Is max protection a good idea for Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden?
In two games since he was sacked a season-high seven times at New England, Bucs quarterback Chris Simms has been sacked three times. That’s heading in the right direction for a team that has allowed 41 sacks, more than any playoff squad. Gruden has tried to scheme through the protection problems all season. He has reined in some of his more creative designs and often sends just two receivers out while getting heavy use out of max-protection formations such as two-tight-end sets. It helps that rookie Carnell Williams fuels the rushing game and Simms — who didn’t throw an interception in six of his 10 starts — keeps mistakes to a minimum. Simms throws a great deep ball, but without the blocking he can’t connect with polished burner Joey Galloway. When the Redskins played at Tampa in Week 10, they didn’t get a sack. Undoubtedly, blitz-happy Washington will try to disrupt the flow much more this time. Seven: Can the two-time defending champion Patriots overcome the loss of Harrison? Bill B