Pittman's injury adds to rushing woes
A sprained ankle further depletes a backfield that runs for a mere 10 yards on 11 carries.
By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published October 8, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS - The Bucs are getting way too good at shows of support.
One week after teammates gathered around Cadillac Williams before he left the field on a cart, the scene repeated Sunday with Michael Pittman. The get-togethers are taking a toll not only on the Bucs' psyche, but depth chart.
They are running out of running backs.
The Bucs said Pittman sprained his right ankle on a second-quarter run, but the mood in the locker room indicated something more serious. Pittman wore a boot and walked with crutches, unable to put weight on his leg. He said X-rays were inconclusive and an MRI exam is scheduled for today.
Coach Jon Gruden said adapting the offense to the losses of Williams, the team's most explosive runner, and Pittman, the team's most versatile back, would begin during the flight home.
"It's hard," said Gruden, who lost fullback Mike Alstottduring the preseason. "We've been a two-back operation at times and a two-halfback operation."
After averaging 137 rushing yards in their first four games, the Bucs had 17 on 12 attempts against the Colts. Throw out a 7-yard scramble by quarterback Jeff Garcia and it's 10 yards on 11 carries.
In the first half, the Colts put an extra defender, a safety, close to the line of scrimmage. After falling behind 23-7 in the third, the Bucs were forced to pass.
"I think the Colts have a pretty good idea that teams are going to try to run the ball on early downs," Gruden said. "They jumped into some eight-man fronts. We should have done better. We had a couple of assignment errors early in the game where we fell behind in the down and distance, something we did not want to do coming in here against this pass rush."
Even before Pittman got hurt, the running game struggled. With Pittman and Earnest Graham replacing Williams, who is out for the season with a torn right patellar tendon, the Bucs' first four carries went for minus-1, minus-4, minus-2 and minus-3 yards. The offense failed to gain a first down in its first three possessions.
"There was a lot of penetration, a lot of linebackers shooting through the gaps," Garcia said. "I think oftentimes in these situations against this type of team, you need to utilize the short passing game as your run alternative and get them into two-deep coverages."
The Bucs have only two healthy running backs, Graham and rookie Kenneth Darby. Last week, the team inquired about Mewelde Moore but would not meet the Vikings' demand for a draft pick among the first three rounds.
Losing Pittman could change that.
"Michael Pittman is a stud in this offense," Garcia said. "It's a very disappointing loss to lose a guy like that because of the attitude that he brings, the physical toughness that he brings, the knowledge of the offense that he brings."
Joanne Korth can be reached at korth@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8810.