1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
Head coach Sam Wyche
General manager Rich McKay
Owner the Hugh Culverhouse estate
Home field Tampa Stadium
Results
Record 6–10
Division place 5th NFC Central
Playoff finish did not qualify
Team MVP LT Paul Gruber

The 1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season 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. 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 in Minnesota. 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

Pick Round Player Position School
61Trent DilferQuarterbackFresno State
342Errict RhettRunning backFlorida
693Harold BishopTight endLSU
1365Pete PiersonOffensive tackleWashington
1656Bernard CarterLinebackerEast Carolina
2007Jim PyneCenterVirginia 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.

Regular season

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]

Regular season

Schedule

Regular season
Week Date Opponent Result Kickoff[a] Game site TV Attendance Record
1 September 4, 1994 at Chicago Bears L 21–9 1:00 Soldier Field FOX 61,844 0–1
2 September 11, 1994 Indianapolis Colts W 24–10 1:00 Tampa Stadium NBC 36,631* 1–1
3 September 18, 1994 New Orleans Saints L 9–7 1:00 Tampa Stadium FOX 45,522* 1–2
4 September 25, 1994 at Green Bay Packers L 30–3 1:00 Lambeau Field FOX 58,551 1–3
5 October 2, 1994 Detroit Lions W 24–14 1:00 Tampa Stadium FOX 38,012* 2–3
6 October 9, 1994 at Atlanta Falcons L 34–13 1:00 Georgia Dome FOX 52,633 2–4
7 Bye
8 October 23, 1994 at San Francisco 49ers L 41–16 4:00 Candlestick Park FOX 62,741 2–5
9 October 30, 1994 Minnesota Vikings L 36–13 4:00 Tampa Stadium FOX 42,110* 2–6
10 November 6, 1994 Chicago Bears L 20–6 1:00 Tampa Stadium FOX 60,821* 2–7
11 November 13, 1994 at Detroit Lions L 14–9 8:00 Pontiac Silverdome ESPN 50,814 2–8
12 November 20, 1994 at Seattle Seahawks L 22–21 4:00 The Kingdome FOX 37,466 2–9
13 November 27, 1994 at Minnesota Vikings W 20–17 OT 1:00 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome FOX 47,259 3–9
14 December 4, 1994 Washington Redskins W 26–21 1:00 Tampa Stadium FOX 45,121* 4–9
15 December 11, 1994 Los Angeles Rams W 24–14 1:00 Tampa Stadium FOX 34,150* 5–9
16 December 18, 1994 at Washington Redskins W 17–14 1:00 RFK Stadium FOX 47,315 6–9
17 December 24, 1994 Green Bay Packers L 34–19 1:00 Tampa Stadium FOX 65,076* 6–10

Notes:

a All times in North American Eastern Time. (UTC–4 and UTC–5 during Standard Time)

Standings

NFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(3) Minnesota Vikings 10 6 0 .625 356 314 W1
(4) Green Bay Packers 9 7 0 .563 382 287 W3
(5) Detroit Lions 9 7 0 .563 357 342 L1
(6) Chicago Bears 9 7 0 .563 271 307 L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 10 0 .375 251 351 L1

References

  1. 1 2 Stroud, Rick. "30 Seasons: 1976–2005. From Sinking Ship to World-Class Cruise" St Petersburg Times. 11 Sep 2005.
  2. ↑ Lieber, Jill. "The NFC Central". Sports Illustrated. 5 Dec 1994
  3. ↑ Lieber, Jill. "The NFC Central". Sports Illustrated. 26 Dec 1994
  4. ↑ 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Media Guide. pp. 44–46. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
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