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Darby Just Waiting For His Opportunity

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 5, 2007

TAMPA - Bucs RB Kenneth Darby has experienced more ups and downs in his career than he could have predicted.

Darby entered April's NFL Draft as only the third player in Alabama history to rush for more than 3,000 yards in a season, but he was an afterthought in the minds of most teams and wasn't selected until the seventh round (246th overall). Although he rushed 33 times for 135 yards and one touchdown in the exhibition games, Darby never recovered from a preseason fumble against Jacksonville and eventually was cut.

The Bucs immediately re-signed Darby to their practice squad. After Cadillac Williams' season-ending knee injury and his placement on injured reserve Wednesday, Darby was signed to Tampa Bay's 53-man roster.

'The way it seems and looks, it has been all-out frustrating, but I never let it get to me,' Darby said. 'I'm a spiritual person, and I pray a lot. I never let it get to me as much. I have a good support system, and I had a lot of people keep my spirits high.'

Darby has practiced primarily as a special teams player and has seen little backfield action this week. With RBs Earnest Graham and Michael Pittman expected to carry the load, Darby is primarily an insurance back for now, but he could receive an opportunity if either of them struggle.

'If they need me more on special teams, I can do that. If they need me more on offense, I can do that. It's not really up to me. It's really up to them,' Darby said. 'They brought me up here for a reason, to do a certain job, and I'm willing to do whatever they want me to do.

'I hate to see Cadillac go down. He's a great player. I like to see him play every week. Like the saying goes, 'When opportunity presents itself, you need to jump on board and get it.' I feel like an opportunity presented itself, and I'm just going to try and take advantage of it.'

PRESSURE ON FRONT FOUR: Colts QB Peyton Manning is known for his ability to pick apart defenses, which is why the defensive line understands its role when the Bucs play Indianapolis on Sunday.

'I think it's important to apply the pressure from the front four,' DT Chris Hovan said. 'You don't want to have to send one or two linebackers, but rather have them sit in the zone. That way, Peyton is not hitting the hot route on a blitz.

'The onus is on the front four to go after Peyton.'

Manning has completed 86 of 128 passes for 1,066 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception this season. He has a QB rating of 110.4.

The Colts may be without WR Marvin Harrison (bruised left knee) and RB Joseph Addai (bruised shoulder), but the front four still believes there is a huge task ahead.

'First, we have to frustrate them and turn them into a one-dimensional team, which is to get them to pass,' LDE Greg Spires said. 'We know if they are passing every time, we can pin our ears back and go get him.'

COX RETURNS TO TEAM: CB Torrie Cox returned to practice on Wednesday after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Cox has yet to be added to the active roster and has until next week because of a roster exemption that allows him to practice before being activated.

'I don't know what they have planned. I'm just happy to be back right now,' Cox said. 'Things happened to me before, and this is something that's going to be in the past, too. It happened, it's over. I'm healthy as can be. Now, it's about being focused.'

BET ON RICKY WILLIAMS IN TAMPA?: Bodog, an online gambling site, released its latest odds on Dolphins RB Ricky Williams' reinstatement into the NFL. The odds are if Williams does not play for Miami, he's a 2-to-1 favorite to play for Tampa Bay. Of course, those same odds apply to him becoming a member of almost all of the teams in the league, other than Green Bay (5/2), Detroit (7/2), the New York Jets (7/2) and St. Louis (3/2).

INJURY UPDATE: CB Phillip Buchanon (foot) and WR Ike Hilliard (ankle) had limited participation in practice Thursday. CB Brian Kelly (groin), Spires (ankle) and WR Joey Galloway (who rested on Wednesday) all practiced.

Anwar S. Richardson

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