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Stevens Makes His Presence Known

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 25, 2007

Updated: 12/24/2007 08:23 pm

TAMPA - As controversial and as costly as it was, the decision to sign troubled free-agent TE Jerramy Stevens is really starting to pay off for the Bucs.

Stevens has caught a touchdown pass in two of his past three games, and with injuries mounting among the members of the receiving corps, he figures to remain a big-play target right on through the playoffs.

"When you lose receivers you lean more on the tight ends," said Bucs coach Jon Gruden, who confirmed Monday that WR Maurice Stovall will miss the rest of the season with a broken arm suffered Sunday.

Gruden also said fellow wideout Joey Galloway has a bruised shoulder that could keep him out of the regular-season finale, or at least limit his usefulness in that game.

That being the case, the Bucs are on the lookout for receiving help. Gruden said they may lean more on WR Micheal Spurlock or TE Keith Heinrich, but it seems certain that Stevens will get more playing time from here on out.

"We're going to need him in the playoffs and this week to win," Gruden said of Stevens, who is best known for creating physical mismatches downfield against linebackers and defensive backs.

"He gives us a big target that can move and run a variety of routes. He can mismatch people. He's that kind of talent. We'll have to look into ways of using him more."

In other injury news, Gruden suggested that DE Greg White (bruised quad) was not seriously hurt.

PROMISES, PROMISES: Gruden says he continues to see a great deal of promise in the play of backup QB Luke McCown, but he clearly is growing frustrated with McCown's penchant for mistakes near his own goal line.

McCown took a safety in New Orleans when he had a chance to throw the ball away, fumbled a shotgun snap at his own 36-yard line at Houston and lost a fumble while scrambling at his own 9 Sunday at San Francisco.

"That's been our winning edge this year - taking care of the football," Gruden said. "You don't turn the ball over deep in your territory, ever, so those are three plays in three consecutive games that need to be eliminated."

NOT THE TYPICAL LINE: It made sense that Tampa Bay had a performance dropoff when Gruden played most of his substitutes in the second half against San Francisco, but that does not explain why the offensive line struggled.

Tampa Bay's starting offensive line unit played the entire game and had several problems against a team that did not blitz a lot.

The Bucs' running game produced only 67 yards, while giving up four sacks and seven quarterback hurries. Tampa Bay was unable to rest its offensive line because the Bucs only dressed seven for the trip.

"I got a quarterback hit in the mouth early on. That was a problem," Bucs C John Wade said. "You can't get hit when you take your last drop step. We just didn't play well. The 49ers came out and played well and their defense played well. I wasn't surprised they played well. I know the talent they had."

Gruden agreed with Wade's assessment and said the unit did not play as well as it had in previous weeks, but both are optimistic that improvements will be made before the playoffs.

"Am I surprised at how the offensive line played? No. It's the NFL. I'm not surprised with anything," Wade said. "There are grown men getting paid and game planning and I don't care what their record said. On Sunday, they were playing football.

"Leave the TV stuff for the TV stuff and the newspapers for the newspapers. If you don't have that passion to go out there and compete, you might want to find another job. I'm not saying that's what happened to us. We just got outplayed."

PITTMAN RECEIVED EARLY GIFT: Gruden was ready to rest RB Michael Pittman with Tampa Bay's other starters before receiving a slight objection.

"I told him I've been on the shelf all year and I want to play, so he allowed me to play in the second half and I made some plays," Pittman said. "I was a little bit rusty but had a good time."

Pittman has been battling a severe ankle sprain for several weeks, but he caught seven passes for 54 yards and gained 13 yards on seven carries.

Although the Bucs are going to need Pittman for their playoff run, he is not convinced any short-term rest will help him heal.

"I think this is the best I'm going to be until the season ends, or maybe April," Pittman said. "I'm probably like 90 percent, but I am out there and playing through it. It's really not going to get much better until the season ends, but I think Coach Gruden was trying to get me back on the field and in game shape."

Roy Cummings,

Anwar S. Richardson

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