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Graham Riding High In Cadillac's Absence

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 16, 2007

TAMPA - Two months ago, it looked like the Bucs would spend a good part of their offseason looking for a running back to back up or possibly replace Cadillac Williams.

Today, it seems the Bucs can spend that time on other endeavors.

More than just a solid replacement for Williams, whose future remains uncertain following surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon, Earnest Graham has proved to be an upgrade on the Bucs' former featured back.

The reason is versatility.

When Williams left the lineup Sept. 30, he wasn't taking snaps away from other players on third down because he still hadn't developed the pass-catching skills necessary to do that.

Graham has developed those skills.

It took him some time, but countless hours spent working with running backs coach Art Valero aimed at improving his pass-catching and route-running skills have made Graham a viable target not only in the flat but downfield.

The proof is in the stats. When Williams went down in Week 4 against Carolina, he had 53 career pass receptions. Graham has caught 42 passes this season and is on pace to surpass Williams' career total in one year.

Graham also has proved to be a better pass protector than Williams. Years spent playing special teams, where he worked on the return and coverage units and tied for the team lead in tackles last year, allowed him to refine a skill that Williams has yet to master.

Graham, it seems, is also the more durable of the two. When Williams ripped up his knee, it marked the third time in as many seasons he has been forced to miss games because of lower body injuries. Graham has not missed a game the last three years. While a lot of that time was spent on special teams, it should be noted that he has spent a lot of time this year running on a sore knee.

Speaking of running, that is the one area where most will say Williams retains an edge over Graham. When he was healthy, at least, Williams had home-run potential and an ability to make tacklers miss that Graham doesn't have.

Some scouts and coaches argue, though, that because of his powerful, straightforward approach, you get just as much, if not more, running the ball with Graham. For instance, Williams was averaging 3.5 yards per carry going into the Carolina game; Graham is averaging 4.2 going into today's game.

Graham is a patient between-the-tackles runner who moves in a straight line and doesn't make his first cut until after he has made it past his linemen and reached the open field. His speed, scouts say, is adequate, but he is proving to be the kind of downhill runner who seems to pick up speed and gain power and even breakaway ability as he moves forward with the ball.

On his 25-yard touchdown run against the Saints two weeks ago, Graham ran off right tackle, broke a tackle 1 yard past the line of scrimmage, then outran three defensive backs who were even with him at the 15-yard line.

A stiff-arm against the third as he reached the end zone allowed Graham to finish the run for one of his nine touchdowns this season.

That's more touchdowns than Williams has scored in any of his three seasons and just one shy of the total number of touchdowns he has scored since coming into the NFL in 2005.

Throw in the fact that Graham is still feeling his way because he has yet to fully regain the field vision that rusted during his three years on the bench and you get the feeling the Bucs are just fine at running back.

Even if Williams doesn't return next year - and it's possible he won't - the Bucs could go into the 2008 season with one of their strongest running back contingents ever.

Graham likely will be at the top of the depth chart, but if Michael Pittman opts to return and Michael Bennett is retained, the Bucs would figure to have three capable and versatile tailbacks.

Throw in B.J. Askew and maybe even a rejuvenated Mike Alstott at fullback and the Bucs' backfield could be considered one of its strongest and deepest positions - with or without Cadillac Williams.

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