RB picture could grow crowded

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published November 6, 2007

TAMPA - By the time the Bucs return to action at Atlanta in two weeks, they could go from being dangerously thin at running back to having something of a playing-time problem on their hands.

After the bye, Michael Pittman is expected to return to the backfield with Earnest Graham, who turned in the best game of his career Sunday against Arizona.

Pittman has been out since sustaining a severe right ankle sprain Oct.7 at Indianapolis. He was nearly activated Sunday, said coach Jon Gruden, who acknowledged it was a close call before kickoff.

Gruden made it clear that when Pittman finally returns, there will be a place for the versatile veteran back despite Graham's career-best 124 yards rushing against the Cardinals.

"Pittman has always been a big part of our offense," Gruden said Monday. "He's a great receiver. He's one of the great third-down backs in football, I believe. He allows us to move formations. He's a joker. He's a guy who can line up in any eligible position and function, and he's just going to supplement what we're doing and give us a good runner and excellent receiver and certainly a good pass protector."

That's no slight on Graham, who has helped the Bucs remain a threat to run the ball even after Cadillac Williams' season-ending knee injury and Pittman's monthlong absence.

Gruden did not say who will start when Pittman returns, but Graham could remain in the starting lineup while Pittman gets back up to speed. It's likely Pittman might assume the role as third-down back that he had behind Williams.

Gruden could use both as he did against St. Louis on Sept.23, when Graham and Pittman combined for 131 yards - almost all in the second half - after Williams was benched.

Blown call?: Gruden lamented what he considered a blown call by officials in Sunday's game.

In the final minute, tempers flared, resulting in tackle Jeremy Trueblood being ejected. But Gruden contended, and replays seemed to indicate, that Arizona's defensive linemen were swatting at the ball before the snap in hopes of causing a fumble.

"We fumbled the snap, but obviously, when you look at the replay, they swatted the ball. They missed that call," Gruden said. "Then, they tried to swat the ball again. There were some after-the-whistle things going on there that the NFL should look into. I'm sure they will. I don't anticipate any fine. That was just an ugly sequence of plays, and we'll let the league handle it."

No passing zone: The Bucs lead the NFL in pass defense allowing 173 passing yards a game after holding Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner to his poorest outing of the season, and they have done it without a flurry of sacks or consistent pass rush.

A big reason is rookie safety Tanard Jackson, who is making a strong case for inclusion on the league's all-rookie team.

Jackson had his second interception Sunday and is building quite the resume. He has interceptions against two quarterbacks he grew up watching: Peyton Manning and Warner.

"Two possible future Hall of Famers," Jackson said. "You can't ask for much more than that. It was a play where Kurt Warner was staring down his receiver, and I read his eyes and made a play on the ball. ... You want to make those plays early in the game to get the confidence going and create some momentum - especially being at home - that I don't think the opposing team can match."

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at (813) 226-3377 or sholder@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 6, 2007, 00:37:53]