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TAMPA - Bucs kicker Martin Gramatica said lack of confidence is not to blame for his lack of accuracy.
Gramatica has missed his past three field-goal attempts, including kicks of 35 and 44 yards in Sunday's 14-7 victory against the Saints. Among the league's most accurate kickers his first four seasons, he is searching for answers.
"Confidence is definitely not the problem," Gramatica said. "The ball is just not going through. I'm not hitting the ball solid like I've done before. I wish I knew why, I would fix it."
Gramatica is 11-of-20 this season, 5-of-14 from 30 yards or more. In an overtime loss to Carolina on Sept.14, he had two field goals and one extra point blocked, but Gramatica said there is no lingering ill-effect from that game.
On Monday, Gramatica met with coach Jon Gruden, who reassured the struggling kicker.
"He just told me he has the same confidence he always had," Gramatica said. "He's confident I can make the kicks. It hurts because you've got everybody's belief, and then you don't come through. But, hopefully, things will change."
Gramatica's father, Guillermo, and younger brother, Santiago, who kicks at South Florida, watched videotape of Gramatica's misses and saw nothing wrong with his form. The blocking, snapping and holding, Gramatica said, have been excellent.
So, Gramatica will start from scratch. He will work this week on keeping his head down longer and kick more than usual in hopes of finding a rhythm.
"You start thinking about it too much," Gramatica said. "You try to correct things maybe you're not doing wrong. I'm going to try to put everything in the past - good kicks, bad kicks - forget about all that and start from zero and, hopefully, start making some kicks."
ON THE MEND: Defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who missed most of the second half in New Orleans, had an MRI exam on his left foot and has a partial tear of the plantar fascia (soft tissue in the sole) and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Houston.
"He's sore," Gruden said. "He's a tough guy and we expect him to find a way to play. But he'll be limited on the practice field and we can only update you daily."
In Sapp's absence, the Bucs used reserve Chartric Darby and have the option to move tackle Anthony McFarland to Sapp's spot if the Pro Bowl lineman can't play.
"We've got some versatility that we may have to lean on if Warren doesn't come around," Gruden said.
Right tackle Kenyatta Walker also was absent from practice.
"He has an infection of the elbow, the bursa sac," Gruden said. "We expect him to get out (today) and he'll be questionable for the game."
Walker was at One Buc Place on Tuesday and had a lot of swelling on the elbow. It was drained and the Bucs believe he will be ready to go by Friday. Reserve tackle Cornell Green worked with the first team.
MUCH RESPECT: They may be two years into history and not expected to win many games, but the Texans have five wins and the Bucs have taken notice.
"They beat Miami in Miami, they eventually beat Carolina at home," Gruden said. "They have explosive offensive players. The receiver from (University of) Miami, Andre Johnson, is a big-time receiver. I like (Jabar) Gaffney and (Corey) Bradford; they've got three guys who can really run fast. They've got the makings of a very good offense."
McFarland said underestimating the Texans would be a mistake.
"You can say, the Bucs were an expansion team one time," McFarland said. "Everyone was an expansion team one time. Once you step on the field in the National Football League, you're an NFL team. ... They did something we couldn't, they beat Carolina. So, that says enough right there."
JUREVICIUS HEALING: Receiver Joe Jurevicius is recovering from successful surgery Friday to remove scar tissue from his right knee. Jurevicius tried to return from a torn MCL suffered Sept.14 but had continued swelling after limited action in three games.
INJURY REPORT: Tight end Ken Dilger (left hip strain) is questionable. Fullback Darian Barnes (left ankle sprain), safety David Gibson (left ankle sprain), safety John Lynch (right shoulder strain), defensive end Simeon Rice (left elbow sprain) and Walker are probable.