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Bennett May Get Chance Sunday

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 1, 2008

TAMPA Michael Bennett's long wait for a chance to prove he is worthy of regular playing time in the Bucs' backfield might finally be over.

With Warrick Dunn likely to miss this week's game against the Chiefs because of a sore back, Bennett is expected not only to dress but get regular playing time on Sunday. The timing, Bennett said, couldn't be much better.

Bennett spent a year-and-a-half with the Chiefs before being sent to Tampa Bay at the trade deadline in October 2007. He is eager to show his old team, and his new team, what he can do.

"This is the kind of game you want to go back and play," Bennett said. "It's one of those things where, 'This is where I am now, and this is where you are now.' "

Bennett started his career and played five seasons in Minnesota, but he said the time he spent in Kansas City was special.

"When they came out and did the national anthem, that was the biggest charge I ever got as a player," Bennett said. "When they said 'The home of the Chiefs' it sends an electric charge through your body.

"I was telling some of the guys about that. If it's a sold-out game, watch how much electricity that brings to players and the team going out. It was a great overall experience."

The Bucs are hoping Bennett can give their running game a charge. After averaging 5 yards per carry through the first six weeks of the season, the Bucs have averaged just 2.5 in the last two games.

Bennett seems capable of giving the Bucs a boost. He has a career rushing average of 4.5 yards per carry and ran 45 times for 203 yards to lead the Bucs in rushing during the 2008 preseason.

WR Michael Clayton is quietly putting together a season unlike almost any other he has had since entering the NFL. The LSU product and 2004 Bucs first-round draft choice needs only two more catches to match his output for all of last season, and he is on pace to have his second-best season.

"I'm seeing the ball a lot more than I have the past few years, and so it really feels natural when the ball comes to me now," said Clayton, who has 20 catches. "When you have that, it's easy to adjust to any ball and make the catch."

Clayton burst onto the NFL scene by catching 80 passes for 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, but he has not caught more than 33 balls in a season since. Injuries contributed greatly to his struggles, but poor concentration and a penchant for dropping passes forced coaches to limit his chances. This season, Clayton is getting regular playing time.

"Receiver is one of the most difficult positions on the field to be removed from for a long period of time," he said. "You can catch as many practice balls as you want, take as many balls off the Jugs machine as you want, it doesn't matter, because in the heat of the battle it's different."

Clayton came up big last week at Dallas, jumping and twisting his body to catch a ball thrown behind him in the red zone.

"He made an unbelievable catch last week," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "If we give him a little better opportunity to run with it after the catch that might have been a score. There are a lot of good things that Mike's doing."

HE SAID IT

"Back in college, if it was a short kick, I would let it bounce just so it might get to me. But up here, I can't take away yards from the offense like that." - Bucs return man Clifton Smith, on the difference between Fresno State and the NFL

BUCS BITS

The tight end has always been a big part of Coach Jon Gruden's offense. This year is no exception. Bucs tight ends have combined to catch 39 passes for 450 yards and four touchdowns this year. The Bucs are 4-0 when one of their tight ends scores a touchdown. … In addition to Warrick Dunn, WR Maurice Stovall (hamstring, questionable) and FB B.J. Askew (hamstring, questionable) are expected to miss Sunday's game. LG Arron Sears (back, concussion, questionable) will probably be a game-time decision. If Sears can't go, the Bucs will again lean on Jeremy Zuttah to fill in.

OCTOBERFEST FOR DEFENSE

The Bucs defense was probably sorry to see October go after it put together one of the best month-long stretches any team has had.

The Bucs allowed only three October touchdowns and posted the best points-allowed average (10.5) and best third-down conversion rate (26.9) in the league during the month. They also were first in passing yards per game (166.0) and second in total yards per game (240.8).

Roy Cummings

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