TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

A-Train's Heir Apparent?

ADVERTISEMENT

By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 10, 2007

TAMPA - It will be hard for the Buccaneers to replace somebody with the heart, determination and drive of fullback Mike Alstott, but the team has no choice.

With Alstott on injured reserve and out for the season because of a second neck injury, Tampa Bay will have to examine all of its options as it heads into the exhibition season, starting with tonight's game against New England.

In reality, Alstott's role with Tampa Bay's offense has been severely limited during the past three years since his first injury. He rushed 16 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns last season, including six carries for 4 yards in the season finale. Alstott had 80 yards and six TDs on the ground in 2005, and 230 yards and two touchdowns in 2004.

His replacement will be expected to be more productive.

'We have a mixture of young players and older players that I can help,' Alstott said. 'I see I can help players, running backs, young running backs, veteran running backs. Michael Pittman. It doesn't matter. Linemen. That's my role right now.'

Alstott was No. 1 on the Bucs' depth chart entering tonight's game, but the attention now falls on backup B.J. Askew, who joined Tampa Bay after spending four seasons with the Jets. Askew, 6-foot-3 and 233 pounds, has only six career starts, with 102 yards on 27 carries. But he did block for running backs Curtis Martin and Leon Washington.

Askew will be asked to open holes for running back Cadillac Williams. The third-year back rushed for 1,178 yards and six touchdowns two years ago, but dropped to 798 yards and one touchdown last season for the league's 28th-ranked rushing offense.

Alstott's injury also moves up third-string fullback Byron Storer, who played for California last season and signed as an undrafted free agent. He had only six starts as a senior, with eight carries for 16 yards and eight catches for 61 yards.

There are not many fullbacks available through free agency, but there is a possibility Tampa Bay will sign another to create depth and competition. The Bucs could contact former fullback Rick Razzano, who was their seventh-round draft choice in 2005 and was on the practice squad last year, or Jerald Sowell, who signed with Tampa Bay after being with the Jets last season and is now a free agent.

The Bucs also could switch running back Earnest Graham to fullback, or utilize Pittman's blocking tools in the backfield.

'I'm happy with my role right now, and if they need me to do anything else, then I will step in during the regular season as well,' Graham said earlier this week. 'Every day when I come out, I know what my role is. If somebody goes down, or for some other reason I have to step in, I will.'

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can

be reached at (813) 259-8425 or

arichardson@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT