Back to the Bucs Report

The Writers

Roy Cummings

Ira Kaufman

 @RCummingsTrib
 @IKaufmanTrib
 TBO Buccaneers
 Ask a question

More Links:

• Roster
• Schedule
• Statistics
• Email Updates

Most Recent Entries

• Bobby V calls out Rays coaches
• Rays @ BoSox: On Bobby V, Maddon and the organist
• Rays-Red Sox, Round II: Can Rays afford a beanball war?
• Robinson product Gibson advances to NCAA track finals
• Panini previews Gold Standard autographs
• UD unveils Military Machines inserts for 2012 Goodwin Champions set
• Rays @ BoSox: Guyer out for the season, Jennings close to returning and lineups
• USF softball: It’s game day
• Weekly Tampa Bay fishing report
• Rays at BoSox: Rivalry renewed
• Karen Cooley returns as Zephyrhills girls swimming coach
• USF beats Pitt, stays alive
• The Nerds head north
• Jeffrey Shank out as Gulf boys basketball coach
• Berkeley Prep captures Academic Team Champion Award - again

More

• Bucs Report -Tribune staff
• Rays Report - Roger Mooney
• Bolts Report - Erik Erlendsson
• Bulls Report
• Prep Report - Hillsborough
• Prep Report - Pasco
• Prep Report - Region
• Prep Report - Recruiting Updates
• Prep Report - Football
• Go Fishing: On The Waterfront
• The Sports Bookie - Bob D'Angelo
• Gators Report - Tribune staff
• Youth Sports Report
• NFL Draft Report
• Go Ask: Frank's Tacklebox
• Bucified Bert Blog
• BUK Power - Bucs Fan Blog
• Pigskin Preacher - NFL Fan Blog
• Breakfast Bonus - Tom McEwen
• Highlands Sports

Monthly Archives

• May 2012
• April 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011

Running on Empty

Posted Feb 18, 2010 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Feb 18, 2010 at 12:27 PM

By IRA KAUFMAN
TAMPA—There was much talk about a 3-headed monster during Tampa Bay’s 2009 training camp.

Coach Raheem Morris couldn’t wait to showcase the backfield depth of the Buccaneers, envisioning a steady pounding by Derrick Ward, Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams, sprinkled in with some outside carries for speedy Clifton Smith.

But after an impressive ground effort against Dallas in Week 1, the Bucs failed to establish a credible running threat until late in the season, when offensive coordinator Greg Olson decided to ease the burden of rookie QB Josh Freeman by ordering him to hand off more often.

When a 3-13 season ended, Tampa Bay’s average of 25.2 carries per game ranked 25th among 32 NFL teams and Ward and Graham were understandably left wondering about their roles in 2010.

Ward, a targeted free agent from the Giants, averaged seven rushes per game and only 3.6 yards per carry, a shocking drop from the 5.6 average he sported with New York in 2008. By midway through the season, Ward stopped talking, waving the media away from his locker.

He was likely worried he would reveal his frustrations by blurting out something negative about the organization that wanted him so much a year ago.

Graham was also a forgotten man, finishing with 14 carries. That’s eight rushing attempts fewer than QB Josh Johnson, who started only four games before being replaced by Freeman.

When it became clear that Williams had made a historic comeback from two torn patellar tendons, he was given the bulk of the carries. Given the mediocre blocking up front, Williams was productive, but the Bucs were one of four clubs that didn’t reel off a run of at least 40 yards last season.

At this point, it appears Williams, Ward and Graham will return this fall and it’s up to Olson to spread the carries out more effectively.

You have to think Ward will be the featured back the second time around. The Bucs guaranteed him $6 million last year and ownership would like to see more impact for that degree of commitment.

Morris says the team’s focus remains on developing Freeman into an elite quarterback. Straightening out this awkward logjam in the backfield would go a long way toward that goal.