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Red-Zone Numbers Tell Some Of Story

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2008

TAMPA - It probably seems rather remarkable that a team ranked 25th in the league in red-zone offense is 4-2 and atop its division.

The Bucs are exactly that, though, which is why that 25th-place ranking bears a closer look.

Tampa Bay has scored touchdowns on just 10 of 24 possessions inside the 20-yard line, a 41.7 percent success rate. But only two teams - Arizona and Philadelphia - have reached the red zone more than the Bucs. Only five - Arizona, Philadelphia, Denver, Washington and San Diego - have scored more points than the Bucs' 103.

The Bucs also have done an exemplary job of preventing red-zone scores this year, allowing just 46 points in 11 opportunities. Only two teams - Baltimore and Tennessee - have allowed fewer red-zone points, and only Baltimore has allowed fewer red-zone chances.

"That was a goal of ours coming into the season," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said of playing better defensively in the red zone. "We struggled there in '07 and in '08, but we've really played well there this year. We've got a pretty good defensive football team."

Injuries Tough To Overcome

Seattle coach Mike Holmgren doesn't want to use injuries as an excuse for the Seahawks miserable 1-4 start, but there is nothing else he can logically blame.

The Seahawks have been without QB Matt Hasselbeck and top receivers Bobby Engram, Deion Branch and Nate Burleson for most of the year.

"You don't want to make injuries an excuse, but this is an unusual situation we have here at wide receiver," Holmgren said.

"We not only lost our starters and backups, we also lost the guys we signed who worked at the Chevron station."

One area of the Seahawks attack that has not been affected is the running game. Seattle will go into Sunday's game ranked fifth in the league in rushing, with Julius Jones handling most of the running duties.

He has carried the ball 90 times, compared to 56 for all other ball carriers, and ranks eighth in the league with 417 yards and has two touchdowns.

"We are running the ball better, but we still can't take enough pressure off our defense, so they're not helping each other," Holmgren said. "So it's all pretty much traced to the injury situation."

Almost a week later, some Bucs are still marveling over the decision by RB Earnest Graham to step in at fullback for injured Byron Storer last Sunday.

It was an extremely selfless act, because not only did Graham sacrifice his body, he also sacrificed carries and yards that could eventually lead to a sizeable bonus, all for the sake of his team.

"Me and RT Jeremy Trueblood were talking about that while we were watching 'Monday Night Football,' and we were like, 'Man, E.G. is one of our favorite players ever,'" LT Donald Penn said. "I mean, he just gets the job done.

"When I first got here he was a special-teams guy; then the next year he's a running back; now he's a fullback. I just love that guy. I love watching him, and he's good at everything he does."

Injury Update

The Bucs will wait until Sunday to decide whether WR Joey Galloway and LG Arron Sears will play. There is a good chance, though, that both make it onto the active roster.

Galloway (right foot sprain) worked out with the team for the third straight day Friday. It seems the only thing that could keep him from playing is his lack of practice time. He has worked out with the team only sporadically since injuring his shoulder late last season, but he finally seems sound physically.

Sears (left knee sprain) participated in the walk-through as well. If he can't go, the Bucs will start Jeremy Zuttah at LG.

According to Friday's injury report, FB B.J. Askew (hamstring) and WR Maurice Stovall (hamstring) are out, QB Brian Griese (elbow) is questionable and LB Derrick Brooks (hamstring), WR Antonio Bryant (foot), K Matt Bryant (hamstring) and LB Barrett Ruud (knee) are probable.

Roy Cummings

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