Laying it on the line
A tight-knit offensive front has given its all for Earnest Graham and the rest of the Bucs.
By RICK STROUD
Published December 23, 2007
TAMPA — Gut-check time comes every Thursday night for the Bucs' young offensive line.
That's when the players belly up to atable at a local restaurant to break bread and bust each other's chops.
It's a tradition that began several years ago as a chance to blow off steam from the tough week of mistakes, meetings and Bill Muir. The cantankerous offensive line coach is not invited to join in the festivities.
Occasionally, a quarterback might drop by to pick up the tab. But mostly, they take turns selecting the restaurant and paying the bill.
Center John Wade, a 10-year veteran surrounded by rookies and second-year pros, has veto power.
"My favorite is Capital Grille," right guard Davin Joseph said. "A lot of red meat. A lot of appetizers. Big bill. All the good stuff."
Considering none of these guys is sucking down Slim Fast, the spread of groceries can be overwhelming. So can the check, which has topped $2,000.
"We cut up, and there's a lot of jokes at each other's expense," Wade said. "It could be something that happened on the field, something that happened while we were out, something somebody is wearing. Everything is fair game."
The only thing the Bucs offensive line enjoys eating up more is huge chunks of yardage on the ground.
In fact, at 121.3 yards per game, this is the best ground attack in coach Jon Gruden's six seasons in Tampa Bay and the third-best rushing effort the franchise has enjoyed in the past 25 years.
Of course, credit also belongs to Earnest Graham, the 27-year-old running back who waited four seasons to get his chance - after injuries to Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman.
Despite not starting until Week 6, Graham needs 123 yards in the final two games to reach the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for the first time in his career. And his 10 rushing touchdowns already rank among the best in club history.
"Man, it would be huge," Wade said of getting Graham to 1,000 yards, "because he's a great individual, a great character person, a great teammate. He's obviously a great player and got a chance to display that this year. He hadn't had many opportunities to do it in the past, but he stepped in there this year and showed what he could do.
"You couldn't ask for a better guy than him. He comes to work every day and doesn't say anything. Does his job and does his job well - quietly."
That stealth approach is what the offensive line is all about.
A year ago, Tampa Bay used its first- and second-round draft picks on offensive linemen - Joseph and right tackle Jeremy Trueblood. This year, Tennessee guard Arron Sears was taken in the second round.
A season-ending knee injury to free agent Luke Petitgout gave second-year pro Donald Penn a chance to play, and he surprised everyone by holding up against some of the NFL's best pass rushers.
"I love the chip on their shoulder that they play with," quarterback Jeff Garcia said. "It's the youthfulness that they have, the excitement that they have, everything that they want to achieve and accomplish as a group. They hang together every single Thursday night when they go to dinner together.
"They're really a group that knows how to do it together, and they're growing up fast. They weren't afforded the time to go through their growing pains. They had to learn right now, on the fly, and they had to do it right, and they are doing it right. I'm very appreciative of them and very thankful for them."
Of course, Muir is a miser with his praise, especially for such a young group that might not know how to handle it. But it's clear he really likes this group, and it goes beyond talent.
"The concept of offensive line play is that there's no individual aspect to it," Muir said. "It's a group aspect. You hope that they like each other. You really don't care, but this particular group has bonded well. I think the more familiar they are with one another, the easier they can anticipate. And I think at the end of the day, as fast as the NFL game is, that anticipation is important.
"I think kind of what you're describing is bits and pieces of it, and when you put them all together, it's a pretty encouraging proposition."
As good as Joseph and Trueblood were as rookies, Sears might be better.
"I think No. 1, his production speaks for itself," Muir said. "He's taken every snap. There was never a question whether he was going to be a good football player or not. But some guys take a little longer to acclimate themselves to the NFL game."
This season, Sears had been reticent to verbalize the defensive looks he was seeing. Now, Wade says, "I've at least got him talking."
"As their confidence grows, then they're willing to make identifications, they're willing to make an adjusted call," Muir said. "Early on they may know it, but they don't want to say it because they don't want to be wrong. But sometimes being wrong is all right, you know what I mean?
"Compare it to a college season: They'd be in spring football right now. He's seen a lot of football, and like I said, the arrow is pointed in the right direction."
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