Run game stymied by strategy

The Bucs' ground game has withered since the arrival of extra defenders in the box, and it bottomed out last week when the Bucs ran for 28 yards against the Giants - their lowest total in the past 30 games.

"That's just the way teams have been playing us," said RT Jeremy Trueblood, referring to the eight-man fronts Tampa Bay has faced the past two weeks. "If you're going to run the ball, you have to establish your identity and just do it. Take the eight guys and make someone miss. Move someone out of the way. Get it done."

Like the Giants and Steelers, the Bucs want to forge a reputation for being a physical, smash-mouth offense.

But after rushing for 174 yards against Dallas in the season opener, the Bucs have fallen behind early in losses to Buffalo and New York, failing to create favorable down-and-distance situations with a stalled ground attack.

"If you don't run the ball successfully, you end up giving the ball up to the other team, and if they score, you're further behind and you don't get a chance to run," Trueblood said. "We have awesome backs on this team. Let's get them the ball, feed them the rock, and keep it going."

The absence of injured C Jeff Faine the past two weeks has weakened the Bucs up front, but Trueblood won't use that as a crutch.

"You play with the cards you're given," he said. "We have plenty of talented guys who can get the job done - who need to get the job done. There's no other way to say it."

Injury update

DE Gaines Adams, who has started 27 consecutive games for the Bucs, is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup at Washington.

Adams missed his third day of practice Friday because of a groin strain, and Coach Raheem Morris said Stylez White would start against the Redskins if the struggling Adams isn't ready to go.

Morris said any decision on whether to start Adams on Sunday would be based solely on his physical condition.

"If (Adams) doesn't start, you don't have to write that I benched him," Morris said.

RB Derrick Ward (knee), WR Antonio Bryant (knee) and QB Byron Leftwich (hip) are also listed as questionable for the 0-3 Buccaneers, who are 7-point underdogs to the 1-2 Redskins at FedEx Field.

Faine will miss his third consecutive game with a triceps strain, and rookie DE Kyle Moore will be inactive after knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

Extra points

Through three weeks, the Bucs are the only NFL team without a field goal. ... Tampa Bay players, cheerleaders and Captain Fear will gather with more than 100 children Tuesday afternoon at the West Tampa Boys & Girls Club to promote fitness and education. ... Bucs CB Ronde Barber, Redskins MLB London Fletcher and Colts QB Peyton Manning are each expected to make their 180th consecutive start Sunday. They share the league's second-longest streak behind Brett Favre.

Ira Kaufman