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Bucs Remain Encouraged

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By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

Published: October 28, 2008

Updated: 10/28/2008 12:22 am

TAMPA - At the midway point of the regular season, the Bucs believe they're poised for a dynamic second half.

Despite dropping to 5-3 with Sunday's 13-9 loss at Texas Stadium, Tampa Bay players remain encouraged by the positive signs through the first eight weeks.

"I'm very confident about this team," WR Michael Clayton said. "We had a good trip back from Dallas - no finger-pointing and nobody's head was down. We're more committed than ever to getting everybody on the same page because we're very close to being a heck of a team."

Tampa Bay's three road losses have come by a combined margin of only 11 points. A punishing defense that limited the Cowboys to 172 yards is brimming with confidence.

"We've just got to capitalize on our opportunities," said DT Jovan Haye, "and keep playing like we've been playing. We could be scary. We could be real scary. We're 5-3, but everyone knows how good we are."

The Bucs fell one game behind Carolina in the NFC South race, but the Panthers play five of their final eight on the road.

Tampa Bay heads to Kansas City on Sunday before a bye week.

"A lot of teams are struggling to find their identity, but we are who we are," DT Chris Hovan said. "We're a blue-collar team and we're going to fight you all day long. We just need to make a couple of more big plays and we'll be fine because I think we're on the verge of something here."

INJURY UPDATE

Hard-hitting SS Jermaine Phillips suffered an injury to his left forearm at Dallas and Coach Jon Gruden said the Bucs are concerned it's a fracture.

If Phillips is sidelined, second-year pro Sabby Piscitelli is slated to make his first NFL start against the Chiefs.

Haye twisted an ankle but did not appear to be in distress Monday.

RB Warrick Dunn, hobbled by a pinched nerve in his back, played against the Cowboys but carried only once and caught two short passes from Jeff Garcia.

SEEING RED

Despite three Sunday drives into the red zone, the Bucs settled for three Matt Bryant field goals.

For the season, Tampa Bay has generated only 11 TDs in 31 trips inside the opposition's 20-yard line, 35.5 percent conversion rate that ranks 29th among 32 teams.

"Statistics say we're not very good at times," Gruden said. "We've got to do a better job. As a play-caller and an offensive coach, at times you've got to take responsibility for it."

BUCS BITS

Tampa Bay has faced more third-down situations than any team in the league, both offensively and defensively. ... Gruden said he was very pleased with the effort by rookie RB Clifton Smith, who fumbled the second-half kickoff but averaged 16.4 yards on five punt returns after being elevated from the practice squad. ... While the Bucs own a 51-20 advantage in the first quarter, the Chiefs have been outscored 44-6 in the first 15 minutes. ... Sunday's 172 yards marked the lowest output by the Cowboys during a winning effort in the history of a franchise that began play in 1960.

Ira Kaufman

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