In need of support

Without his top running back and top receiver and playing behind a porous line, Chris Simms struggles.

By RICK STROUD
Published August 19, 2006

[Times photo: Brendan Fitterer]

Edell Shepherd dives for a touchdown off a 48-yard pass from Bruce Gradkowski.

	[Times photo: Carrie Pratt]
	Dolphins' quarterback Daunte Culpepper is called for intentional grounding while he's being sacked by Bucs linebacker Barrett Ruud during the first quarter.
	[Times photo: Jim Damaske]
	The Bucs' Mike Alstott runs for short yardage in the first quarter during the Bucs pre-season game against the Miami Dolphins.

TAMPA — Halfway through the preseason there is something we know about gunslinger quarterback Chris Simms.
The poor guy is going to need more bullets.

In the Bucs 13-10 preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins Saturday night, Simms didn’t have his best running back, his best receiver or his best protection.

A lot of his friends were kept in bubble wrap. For the second straight week, there was no Joey Galloway and no Cadillac Williams.

Simms finished 2-of-7 for 27 yards, was sacked twice and had another pass batted back into his face.
One more thing.

The Bucs are still looking for a safety net behind Simms.

Veteran backup Tim Rattay produced two first downs in his only two series and left after throwing an interception. He was outplayed again by rookie Bruce Gradkowski, who sparked the Bucs in the second half with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Edell Shepherd.

But this week, Gradkowski failed to rally the Bucs to a win. He threw behind Shepherd and was intercepted by safety Jack Hunt with 1:45 remaining.

Simms said he was pleased with the first drive, when the Bucs moved the ball from their 40 to the Dolphins 12. But he missed tight end Anthony Becht in the end zone, and the drive ended in Matt Bryant’s 33-yard field goal.

“We were sharp, definitely were,” Simms said of the first drive. “We did some good things, and I think in a few weeks we probably capitalize on that drive. I didn’t make the greatest throw in the world. And we’re getting there. That’s the most important thing.”

The Bucs didn’t get much help from their offensive line. Tampa Bay rushed for just 67 yards and lost a great scoring chance when Carey Davis fumbled at the Miami 19.

“We were short on backs,” Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. “It was a coach’s decision not to play Cadillac. (Michael) Pittman was not ready to go. He has a little soreness in his foot.

“John Wade did not play center. We wanted to see Sean Mahan with the (first team). This time of year, we’re getting ready to make a very important roster cutdown with this team, and it was a perfect opportunity to see how some of our young players handle it.”

The defense handled it fine.

With Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks and Shelton Quarles sitting out, Barrett Ruud and Jamie Winborn were all over the field. Ruud had a sack and forced a fumble and an intentional grounding on Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Winborn sacked backup Joey Harrington.

In three first-quarter possessions, the Bucs allowed just 25 net yards against Culpepper and the Dolphins.

“It was just a good-designed blitz, got me one on one with the back, and I was able make a counter move and beat him and able to cause that fumble,” Ruud said. “The next play was a similar blitz. I came free, and it was a matter of corralling him again.”

Psychologically, that was a big step for Culpepper, who appeared in just six plays last week at Jacksonville and did not take a hit in his first action since a season-ending knee injury in 2005. He finished 7-of-9 for 86 yards and led the Dolphins to a touchdown.

Gradkowski entered the game to a loud ovation with 8:55 remaining in the third quarter. As he did last week, the sixth-round pick from Toledo provided an instant spark to the offense. He beat the blitz and hit rookie Tim Massaquoi for a first down. Then on the next play, he threaded a pass in the seam to rookie Maurice Stovall for 36 yards.

But on first down from the Dolphins 19, Davis ran into rookie right guard Davin Joseph and fumbled the ball that was recovered by Dolphins tackle Kevin Vickerson.

Gruden said he was impressed again with Gradkowski, who finished 11-of-14 for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

“He’s going to be a heck of a young quarterback,” Gruden said. “He made a couple of great audibles. The Dolphins do a great job blitzing. He made some great plays, some great decisions. It’s unfortunate the game ended the way it did.

“I was pleased with the way our offense and defense started this game. I thought the opening drive was good. Once again, we had some penalties. We don’t want to take sacks. I thought he could get rid of the ball a little quicker a few times.”

[Last modified August 19, 2006, 23:30:47]