Bucs hit the unofficial halfway mark

JE · Nov 6, 2008

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081104/article/811040341&tc=yahoo

TAMPA - As the Buccaneers take stock of their season and realize how lucky they are to have a 6-3 record at the bye, they also have to count their blessings not to have a few more devastating injuries.

They came close to losing running back/fullback Earnest Graham in Sunday's 30-27 overtime victory over the Chiefs in Kansas City.

He left the game in the first half with a knee contusion and was taken into the locker room to be examined before returning to action.

Head coach Jon Gruden said Monday that Graham's health is of concern. There will be no official injury update on him or any Bucs players until the middle of next week, because of the bye.

"(Graham's) status is uncertain," Gruden said. "Courageously, he came out and played in the second half.
"It's a tough time of year, midseason, for a running back in the NFL. These guys are all sore and beat up."

Graham is the player the Buccaneers can least afford to lose, this side of Ronde Barber. He is the NFL's 10th-leading rusher with 560 yards and a 4.3 average per carry.
He has touched the ball 154 times, an average of 17 times in nine games.

He had 25 touches Sunday, including his 3-yard TD on a halfback pass to tight end Alex Smith.

Injuries to fullbacks B.J. Askew (hamstring) and Byron Storer (knee, out for the season) have forced the team to use Graham at fullback.

"Have we asked a lot of Earnest? Maybe too much at times, yes, yes we have, but that's what you do with your best players," Gruden said.

Tight end Alex Smith's leg was caught under a Chiefs defender and he winced in pain as he caught the 2-point conversion pass that forced overtime.

Gruden said that Graham and Smith are being evaluated by team doctors.

"So those two guys in particular we're worried about," Gruden said.

Smith said Sunday that believes that his ankle injury will heal by the time the Buccaneers resume play a week from Sunday at home against the Minnesota Vikings.

Guard Davin Joseph suffered a hip injury and defensive end Gaines Adams suffered a shoulder injury. RB Warrick Dunn (back), along with guard Arron Sears (knee), did not make the trip to Kansas City.

Gruden has given the players five days off. They will leave after a morning film session today and not return until Monday.

"It (the bye) is going to help us. Obviously our running back situation in particular is very concerning to us," Gruden said. "Both fullbacks (Askew and Storer), both halfbacks. We've got a number of guys that are nicked up and guys that we need back."

Gruden was grateful for becoming the Bucs' winningest coach Sunday, for which he received a game ball.
He has 57 wins in his seventh season in Tampa Bay, surpassing all but the team's first head coach, the late John McKay (nine years), in longevity.

"Well, I am very appreciative for the opportunity to be here as long as I have. I thank the Glazers for hanging in there with me," Gruden said. "There's been a couple tough years. There's been some exciting times, but I really respect and appreciate their confidence and giving me the opportunity to stay here and do what I like to do."

He also credited his top assistants, and two best players, who have been with him the entire time.
"Monte Kiffin, Bill Muir and Rich Bisaccia, my coordinators, been with me and I really appreciate them," Gruden said. "I got to give Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber, the guys that have been a big part of winning all of those games, I should give them that ball."

BUCS NOTES
Tam pa Bay is 6-1 in games before the bye week under Gruden, 3-3 in games after the bye week.
RB Carnell Williams will put on pads today and Wednesday, as the team tests his surgically repaired knee and his readiness, ahead of a decision it must make on him by next week, when the 21-day window set by the NFL for PUP (physically unable to play) players expires.

"There is a possibility that he can help us," Gruden said.

Rookie Clifton Smith's 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vaulted the Bucs from 21st to fifth in the NFL in kickoff return average (25.1).

WR Antonio Bryant's eight receptions Sunday give him 45 this season and moved him up to the fourth-leading receiver in the NFC.
Click to expand...

We're lucky to have the record we do at this point, with all the injury problems we've had. Three divisional games and a fairly easy schedule the rest of the way. The division is right in front of our nose.

DynastYWarrioR6 · Nov 6, 2008

I hopw the Bucs win it. I mean I don't follow football as closely as you guys do, but every week I check if my Ravens and my Bucs win their games. I sometimes come in to read the threads to get a better idea of what the team is like. Keep it up guys!

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