Sports: Some positions lacking depth

Some positions lacking depth

By ROGER MILLS

TAMPA -- With Karl Williams coming back from a hip injury and fellow receiver Reidel Anthony slowed by a hip flexor strain, the Bucs could go into Sunday's game thin at the wideout position.

They also may have to juggle the punt return duties.

"Karl did better (Friday) and was able to participate in everything," coach Tony Dungy said. "The movement doesn't look like it's going to be a problem. Now we'll see if we can get him padded up to where he's not restricted too much."

Williams, who injured his hip against the Bears two weeks ago and missed the Monday night game, participated in full practice Friday. Anthony has missed the past two days.

"Reidel is still having a little problem with his hip flexor so we held him, and he'll have to run on Sunday before the game and we'll see how that goes," Dungy said.

Williams is the regular punt returner, and Anthony substituted for him Monday. Dungy said the team will decide whether to allow Williams to only return punts or only play receiver. If he plays at receiver and Anthony sits, the Bucs will look elsewhere for punt return help.

Jacquez Green and Aaron Stecker are possibilities.

SO, THAT'S HOW IT WORKS: In Monday's win over the Rams, the Bucs got another example of how profitable the running game can be with Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott together. They combined for 174 yards and had all three touchdowns.

Dunn used speed to get outside as a runner and receiver, and Alstott used power at the goal line to produce two rushing touchdowns.

That, Dungy said, is precisely how the team envisions the tandem.

"It was (an indication of how things should be)," Dungy said. "It was what we want to do. We converted a lot of third downs and had 71 plays, which gives you a chance to do some of that. That's what you need. You've got to have that plan and philosophy, but you have to get enough snaps to get everybody going."

IT'S BA-ACK: The rumor du jour Friday was that it's a "done deal." Bill Parcells will become the Bucs coach next season, perhaps with a $4-million a year contract.

Sportsline.com started the ball rolling and talk radio picked it up and ran with it. Dungy, who has led the team to the playoffs three times, has a year left on his contract and has won more than any coach in team history. But a disappointing 5-5 start has fed the rumor mill.

Spokesman Reggie Roberts said the team would not comment.

HEY, NO FAIR: Elias Sports Bureau, the NFL's statistical gatekeepers, stripped running back Rabih Abdullah of his fourth-quarter blocked punt Monday night. According to the ruling, Abdullah could not get credit for a block because Rams kicker John Baker dropped the ball before he could kick it. It was ruled an incomplete pass.

Abdullah said his view of the film showed something different.

"It was a block," he said. "He kicked it and it hit me, just not my hands but on my legs. We looked at it, and from what we saw, it looked like a block."

Abdullah said he took the ruling in stride, though it would have been the first blocked punt of his career.

"I was surprised, but it gives me more incentive to get one now," Abdullah said. "They are hard. That's the closest I've gotten. It's my first-ever blocked punt, or at least was."

PETER THE IMPROVISER: He had so many memorable moments as a flanker for Florida State that no one at One Buc Place is likely to overlook Bengals receiver Peter Warrick. Though Warrick leads the Bengals with 44 catches, they are not coming in the traditional big-play style that many remember from his Seminoles days.

"They are running him across the middle," Dungy said. "He's catching a lot of inside balls, and his big plays seem to be coming off the reverses and the kicking game. But we know what he can do, and we know he can get deep. Darnay Scott has probably been the guy they use the most to get deep but they've got capable guys."

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE: As good a running back as Corey Dillon is, the Bengals offense has struggled the past few games. Statistically, it's been a nightmare. The Bengals have been shut out the past seven quarters and have seven points in the past 10 quarters.

"The thing we know about them is that they have been a little bit up and down, but they are capable of having those big games," Dungy said. "We watched tapes of their earlier games and they lost to Cleveland this past week, but rolled over Cleveland at home and put up 24 points on the board. We saw them put 31 on Detroit. So we know what they are capable of."

INJURY UPDATE: As has been the case recently to keep his legs fresh, Dunn sat out Friday's practice but will play Sunday. Stecker (left hamstring) returned to practice. Stecker, safety John Lynch (lower back bruise), defensive tackle James Cannida (stomach virus) and left tackle Kenyatta Walker (stomach virus) are probable.