Bucs/NFL

Bucs' big playmakers miss big opportunities

"No excuse, " Williams says after he fumbles a pitch and Galloway and Clayton drop passes.

By JOANNE KORTH
Published October 30, 2006

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Swirling winds played nasty tricks with the football every time it left rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski's hands. But star receiver Joey Galloway expects to catch the ball any time its hits his hands.

So does Michael Clayton.

So does Cadillac Williams.

The Bucs' three biggest offensive playmakers offered no excuses for the plays they failed to make in Sunday, any of which might have changed the game.

Galloway dropped two deep passes in Giants territory. Clayton dropped a pass in the end zone and fumbled a potential fourth-down conversion. Williams mishandled a pitch.

Just like the football, opportunity slipped through their fingers.

"The wind was there, but those are plays that have to be made," Galloway said. "We didn't think it would be easy to come here and play in this kind of weather, but we had our chances. I definitely had a couple get away. Those are plays I need to make for this offense."

The offense went three and out in its first five series, but the Bucs trailed only 7-0 early in the second quarter when Williams failed to control a pitch from Gradkowski inside the Bucs 25 yard line. Giants defensive tackle Fred Robinson recovered at the 22, and New York scored three plays later to lead 14-0.

Gradkowski was charged with the fumble, but Williams took responsibility.

"It's a ball I definitely should have caught," Williams said. "With the wind, it just died on me. But the ball hit both my hands, so there's no excuse."

On the Bucs' next possession, Galloway was open deep down the right sideline, but Gradkowski's pass went through his hands just before the safety hit him.

Two plays later, on third and 10, Galloway was open deep over the middle. Gradkowski's pass fluttered, forcing Galloway to reach low for the ball. It bounced off his outstretched hands.

"Any time you're struggling to get into the end zone, you have to make those plays when the opportunities arise," Galloway said, "because they may only come up once or twice a game."

The closest the Bucs came to the end zone was on their final possession of the first half, when Gradkowski lofted a ball into the right corner of the end zone. Trying to keep his eye on the ball and his feet in bounds, Clayton dropped it.

"I didn't know exactly where I was on the field because it was drifting," Clayton said. "That ball should have been caught."

In the third quarter, the Bucs tried to convert fourth and 6 from the Giants 44. Clayton caught a quick slant and appeared to have the needed yardage when linebacker A.J. Pierce knocked the ball loose. It squirted backward and Gradkowski recovered the fumble at the 45, short of the first down.

"The guy had a great shot on the ball, helmet on the ball," Clayton said. "It kills, because I'm a physical guy. We had an opportunity to score and change the momentum of the whole game. I let the team down. It's just a bad night for me."

He wasn't alone.

Joanne Korth can be reached at korth@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8810.

[Last modified October 30, 2006, 00:14:39]