TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Interchangeable Parts For Bucs

ADVERTISEMENT

By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: October 19, 2008

TAMPA - To the casual fan, it probably didn't seem like that big of a deal. It was the fullback, after all, and outside of catching a pass now and then, the fullback in Jon Gruden's offense doesn't really do that much. He certainly doesn't run the ball.

He does block, however, and if there is no fullback to lead the way the running game breaks down; and if the running game breaks down then the offense breaks down; and if the offense breaks down then, well, you get the idea.

It was critical, then, that someone step up after fullback Byron Storer went down with a knee injury last week. That Earnest Graham willfully did so was seen as an unselfish act of the highest order, which it was. There was more behind Graham's move than selflessness, however.

Graham stepped in for Storer last week not just because the Bucs needed him to, but because he was able to. The Bucs long ago chose to cross-train him to be more than a tailback.

"I spent my first couple of years here working at fullback," Graham said. "I've pretty much always known how to play fullback. There's nothing I don't know at fullback."

It's not just running backs who are cross-trained in the Bucs' system. Offensive tackles such as rookie Jeremy Zuttah are cross-trained to play guard and center, and defensive ends such as Greg White are cross-trained to play defensive tackle.

Cornerbacks such as Ronde Barber are cross-trained to play safety, safeties such as Tanard Jackson can play cornerback, and middle linebackers such as Matt McCoy are often cross-trained to play both weakside and strongside linebacker.

The idea is to create depth that goes beyond what you see on the depth chart, and the Bucs have been focused on developing that extra layer for years.

"It's something that Jon and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin have both been big advocates for, and we really saw it pay off last week with Earnest stepping in at fullback," Bucs pro personnel director Mark Dominik said.

Actually, it's been paying off a lot longer than that for these Bucs. The plan to cross-train flanker Antonio Bryant at split end, for example, has helped ease the pain of losing fellow wideout Joey Galloway to a foot sprain.

And the plan to work rookie Zuttah at both guard spots has paid huge dividends. Zuttah spent the first four games filling in for Davin Joseph at right guard, and he spelled an injured Arron Sears last week on the left side.

"Versatility is a big part of what we look for when we scout players at both the college and the pro level," Dominik said. "We grade players on where we've seen them play and where we think they can play down the road."

Jimmy Wilkerson is a good example. The Bucs knew from experience that Wilkerson could play defensive end. They thought he could play a bit of tackle, too, at least on rush downs. Turns out they were right. Now Wilkerson is getting snaps at both spots on game days - plenty of them, too.

Wilkerson says he is averaging 25 or 30 snaps per game. That's a lot more than "reserves" usually get. The Bucs, though, have a different philosophy when it comes to utilizing their roster. Simply put, they're not afraid to use everybody.

"We've got a great rotation going," starting under tackle Jovan Haye said. "We've usually got seven guys up on Sunday, and everybody plays a part. That keeps everybody happy, and it's certainly working out for us, so we might as well keep it up, right?"

The Bucs also are rotating players on a regular basis at linebacker and in the secondary, and the fact they're 4-2 is only one of the reasons they plan to keep doing it. By constantly rotating them, the Bucs keep their players fresh. That pays both immediate and long-term benefits.

"As hot as it gets this time of year, it's really important to get that rest," said Haye, who has seen his snaps drop from about 50 per game last season to roughly 30 per game this year. "The idea is to keep us fresh, not only through the game but through the end of the season."

It's a logical system, but it can't be employed if there isn't a certain quality to the depth. The Bucs appear to have that, too. For example, when quarterback Jeff Garcia struggled at the start of the season, the Bucs turned to Brian Griese.

The result was a three-game winning streak that pulled the Bucs back into the thick of the division title race. The Bucs also fought through the two-game absence of Jerramy Stevens, who is arguably their best tight end, by leaning more on backup John Gilmore.

"When someone goes down, your job here is to play better than the guy you're replacing," Gruden said. "If you don't, we're going to have to find somebody that will. That's the way our guys have been trained.

"But we're all in this together. Our coaches have done a great job with our players in terms of creating versatility, and we do have pretty good players here."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT