay Packers L 34–19Tampa Stadium65,076 [a] 6–10
Note: Division opponents in bold text

Standings

NFC Central
WLTPCTPFPASTK
(3) Minnesota Vikings 1060.625356314W1
(4) Green Bay Packers 970.563382287W3
(5) Detroit Lions 970.563357342L1
(6) Chicago Bears 970.563271307L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6100.375251351L1

Season summary

Week 13 at Vikings

Week Thirteen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2–9) at Minnesota Vikings (7–4)
Quarter1234OTTotal
Buccaneers 7703320
Vikings 0908017

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: November 27, 1994
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 47,250
  • TV: FOX
  • Box Score, Box Score
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BuccaneersPassing Craig Erickson 20/38, 254 Yds, TD, INT
Rushing Errict Rhett 24 Rush, 55 Yds, TD
Receiving Courtney Hawkins 6 Rec, 80 Yds, TD
VikingsPassing Warren Moon 24/46, 286 Yds, TD, INT
Rushing Terry Allen 16 Rush, 54 Yds
Receiving Qadry Ismail 6 Rec, 101 Yds, TD

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 blacked out locally

References

  1. 1 2 Stroud, Rick (September 11, 2005). "30 Seasons: 1976–2005. From Sinking Ship to World-Class Cruise". St. Petersburg Times .
  2. Lieber, Jill (December 5, 1994). "The NFC Central". Sports Illustrated.
  3. Lieber, Jill (December 26, 1994). "The NFC Central". Sports Illustrated.
  4. 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Media Guide. pp. 44–46. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2010.