Rush is on to solve Bucs' running game deficiency

Today's trade deadline looms large for a team thin at RB.

By RICK STROUD
Published October 16, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [James Borchuck | Times] Earnest Graham rushed for just 29 yards on 13 carries in Sunday's 13-10 win over the Tennessee Titans in his first NFL start.

TAMPA - Injuries and ineffectiveness have reduced the Bucs' rushing attack the past two weeks to about 20 yards per game.

Now the Bucs are running out of time to do something about it.

They will attempt to strike a deal for a running back by today's NFL trading deadline. If they're unsuccessful, the job will continue to belong to Earnest Graham, who rushed for just 29 yards on 13 carries in Sunday's 13-10 win over the Tennessee Titans in his first NFL start.

"We are certainly investigating the possibility of a trade," coach Jon Gruden said Monday. "And again, it takes two to tango. The trade deadline, they tell me, is approaching us. So we should know something soon."

The Bucs haven't coaxed former Patriots running back Corey Dillon out of retirement. Talks with Minnesota have not produced a deal for Mewelde Moore; the Vikings asked for at least a third-round pick (though Yahoo.com reported Monday that their price had dropped).

The Bucs rushed for more than 180 yards in each of their back-to-back wins over the Rams and Panthers. But after injuries to Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman in consecutive weeks, the tailbacks have combined for 39 yards rushing in the past two games.

"Our running backs will be fine," Gruden said. "We have to do a better job, obviously, running the ball, giving guys some opportunities to carry it.

"I think (Graham) will get better. He's going to have to improve and get better, and experience is sometimes the best way to do that. It was (lineman) Donald Penn's second career start. And Earnest Graham's first career start. (Graham) went wire to wire, so he showed some great stamina against a really good defensive team. I was pleased about his first outing. It wasn't as exciting as his Rams debut, but he did okay."

Barring a trade today, the Bucs don't have many options. The team signed Lionel Gates from the practice squad and released seventh-round pick Kenneth Darby because the former Alabama star was outperformed in practice last week.

Fullback B.J. Askew could be used at tailback, but that's only as a contingency. Last week, the Bucs signed former Raiders fullback Zack Crockett, 34, adding flexibility and experience.

Graham admits he needs to work on his timing with Garcia as a receiver and expects to improve each game. But he said he's not worried about the Bucs trading for another running back.

"Right now I'm definitely being counted on, and I'm definitely a significant part of the team as far as the running back position is concerned," Graham said. "I can't imagine anybody coming in here and me suddenly not playing running back. So I'm going to do my part. What I do well is what I do well, and they'll continue to use me for what I can bring to this team.

"We lost three very good running backs this year, so we can definitely use some help at the position."

Much of the responsibility for the Bucs' struggling rushing attack belongs to the offensive line, which didn't give Graham many good looks the past two weeks.

Graham's longest run Sunday was a 10-yard gain when he shook Titans defensive back Nick Harper with a move in the open field.

"We've had some good days running the ball. We've had some days that weren't so good, especially the last couple of outings," Gruden said.

"(Sunday) we didn't have much success running the ball. ... We felt the best way to win the game was to throw it. We knew we could have success throwing the football, and we tried to put Jeff Garcia in position to make some plays."

[Last modified October 16, 2007, 01:04:05]