The Curse of Mike Alstott
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by Behbigben15
Since Mike Alstott, the former RB/FB of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, apparently retired because of an injury (he was placed on the IR) on August 9th of this year, the Bucs backfield has suffered a few big blows. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, the 2005 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, is out for the rest of the '07 season, after suffering a torn patellar tendon last week against Carolina. "Cadillac" had rushed for 208 yards on 54 carries this year, before the injury, for an average of 3.9 yards a carry, plus 3 TD's. He hasn't been a real big threat, but he has done his part, the Bucs look as if they are now a pass-oriented team with Jeff Garcia under Center. Garcia has led the lacking Bucs offense to a 3-2 start, and a share above the NFC South (tied with Carolina).
Williams hasn't been the only injured Buc. This week against the Indianapolis Colts, the 32-year old veteran backup, Michael Pittman, suffered a major ankle injury, and will sit out for 6-8 weeks. So, just like that, the Bucs are without a legit RB. That will most likely mean that head coach, Jon Gruden, will sign someone from the Free Agents, or possibly a trade. Pittman, a 10-year player out of Fresno State, hadn't gotten many carries (35 ATT, 169 YDS, 0 TD), but had a great yards per carry average of 4.8. The Bucs O-line isn't what you would call great either. Especially after losing Tackle Luke Petitgout for the rest of the year as well, after being put on IR around the same time as Carnell Williams. Petitgout will undergo season-ending knee surgery, like Williams.
As of right now, Earnest Graham is number one on the depth chart (according to ESPN.com), and rookie RB Kenneth Darby out of Alabama is number two. Those guys are the only ones on the active roster, besides Pittman. Some of you, i'm sure will disagree, but some people might agree with me when I say that this is a curse. I don't know, this could be the begining of a new era. A good argument if you disagree may be the fact that the Bucs never really had a great running game. The Bucs running game, in the past 6 years, hasn't been so great. Currently, TB is 15th in the NFL in rushing, and since '02, they have been 28th (in '06), 14th (in '05), 29th (in '04), 24th (in '03), and 27th (in '02). So, the Tampa rushing offense hasn't even really been consistent in the past 6 years. Perhaps, it's the line, or maybe they just haven't ever had a great back to complement the 6 foot 1, 248 pound beast of a back in Alstott. He was a fantastic blocker (mostly because of his size, and power), and was a TD vulture. ESPN inducted him into the Fantasy HOF as a TD vulture.
The bottom line here: The only thing keeping the Bucs offense in games, is veteran QB Jeff Garcia, along with a few deep threats he has at QB, Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard, and Michael Clayton, all of which haven't lived up to this expectations just yet. Here is a look at Mike Alstott's rushing success in his 12-year career in the NFL, all of which have been with the Bucs.
STATS:
'96- 16 G, 96 ATT, 377 YDS, 3 TD, 3.9 YDS/Carry
'97- 15 G, 176 ATT, 665 YDS, 7 TD, 3.8 YDS/Carry
'98- 16 G, 215 ATT, 846 YDS, 8 TD, 3.9 YDS/Carry
'99- 16 G, 242 ATT, 949 YDS, 7 TD, 3.9 YDS/Carry
'00- 13 G, 131 ATT, 465 YDS, 5 TD, 3.6 YDS/Carry
'01- 16 G, 165 ATT, 680 YDS, 10 TD, 4.1 YDS/Carry
'02- 16 G, 146 ATT, 548 YDS, 5 TD, 3.8 YDS/Carry
'03- 4 G, 27 ATT, 77 YDS, 2 TD, 2.9 YDS/Carry
'04- 14 G, 67 ATT, 230 YDS, 2 TD, 3.4 YDS/Carry
'05- 16 G, 34 ATT, 80 YDS, 6 TD, 2.4 YDS/Carry
'06- 16 G, 60 ATT, 171 YDS, 3 TD,2.9 YDS/Carry
