Morris has high praise for Hayes

It was only one game, an exhibition game at that. But if Geno Hayes keeps playing the way he did in his starting debut against the Dolphins on Thursday night, Jermaine Phillips can forget about playing weakside linebacker again.

Hayes ranked second among Bucs defenders with four tackles Thursday and was a force on special teams as well, recording two tackles and an assist in punt and kick coverage. For that he earned high praise from Coach Raheem Morris, who called Hayes' play one of the game's true highlights.

"That was the most positive thing about Thursday night," Morris said. "He ran down on every special team and made almost every single tackle on special teams and then started at linebacker and studded it up there."

Hayes' performance was part of a massively impressive effort by the Bucs defense, which gave up 252 yards overall, including just 79 rushing, and started the game by forcing the Dolphins to go three plays and out on each of their first four series.

Though they lost 10-6, the Bucs outgained the Dolphins, posting 287 yards, including 127 on the ground. Cadillac Williams, in his preseason debut, led the way for the Bucs, gaining 54 yards on eight carries, while Earnest Graham gained 39 on five carries.

"There were some really positive things in that game," Morris said. "The running game, the ability to stop the run. But if you look at the stats throughout the preseason, you'll see we've been pretty good in those areas and that's a sign we're building our core, which is what we've talked about doing."

The Bucs have run the ball 90 times for 424 yards, or 4.7 yards per carry. Their opponents have run the ball 73 times for 232 yards, or 3.2 yards per carry.

On the downside

It doesn't matter if your quarterback is Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown or Joe Montana, you can't commit 13 penalties and expect to win.

That's one of the messages Morris will deliver to his players when they reconvene today at One Buc Place.

"That was the one big negative from Thursday night," Morris said. "There were just too many undisciplined penalties.

"We drew a couple, too, but you can't jump offsides and give up 85 yards (in penalties and expect to win). That kills drives and backs you up and then you get sacked in the red zone. You just can't do that."

Penalties have been a problem for the Bucs the entire preseason. They have been penalized 30 times in three games for 244 yards.

A year ago, the Bucs were penalized 95 times for 834 yards during the regular season, an average of six penalties per game.

Injury update

The Bucs came out of their third preseason game relatively injury free. The only injury of note was sustained by LB Adam Hayward, who suffered an ankle sprain.

Morris said he wasn't sure how severe the sprain was and indicated Hayward's situation could be similar to that of CB Elbert Mack, who came out of the Jacksonville game a week ago with an ankle sprain.

Mack was expected to miss a couple weeks but he returned to action Thursday against Miami.

Roy Cummings