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Rushing To Go Nowhere

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 14, 2008

Updated: 10/14/2008 12:11 am

TAMPA - Every week Tampa Bay watches highlights of a running back having an outstanding game. Then those running backs see their good fortune end against the Bucs defense.

Tampa Bay's defense limited Carolina RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to 27 and 12 yards rushing, respectively, in Sunday's 27-3 victory.

The Bucs have not given up a rushing touchdown this season and no individual back has gained more than 100 yards.

"It's just pride involved and taking care of your gap assignment," Bucs DT Jovan Haye said. "This is my third year and I've seen some great tackling, but Sunday's game was right up there.

"We had some gang tackling Sunday, but half the time the cavalry couldn't come because by the time we got there, the runner was already on the ground. We have a lot of guys taking pride in their work."

Bucs coach Jon Gruden said Tampa Bay's main goal was to improve its red zone defense this season. Those improvements are obvious.

"That's a credit to our coaches and players," Gruden said. "We made a lot of changes in our scheme and we're pretty good. We've got a pretty good defensive football team and we're tackling well."

Zuttah Showing Versatility

Jeremy Zuttah is continuing Tampa Bay's recent tradition of rookie offensive linemen becoming key contributors.

Zuttah, a third-round pick from Rutgers, started four games at right guard as Davin Joseph recovered from a foot injury. When Arron Sears injured his knee against Carolina, Zuttah filled in at left guard.

"For him to go in there Sunday against the likes of those guys and play as well as he did is a real credit to him," Gruden said. "He's a big reason why we're running the ball well and pass protecting so well."

Joseph, Sears and Jeremy Trueblood each started as rookies.

Injuries

Tampa Bay is expected to put FB Byron Storer on injured reserve after he tore his ACL against Carolina. Sears (knee sprain), WR Maurice Stovall (hamstring), RB B.J. Askew (hamstring) and QB Brian Griese (elbow) are questionable for this week.

WR Joey Galloway had about 100 passes thrown to him by Jay Gruden, Tampa Bay's offensive assistant, before Sunday's game. Although Galloway looked healthy, he was held out of the game as a precaution and might be ready to play against Seattle, the team that drafted him in the first round in 1995.

Anwar S. Richardson

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