Gruden stands in Falcons' way

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. --- In five seasons as Jacksonville's defensive coordinator, Mike Smith only had two games against Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden.

The Jaguars won both, including a 24-23 win last year in Tampa, but the amount of time and energy spent on facing Gruden's complex schemes left Smith feeling more relieved than elated.

Now that he's head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Smith must prepare for the Buccaneers twice each year. Consider this the first week that Smith, coordinator Brian VanGorder and Atlanta's other defensive coaches will lose a few hours of sleep.

"The record speaks for itself in terms of what he can do offensively," Smith said Thursday. "Throughout his entire career, he has created mismatches and issues for defensive coaches. I think he has done an outstanding job."

Gruden, who is 8-4 against the Falcons, with three NFC South titles and a Super Bowl title since taking charge of the Buccaneers in 2002, long ago mastered the savvy for creating confusion before the snap.

His multiple formation shifts cause problems, not only for middle linebackers to realign the front seven, but for defensive coordinators to fret over last-second personnel decisions.

It's a classic game of strategy exploitation and one that the Falcons (1-0) must overcome Sunday, when they visit the Buccaneers (0-1).

"They can provide a lot of different looks for us, so at times it can be a little challenging with some of the stuff they do," said Atlanta strongside linebacker Michael Boley, whose team last year lost twice to Tampa Bay by a combined 68-10 score.

Boley, a four-year veteran, and weakside linebacker Keith Brooking, a five-time Pro Bowler in his 11th season out of Georgia Tech, will have to offer lots of reassurance to rookie Curtis Lofton, who starts in the middle.

Brooking is particularly concerned that Atlanta keeps its composure when running backs Warrick Dunn, a former Falcon, and Earnest Graham work in passing situations.

"I think they will definitely try to create mismatches with our linebackers," Brooking said. "Warrick can do a lot of things."

Gruden and his top offensive lieutenant, assistant Bill Muir, in his 31st NFL season, are also gifted at helping their teams compensate for in-season injuries to quarterbacks, which they'll have to do again this week.

Tampa Bay will start Brian Griese, who went 9-7 under Gruden during a run from 2004-05, for the injured Jeff Garcia.

For Smith, whose team reported no significant injuries Thursday, the key to stopping Tampa Bay is forcing turnovers. The Bucs are 16-0 under Gruden when their offense avoids an interception and a lost fumble.