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Bucs Want Orton To Pass

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2008

TAMPA - Chicago QB Kyle Orton has been hiding in a shell that Tampa Bay hopes to crack.

Orton is one of the NFL's most conservative quarterbacks, considering his longest completion in two games is 32 yards and he hasn't thrown a touchdown pass.

"Kyle has done some good things for us," Chicago coach Lovie Smith said. "The numbers haven't ... we haven't had great numbers with our passing game yet."

Chicago's best offensive numbers have been accumulated in its running game, which will be on display when Tampa Bay travels to Soldier Field on Sunday.

Bears rookie RB Matt Forte has rushed 46 times for 215 yards and one touchdown. Forte's 215 yards are the most by a Bears rookie running back through two games and the most by an NFL rookie running back since Cadillac Williams gained 276 yards in 2005.

"He's a good back, No. 1," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "He's talented and he's been given the opportunity. A lot of guys play well when they get a chance to play. The issues that they had there with Cedric Benson allowed the door to open for a young runner. They brought in Kevin Jones, who still has a lot left in the tank, but Forte was a good back in college at Tulane."Even though Orton's statistics are underwhelming, Tampa Bay hopes to somehow force him to pass.

"We've got to stop the run," Bucs S Tanard Jackson said. "Both guys they played this year have been able to run the ball well. Once you make a team one-dimensional, I don't care how much they want to protect the quarterback, or make him throw deep, he's going to have to make a play at some point."

GALLOWAY UNSURE OF STATUS: Tampa Bay WR Joey Galloway is unsure of his playing status for Sunday.

Galloway, who sustained a foot sprain when he got "rolled up" during last week's victory against Atlanta, spent Monday on crutches to alleviate pressure on his foot. He was able to walk around Wednesday, but he did not practice.

"It could make it worse if we were to do too much right now," Galloway said. "As far as the rehab process, they will take care of that in the training room and they'll guide me through that."

If Galloway does not play, Tampa Bay likely will dress receivers Antonio Bryant, Ike Hilliard, Michael Clayton, Maurice Stovall and Dexter Jackson against Chicago.

COACH GRUDEN, NOT COACH CLAYTON: Gruden took exception to Clayton's assertion Wednesday that he probably will start because of Galloway's injury. Clayton claimed he would start at flanker and Bryant will start at Galloway's split end spot, but Gruden said those decisions have not been made.

"A couple of players have spoken like Galloway's not going, but I'll make that decision," Gruden said. "I'll decide who starts, too. As long as I have the title here as the head coach, I'll do that."

POUND THE ROCK - OCCASIONALLY: Tampa Bay has the NFL's best running game without even trying. The Bucs average an NFL-best 6.46 yards per carry despite having the 13th-fewest rushing attempts.

BUCS BITS: G Davin Joseph (foot) did not participate in practice Thursday, while DE Gaines Adams (abdomen), LB Derrick Brooks (hamstring) and CB Aqib Talib (hamstring) were limited. ... Lennard High School coach George Edington was named the Buccaneers Coach of the Week. Gruden presented Edington with a certificate and a personalized football after practice. The coach will receive $1,000 for his program and be featured on buccaneers.com.

Anwar S. Richardson

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