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Bucs' Red Zone Woes A Worry

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 22, 2008

TAMPA - The Bucs are like a baseball team that can't get a hit with men in scoring position. Or like a hockey team that creates a lot of scoring chances, but can't put the puck in the net.

Through 10 games, only three teams - the Giants, Cardinals and Jets - have reached the red zone more often than the Bucs, who have made it there 42 times. But only one team - the Raiders - has had more trouble scoring touchdowns from that area of the field.

"I'm disappointed," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said after the Bucs went 1-for-5 in the red zone against Minnesota last Sunday. "We have too many good players not to be able to knock it in."

The production problems the Bucs have had inside their opponent's 20-yard line, where they are scoring a touchdown just 33 percent of the time, have been well documented. That doesn't make them any easier to understand.

The Bucs, after all, are having no trouble moving the ball outside of their opponent's 20. In fact, they are among the league's best teams in several areas outside the red zone, including average gain on first down, first-down efficiency and 10-play drives.

With a 5.56-yard average, the Bucs are third in the NFC in average gain on first down. They are third in the league in first-down efficiency, with 51.4 percent of their first-down plays gaining 4 yards or more.

As a result, the Bucs are tied for first in the conference with 21 drives of 10 plays or more. Consequently, the Bucs also rank fourth in the league in average time of possession, with a 32:20 average. Once they get inside their opponent's 20, though, their offense grinds to a halt.

CADDY WARMING UP: Gruden would not commit Friday to playing RB Cadillac Williams, but hinted he will be in Tampa Bay's lineup Sunday against Detroit. Williams has not played since tearing the right patellar tendon in his knee more than a year ago.

"Williams is doing some good things," Gruden said. "I think he'll be ready to play. There is a chance we can use him."

Tampa Bay might need Williams because its running back options are limited after the loss of Earnest Graham to a season-ending ankle injury. Warrick Dunn, 33, may not be able to carry an entire workload, Clifton Smith has fumbled in three consecutive games and FB B.J. Askew has not carried the ball regularly since college.

MIND GAMES: Bucs rookie running back/return man Clifton Smith is looking to break a horrible streak this week.

Smith, who has given a real boost to the Bucs offense with the majority of his work on kick and punt returns, has lost a fumble in each of his three games.

Neither Smith nor the Bucs seem to know the genesis of the problem, but if you listen to Smith you get the idea a lot of it may be in his head.

"I'm definitely thinking about it," Smith said of fumbling the ball away. "It's always heavy on my mind, especially after the game is over and I have to go back and evaluate myself as a player, about what I'm doing wrong."

The problem was in Smith's hands on Thursday. Smith spent all of his time off the field carrying a football around, even walking into the shower area with a towel draped over it.

Smith said the idea of carrying the ball around was his, but it's considered an age-old remedy for fumble-itis. Another cure, Smith said, will come from simply realizing that he's got to protect the ball more at this level.

"I guess I just have to realize that these guys are professionals and that this is what they do for a living," he said. "Everybody here is just a ball hog, and they're going to try to get that thing away any chance they get."

ZUTTAH'S ROLE INCREASES: The Bucs drafted OL Jeremy Zuttah in the third round in April because they liked his versatility. They continue to make good use of it.

Zuttah, who played mostly tackle in college at Rutgers, has already started games at both right and left guard for the Bucs and he can now add tight end to his resume'. Zuttah lined up as a tight end on several plays last week against the Vikings and the Bucs could soon make use of his ability to catch the ball.

Zuttah was tossed a lateral in a game against Louisville last year and ran 13 yards. He said he's ready for more if the Bucs decide to make him as an option in their passing game.

"I have to remember to report as an eligible receiver before every play, but that's probably the hardest thing about it," Zuttah said. "It's different and a lot of fun. I like it. Whatever gets me on the field, I'm happy with."

INJURY UPDATE: TE Alex Smith left practice early Friday and will likely miss Sunday's game with an ankle injury. Smith missed last week's game after injuring the ankle in the game against Kansas City three weeks ago. QB Brian Griese (right elbow tendinitis - questionable) and SS Jermaine Phillips (forearm - doubtful) are also expected to miss Sunday's game. Others on the injury report include RB Warrick Dunn (back - probable), WR Ike Hilliard (shoulder - probable) and LG Arron Sears (shoulder - probable).

Roy Cummings,

Anwar S. Richardson

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