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Bucs Notebook: No Wasting This Chance

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Phillip Buchanon drops to do pushups after dropping an interception during morning practice at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune
and ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 4, 2008

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Ryan Sims has been where Jovan Haye is now. That's another way of saying he's been hurt - a lot.

Injuries forced the massive defensive tackle to miss the better part of two seasons while he was with the Chiefs, and that's one of the reasons he's with the Bucs now, playing backup to Haye.

This, of course, is not what Sims or anyone else envisioned for Sims' career. After watching the Chiefs and Vikings fight over him on draft day 2002, Sims and many others figured he was in for a highlight-packed career.

Nowadays, just getting into the game is a highlight for Sims. He averaged about a dozen plays per game last year, but a chance to increase his usefulness and workload are at hand.

With Haye out nursing a sore groin that could keep him sidelined for at least week or two, Sims has taken over as the Bucs starting under tackle. It's an opportunity Sims doesn't intend to waste.

"Right now I'm just trying to show them that there's no drop off between me and Jovan," Sims said after the Bucs' Sunday workout at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex. "I'm competing for a spot."

Sims has a spot. It's just not a secure spot. Backups are easy to replace in this league and an under tackle in a Monte Kiffin defense who doesn't excel at rushing the passer is always on the bubble.

Sims is just such an under tackle. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds he's more of a run stopper, and that's how the Bucs have used him. Sims knows, though, that the key to more playing time is to get to the passer more.

These then are important days for Sims. With Haye out he has a chance to prove he's more than a situational player.

Bucs Pay Price For Subpar Practice

Bucs coach Jon Gruden wasn't real pleased with his team's effort and execution in the morning workout Sunday and he let them know it in an old-fashioned sort of way.

As practice was winding down, Gruden ordered the players to line up along one sideline. He then ordered them to sprint to the other sideline and back again - twice.

In football parlance this sort of punishment is known as "gassers" and it had been a while since some of his players had been forced to pay such a price for their on-field indiscretions.

Some players, such as cornerback Phillip Buchanon, paid two penalties. Buchanon had to drop down and give his position group teammates 10 pushups after dropping a pass and wasting an interception opportunity.

"That's something we do amongst ourselves because those opportunities don't come along very often," fellow defensive back Jermaine Phillips said. "When they do come, you have to take advantage of them."

Don't Count Garcia Out Of Miami Game Just Yet

QB Jeff Garcia made an appearance at the afternoon workout Sunday. He didn't practice but watched from the sidelines and didn't appear to favor his strained calf as he walked to and from the workout in the Bucs' air-conditioned tent.

"I'm feeling better," said Garcia, who estimated his return to practice probably will come "in a few more days." Asked if he might play Saturday in the preseason opener, Garcia said, "I don't know yet. We'll have to see how I come along this week."

Douglas Ready For The Real Thing

Bucs DE Marques Douglas maintains his 6-foot-2, 292-pound frame is not physically impressive, but he hopes to amaze everyone as the preseason begins Saturday.

"The one thing I'm excited about this week is that we have a game," Douglas said. "In game time, you get to hit somebody else. You get to go against an opponent. I like to think I do my best work when the pads are on and when it's game time. I'm excited about this week."

Douglas is also thrilled about an opportunity to distinguish himself among Tampa Bay's multitude of defensive lineman.

Last season, Douglas had 100 tackles, three sacks and four passed defended for San Francisco. Douglas had 437 tackles and 19 sacks in nine NFL seasons and being considered for several defensive line slots.

Galloway Goes Back To School

Tampa Bay WR Joey Galloway did not have any NFL quarterbacks to help him Sunday, so he enlisted the help of a high school passer.

Tampa Catholic quarterback D.J. Williams, son of former Bucs quarterback Doug Williams, threw passes to Galloway, who is recovering from a groin injury. The two practiced on a field away from other Bucs players.

Galloway ran stop-and-go and slant routes for at least one hour. Some of Williams' passes were behind Galloway, which had to remind him of Bruce Gradkowski, while others caught the receiver in stride.

Sunday A Time For Giving Back

Sunday was a special day for seven Tampa Bay area charities as the Glazer Family Foundation presented them with grants totaling $25,000.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Community Actions Stops Abuse, Excelsior Education & Training Foundation, Pinellas Association for Retarded Children, Plant City Children's Theatre, Special Kids Dance & Performing Arts and Tampa Bay Academy of Hope accepted the checks as well as commemorative plaques noting the donation.

In other community outreach news, Bucs kicker Matt Bryant and his wife Melissa have been named the Volunteers of the Month by the March of Dimes.

The Bryants' active involvement with the March of Dimes has included chairing the Tampa General Hospital's Unmask A Miracle Poker Run, serving on the Signature Chefs Auction committee and taking on the role of 2008 Ambassador Family for the Tampa Bay area. Since the fall of 2007, the Bryants have helped raise $25,000 for the March of Dimes.

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