Bucs Players Focusing On Panthers, Not The Giants

TAMPA - It is hard to imagine that Tampa Bay's veteran players are intently focused on this weekend's season finale against Carolina.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden has said he intends to rest his starters, which could mean anything from them playing sparingly to not at all. Tampa Bay's most important game is next weekend, when it hosts the New York Giants in a playoff game.

With this week's game likely to resemble a final preseason game with starters not playing, it would make sense for Tampa Bay to begin looking ahead, but the veteran players refuse.

"I'm totally focused on Carolina. That is who we have to play," Bucs LB Derrick Brooks said. "You never look ahead in this business. You can't afford to do that. I think by focusing on Carolina you actually give yourself an advantage in not looking ahead. We have plenty of time to prepare for the Giants.

"Right now, it's about Carolina."

Brooks said there is an advantage to preparing for Carolina because the Panthers play a style similar to New York and the teams have similar players.

However, Tampa Bay's coaching staff has already begun preparing for the Giants, leaving players to balance focusing on the next opponent versus their playoff challenger.

"We game-plan as normal for Carolina. At this point in the season, you don't want to get off routine," Bucs CB Ronde Barber said. "Obviously, the coaches are looking at New York. I've already looked at the New York film, but as far as game-planning, we're still doing what we need to do for Carolina.

"It helps we know them and can review the game plan from a couple of weeks ago, but they are a different team, and you have to put some more work into it."

BACK TO BASICS: Bucs TE Alex Smith has been one of the last players to leave the practice field this week, and for a good reason.

Smith struggled during Tampa Bay's 21-19 loss against San Francisco last week, uncharacteristically dropping wide-open passes. He dropped a pass in the first quarter that could have put Tampa Bay in San Francisco's red zone, and he later mishandled a QB Luke McCown throw that resulted in Nate Clements' interception and 62-yard return.

San Francisco running back Frank Gore scored on a 23-yard touchdown pass, putting San Francisco ahead 21-13 early in the fourth quarter.

"It's not something I ever want to happen. I pride myself in catching everything. I feel like I let the team down on one of those drops," Smith said. "I told myself to get back to basics and get back on the field doing the little things. Catching afterwards practice. Some of the things you kind of get away from as the season goes along.

"It's not going to shake my confidence at all. I know I can still go out there and make those plays. I just want to make sure I get back to basics and get everything where it needs to be heading into the playoffs."

COMING UP SHORT: Bucs RB Earnest Graham has rushed for 898 yards (10 TDs) this season and only needs 102 yards to reach 1,000, but he apparently will not meet that goal.

Graham will likely be among the starters Tampa Bay rests Sunday, and although he is not outwardly disappointed, those around him are.

"Hopefully it does rest him up for the long haul into the playoffs, but personally I'd like to see him get it because I think he's worked his butt off, and not only him, but his offensive line and tight ends," Bucs RB coach Art Valero said. "That is still a milestone in this league, and even though he did not start the first four games, to be able to come back in 12 games and get 1,000 yards, that's huge.

"When you have that, it makes it special. When you look at the big picture, if he runs for 170 in the first round of the playoffs, we win. All we want to do is win and the individual goals come after that."

GLAZER FAMILY GRANTS: Bucs executive vice president Bryan Glazer presented eight grants totaling more than $29,000 on behalf of the Glazer Family Foundation after Thursday's practice.

For more information, visit www.glazerfamilyfoundation

.com.

INJURY REPORT: K Matt Bryant (illness), WR Joey Galloway (team decision), RB Earnest Graham (ankle), WR Ike Hilliard (knee) and CB Brian Kelly (knee) did not participate in Thursday's practice. FB B.J. Askew (ankle), DE/LB Patrick Chukwurah (hamstring), LB Ryan Nece (groin), RB Michael Pittman (ankle) and DE Greg White (quad) were limited in practice.

Anwar S. Richardson