Kick returner thrilled to be back
Kick returner Torrie Cox played Sunday after serving a one-game suspension resulting from a DUI arrest.
By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published September 27, 2005
TAMPA - Cornerback Torrie Cox returned to the lineup against the Packers after his DUI arrest two weeks ago earned him a one-game suspension. The missed game was difficult to swallow, but it allowed Cox to return with a renewed passion.
"I just wanted to be back," Cox said. "We're winning right now. And I can't sit out and not be a part of this. This is my team, too, my teammates, coaching staff. It felt good just to be out there. It had me amped up just to be out there on the field."
Cox said he accepted the penalty imposed by team officials, who decided he would be inactive for the home opener against Buffalo.
"When something happens, you have to pay the price for it," Cox said. "It was hard to just watch, but it's something that happened. I just get back on track and keep my head focused and get out here and help this team win."
Cox still must deal with the DUI charge and resulting probation violation that led to a second arrest days later. In the meantime, Cox's focus is special teams.
It's an area the Bucs could use a spark as their return game has not yielded much. Cox returned four kickoffs for 68 yards Sunday, including a 28-yarder. Cox ranked fourth in the NFL in kickoff return average last season at 26.2 yards but currently is averaging 18.9 yards.
More important than his average, Cox is hoping to break a game-changing return.
"I think something's going to happen," Cox said. "I can feel it. Every time a ball comes to me, I expect a big run. Once you get one big run out of the way, it gets you motivated to think I can hit them all.' You're just one block away."
But Cox better hope the Bucs aren't penalized if that big return comes. Tampa Bay has shown a propensity for committing penalties in the kicking game, and the trend continued against the Packers. A holding call negated a 33-yard kick return by Cox.
"It's not been good," coach Jon Gruden said. "We've tried two kick returners (Cox and Mark Jones ) and tried a couple different schemes. The penalties have hurt us, and our ... execution hasn't been nearly what it was a year ago. We have to get that thing going."
PENALTY PROBLEMS: The penalties are showing up in areas other than the kicking game. The Bucs were penalized 103 yards Sunday, taking them to 301 for the season. That's the second most in the NFL behind Oakland's 327. Also disconcerting was the fact many of the penalties showed up on offense, such as holding and false starts by the line.
"It's hard to make first downs when you're way behind in the down and distance," Gruden said. "It takes that running game theory out. You really have to throw the ball, and we were able to convert some very difficult situations. But the penalties hurt us bad, and it's unfortunate because we could have had a lot more success."
INJURIES: Safety Dexter Jackson , who has a strained hamstring, said he hopes to play against Detroit but will know more as the week progresses. Also, guard Matt Stinchcomb was inactive for the third straight game because of a lower back injury, but there was no update on his condition.