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Team Sees Top Pick Adams Making Progress

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 6, 2007

Updated: 10/06/2007 12:44 am

TAMPA - We're a quarter of the way through the season, and Bucs rookie DE Gaines Adams doesn't have a sack. The first-round pick out of Clemson hasn't started a game, either.

The Bucs may not say so publicly, but there are some within the organization who are a little disappointed by that.

When they let Simeon Rice go just before the start of training camp, the Bucs thought Adams would earn the right to start games ahead of either Patrick Chukwurah or Greg Spires by the quarter pole of the season.

They thought that because they expected Adams to have more success getting to the passer than he has. Though they knew he would rely mostly on raw skill, they expected Adams to quickly establish himself as a force in that area.

That hasn't happened, and there is no telling when it will happen. But the Bucs remain convinced it will.

'He's coming along; he was a little better last game,' defensive line coach Larry Coyer said. 'You're not seeing what everybody wants to see, but I see things.

'He's much more competitive than he was. That comes from knowing what's expected and from knowing better what the opposition is. He just needs to keep digging and scratching, and everything else will fall into place.'

Adams said he expected a tough indoctrination into the league. He acknowledges, though, that it has been a lot tougher because the opposition is better than he expected it to be.

'The intelligence levels of the other offensive linemen is just ridiculous,' he said. 'I mean, going up against guys like Walter Jones, I was out there just trying to do some things, and it seemed like nothing worked.

'Some of these guys have been in the league so long that they've seen everything. But I can't get frustrated; I just have to keep working hard and stay at it.'

SHAKING THE RUST OFF: RB Earnest Graham already has more carries this season than he had in any previous season, but he still hasn't shaken off the rust that has built up during three years of virtual inactivity.

'My footwork isn't quite right, and there are some situations I haven't been in,' said Graham, who last ran regularly when he was a senior at Florida. 'But I'm starting to get it. The more carries I get, the better I'm seeing things.'

Graham expects to see a lot of action now that top tailback Cadillac Williams is out. Michael Pittman will see more work, too. While some believe that will result in the Bucs running more of a powerful attack, Graham says he and Pittman may surprise some folks.

'Michael last week broke off a 29-yard run, and I had a 28-yard run the week before that, so I think we can make some of the bigger runs that Cadillac made,' Graham said. 'But Cadillac is a guy who can go 60 or 70 yards on one play. I don't know if that's my strong suit, so we'll have to do some tough running.'

LIFESTYLE OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS: Winning the Super Bowl has changed Colts coach Tony Dungy's life. He didn't realize how much, though, until he started traveling again after the triumph in February.

'The biggest thing is, I'm recognized more,' Dungy said. 'You kind of expect to be noticed in the Indianapolis airport or in the Tampa airport, but all over the country, people are saying, 'Hey, don't you coach the Colts?' and 'How was the Super Bowl?' I think winning the Super Bowl just puts you in a little bit more focus nationally. That's been the biggest surprise to me.'

BUCS BITS: CB Phillip Buchanon (foot) and WR Ike Hilliard (ankle) were back at practice Friday. Both were limited in Thursday's workout. ... Since joining the Bucs, 63 percent of Ike Hilliard's catches have resulted in first downs. That figure is higher this year, as 10 of Hilliard's 15 catches have been for first downs.

Roy Cummings

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