Bucs lose 2 more key players to injuries.

by G8rBryan

If you're a Buc fan & watched the game Sunday you were probably scratching your head in disbelief when wide receiver/kick returner Mark Jones went down with a knee injury on a kick return at the end of the first quarter. This followed after receiver Michael Clayton went down in the first series of the game after a reception in which he fell awkwardly; suffering a sprained ankle.Jones was ranked 5th in the NFL for punt return yardage and ranked 7th in kick return yardage. Dr Joe Diaco and the medical staff seem to be getting more action then anyone on the team. The Bucs are thin at wide receiver; that's putting it mildly. They only have 3, that's THREE healthy receivers for the moment. Receiver Paris Warren was lost for the year in a preseason game. Needless to say, Coach Gruden is in search of a few receivers. I don't think another team in the NFL as been so decimated like the Bucs have within the past month. In succesive weeks the Bucs have lost Cadillac Williams, Michael Pittman, Alex Smith and now Jones. Add them to the growing names that also include Luke Petitgout, Mike Alstott, Brian Kelly, Patrick Chukwurah and Sabby Piscitelli.

The Bucs offense did put up some nice numbers in a losing effort to Detroit. 4th year  veteran Earnest Graham filled the void at running back with a career high day rushing & receiving. Graham rushed for 92 yards on 19 carries & 99 yards receiving. Garcia was as equally impressive (minus 2 fumbles from the center exchange), completing 37 of 45 for 316 yards, 2 TD's and as yet to throw an interception this year. Galloway and Hilliard combined for 136 yards on 14 receptions and a touchdown.

The Bucs schedule doesn't get any easier next week as they host their in-state rival Jaguars. Garrard seems to have settled in at QB and has been steady, productive and interception free. The one thing that impresses most about this Buc team compared to others is their tenacity. They don't fold under pressure, they keep coming hard as if it was the first play of the game.  The key now is to find some receivers available that will fill the void as well as Graham has at running back.