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Graham Is Still Shaking Off Rust

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 24, 2007

TAMPA - Earnest Graham's run as the Bucs' starting tailback is now five games long. It could be another five before he finally finishes shaking off all the rust he built up during three years of virtual inactivity.

Spend that much time playing special teams instead of tailback, Graham said, and aspects of the game that were once second nature to you become so foreign you have to develop them all over again.

For example, Graham says his ability to read a play as it's developing in front of him has largely deteriorated over the years. It's been coming back of late, he said, but it's still not where he wants it to be.

"I'm starting to make some pretty good cuts and finish off some runs and get into the secondary," he said. "I'm starting to process the information a lot faster and that's making me more effective.

"I mean, there are a lot of people doing a lot of things up front in the NFL. They start with one look, then give you another look and you've got to be able to see and react to all of it."

Despite running half blind, Graham has been producing at an impressive rate. When you factor in the yards he's gained as a pass catcher, Graham is producing more than 100 all-purpose yards per game the last four games.

Those numbers figure to improve as Graham's field vision improves. If that happens, Michael Bennett may have a hard time getting back on the field and Michael Pittman may once again have a hard time getting into games.

"He's been good for us as a runner, as receiver and as a guy that we've relied on," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "What he's done the last four or five games speaks for itself. He's the real deal."

He sure looked like it last week. Graham ran for 17 times for 102 yards and caught one pass for 6 yards during the Bucs' 31-7 stomping of the Atlanta Falcons.

The running effort brought Graham's season total to 556 yards, 24th-best in the NFL this year. He has 738 total yards from scrimmage.

FAMILIAR FOES: The Redskins are not a member of the NFC South. It just seems like they are. After all, the Bucs have played them every year since 2003, including twice in the 2005 season.

Bucs QB Jeff Garcia is no stranger to the Redskins either. He beat the Redskins 21-19 while playing for the Eagles last year and beat them 17-13 while playing for the Browns three years ago.

"Their quarterback is a guy that's kind of driven us crazy," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "Now we have to face him again. We've got great respect for him and the way he goes after things."

INJURY UPDATE: Gruden listed Pittman as doubtful on the official injury report Friday. The notation means Pittman (ankle) has only a 25 percent chance of playing Sunday. Pittman aggravated his ankle injury during last week's game against the Falcons.

Gruden said DE Greg Spires (calf) will miss Sunday's game and FB B.J. Askew (ankle) is questionable. If Askew cannot play, Bennett and FB Byron Storer could see more playing time.

Roy Cummings

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