Injuries creating contingency plans for Bucs

Cadillac Williams and Brian Kelly are questionable for Sunday's game against New Orleans.

By DAVE SCHEIBER
Published September 11, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Brendan Fitterer | Times] Cadillac Williams is listed as questionable after injuring his ribs Sunday in Seattle.

TAMPA - Fresh off their season-opening 20-6 loss in Seattle, the Bucs prepare to host New Orleans on Sunday with tailback Cadillac Williams and cornerback Brian Kelly listed as questionable from injuries sustained against the Seahawks.

Williams bruised his ribs and Kelly strained his groin during the game, leaving coach Jon Gruden proceeding as if both key players won't be available. Losing Williams, who gained 60 yards on 12 carries before getting hurt in the third quarter, leaves Gruden with an all-too familiar feeling.

"Unfortunately, we're good at one thing right now offensively and that's contingency planning," he said Monday. "We've had a number of guys in and out of our lineup the last few seasons. We're going to count on Cadillac playing, optimistically, but realistically we understand he does have sore ribs, and we'll plan for the other guys to have a bigger role in the football game."

If Williams can't play, Gruden plans to use Michael Pittman and Ernest Graham at tailback, and B.J. Askew will see more action at fullback.

The Bucs likely would activate 5-foot-10, 211-pound rookie tailback Kenneth Darby from the practice squad.

As for Kelly, Gruden said it was too early to know whether there was a muscle tear: "We'll be able to update you in the next 24 hours when we see the guys and get the MRI results. I thought Brian played very well in the first half, and unfortunately he was unable to finish."

SPEAKING OF INJURIES: "We've got to quit getting guys hurt," Gruden said. "I fly my brother (Dr. James F. Gruden) into games now - he's a doctor. He's a radiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. I've got to bring him in to our games now to help read X-rays. It's ridiculous. We get too many guys hurt, and that's something that's got to stop. That's one thing we've got to improve upon."

MEASURING STICK:Gruden says the Saints will be a "great measuring stick" for the Bucs. "We're a heck of a lot better team on opening day this year than we were last year. That first quarter and 75 to 80 percent of (the Seahawks) game shows that." Still, he said improvement is needed in all areas. "We can't give up big plays defensively, and we need to score touchdowns on offense. That's what we need to improve upon."

SO-SO PROTECTION: Gruden labeled pass protection as "average" and said quarterbacks Jeff Garcia and Luke McCown (who came in when Garcia had his bell rung in the third quarter) need to get rid of the ball faster to avoid sacks - and hits. He said he has talked to Garcia about it from a health standpoint. "He's a bit reckless sometimes when he plays, that's his style. Unfortunately, we didn't give him some real good looks in some critical third-down passing situations. But I give Seattle a lot of credit. ... Their pursuit was tremendous."

MISCELLANY: Gruden singled out linebacker Barrett Ruud ("He did some great things.") and tackle Jeremy Trueblood ("He pass protected well. ... He might be one guy that stood out the most in terms of individual play and in terms of his pass protection. His effort in the running game was excellent.") ... Wide receiver David Boston is probable with a foot injury suffered in warmups, and defensive end Patrick Chukwurah remains out with a knee injury.

[Last modified September 11, 2007, 00:34:21]