Just over a week ago, former Bucs head coach Bruce Arians joined the Pewter Report Podcast. Arians shared plenty of insight, but what was particularly noteworthy was his breakdown of what would happen in a hypothetical showdown between the 2002 Bucs vs. the 2020 Bucs. Obviously, each team was the best in the NFL that season, but which squad would get the best of the other if they were to match up?

After getting Arians’ thoughts, the other half of the answer was provided as Jon Gruden joined the Pewter Report Podcast on Monday. It is a fun, thought-provoking question, especially considering how each team is known for one side of the ball being more dominant than the other. One also has to factor in the difference in playstyle and rule changes that occurred in a span of less than 20 years.

This is what “Chucky” had to say.

Being As Offensive-Minded As He Is, Jon Gruden “Would Have Had A Plan” Against 2020 Bucs Defense

I get it.

It is the land of “what ifs?”

No amount of analysis will fill the void of the fact that this will never happen (unfortunately). A Madden simulation is about as far as we will ever see this play out in this dimension. Still, in an alternate universe this would be quite the historic matchup. Jon Gruden earned his stripes in the NFL for his offensive mind, going all the way back to when he was a 30-year-old wide receivers coach for the Mike Holmgren-led Packers in 1993.

Not only does that make Gruden the one to make a Baker Mayfield-Brett Favre comparison, but it also means that his words carry weight when analyzing how his 2002 Bucs offense would have attacked the 2020 Bucs defense.

2002 Bucs Offense vs. 2020 Bucs Defense

From the start, he acknowledged the middle of the field and how a 284-pound Jeff Christy would have fared lining up against a 347-pound Vita Vea.

“Well, Jeff Christy was undersized against everybody we played,” Jon Gruden said. “We played Sam Adams of the Raiders in the Super Bowl; he was undersized. He did it with technique and quickness. That’s a good question. That defense that you’re looking at right there that Todd Bowles coached, they shut down Pat Mahomes big time in the Super Bowl. They had a front four that could get after you.

“Jason Pierre-Paul was no joke either, even though he was toward the end of his career. Devin White could run; he made a play against us when I was coaching the Raiders. He ran Derek Carr down on our sideline, I thought, ‘Good God.’ I didn’t know Devin White could run like that.”

Despite the fact that they allowed just nine points to the Chiefs in that 2020 Super Bowl, Gruden still believes his offense could have got it done. The fact of the matter is that Mike Alstott up the gut would have been a hard train to derail, and Brad Johnson had enough weapons at his disposal and was smart enough with the football to not make mistakes.

Former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden and QB Brad Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I’m not going to ever shy away from our football team,” Gruden added. “We won 15 games [including the playoffs]; we went into the playoffs and busted up three pretty good teams. San Francisco, Philadelphia, and my old team, the Raiders. We would have had a plan, we would have had a plan. We definitely would have probably played a lot more 11 personnel, gone a little more no-huddle to try and wear down Vita Vea. We want to try and get Vita Vea over there on sidelines drinking Gatorade.”

Jon Gruden “Would Have Loved” To See 2002 Bucs Defense Take On Tom Brady

While the 2002 Bucs offense vs. 2020 Bucs defense would no doubt be entertaining, there is no debate that it would be the undercard for the main event — the 2002 defense vs. 2020 offense.

Jon Gruden’s defense that season carried the team to glory, and ultimately, the first Super Bowl win in franchise history.

Doing so meant facing a lot of talented quarterbacks, from Donovan McNabb to Rich Gannon. As good as they were, they pale in comparison to Tom Brady. Putting Brady’s longevity into context a bit here, 2002 was his second season as a starting NFL quarterback. Fast forward to 2020, much of his legacy was already written.

“TB12” had one more Super Bowl win in him though, but Gruden and late defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin would have found ways to utilize all of their Hall of Fame talent to keep him at bay.

Bucs legendary LB Derrick Brooks and DT Warren Sapp and former head coach Jon Gruden – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“That defense right there would not have shied away from anybody,” Gruden said. “The bigger the stakes, the better the quarterback, the better the system, the better these guys played. I would have loved to have seen these guys go up against Tom Brady. I have great respect for him, obviously. Mike Evans, we would have probably would have rolled the coverage to Mike quite a bit. We had some guys now — those guys are all wearing gold jackets, we’re going to honor Simeon Rice here soon.

“That defense was hard to beat, man. Especially if we were able to get a lead, that guy right there, Ronde Barber, honest to God, that is probably as good of a football player as I have ever been around. His instincts — when he put that helmet on, all you young players out there that are listening, there’s certain guys that just loved to play football. Barber loved it man, he was one of the best.”

Pewter Report enjoyed hearing what Bruce Arians and Jon Gruden had to say about their respective Super Bowl-winning teams. There is no arguing their respective place in Bucs’ history and what the 2002 and 2020 teams will always be remembered for. What they shared about what would happen if they squared off is a fun scenario one can debate forever.

Watch Former Bucs HC Jon Gruden On The Pewter Report Podcast

To listen to former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden discuss this, never-before heard insight about the 2002 Bucs and the rest of his time in Tampa Bay, to what he is doing now with Barstool Sports, be sure to watch our 45-minute conversation with “Chucky” on the Pewter Report Podcast.