Bucs back in the market for RB

Seems like we just had this conversation, doesn't it?

The Bucs will most certainly be looking to land a running back via trade or free-agent signing after Michael Pittman suffered a lower-leg injury that could sideline him for some time based on the way he looked after the game. He was unable to put any weight on his right leg while hobbling to the team bus using crutches. Pittman told me the leg was X-rayed at the stadium. Seems the Bucs' medical staff saw something, but whatever they saw was inconclusive. Pittman will have an MRI sometime Monday.

So, in the meantime, where does this leave the Bucs, who already were desperate after losing Cadillac Williams for the season last week? Well, they are pretty much forced to look at all their options. One such option continues to be Minnesota backup Mewelde Moore, according to an ESPN report Sunday. The Bucs reportedly offered a sixth-round pick for Moore last week -- before Pittman's injury -- but the offer was rejected by Minnesota. Well, now that the Bucs are in a more tenuous position, you can be sure the price will go up. Simple supply and demand.

That same ESPN report mentioned other potential options as suspended Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, who has applied for reinstatement but has not been given a decision by the league. Another option could be Chiefs veteran Priest Holmes, though he is on the physically unable to perform list, from which he is eligible to be activated a day before the Oct. 16 trade deadline. Outside of that, I've looked at the list of free agents who aren't currently on a roster, and it's laughable.

Right now, the Bucs' best option at running back is Earnest Graham. Behind him, all that's available to the Bucs right now is seventh-round pick Kenneth Darby. It's a stretch to think he can step in and help right away, though not impossible, I suppose.

Comments

[Anthony Gironda]

I'm not surprised by this, when you're playing against Peyton Manning, you're playing aganist a very smart QB. Now the questions are: What happens now? Are we going to work up a deal for a new RB? are we going to struggle from here on or are we going to bounce back next week? The only ones who could answer these questions are the Bucs themselves. Garcia did all right even though the offense struggled, its the defense who needs to improve the most because the next couple games are going to be tough. Bucs, use this loss as a WAKE-UP CALL!!! beacuse if you want to win the NFC South & win in the playoffs, then the time is now!!!! Don't let this loss get to you!!! LEARN FROM THIS!!

[aaron]

we should seriously consider giving up a draft pick or two to land michael turner. he is better than any prospect we could hope to land in the draft and he is young and has been relativly unused. he may not be able to catch the ball quite like gruden wants but he is an animal of a RB.

[aaron]

we should seriously consider giving up a draft pick or two to land michael turner. he is better than any prospect we could hope to land in the draft and he is young and has been relativly unused. he may not be able to catch the ball quite like gruden wants but he is an animal of a RB.

[Tampabaysportsfanatic]

I think that the Chargers would want a lot for Turner, maybe even a first rounder. They can franchise him again this year and get that compensation if they want to.

[Tom]

Turner is worth a first round pick. Is there any other RB that is an unrestricted agent next year that we could hold out hope for. I can't think of any one better than Turner right now. I don't think they would want to give up such an important part of their offense at this point in their season.

[DR]

Maybe they give up a 1st round and Jon Gruden for Turner, that would be great!

[DR]

Tom, you're jumping ship eh?
None of this should be a surprise to you since I already told you. If you put zero pressure on Manning, it doesn't matter if your defensive backfield were all hall of famers, Manning will pick your DE apart methodically. It didn't even look like Indy was trying. My predictions were very close, score 27-13, Gonzo having a big game, 7-71 yards, etc.
where's all the name calling now? Where's the "where's DR at?" comments at? You all should be ashamed of yourselves and apologize to Peyton18. Bob, you lost the bet, no more verbal BJ's for Gruden. Tom, stop putting Kiffen under the bus, you've won 3 games playing the same style defense. Their first round pick isn't looking so good..

[Anthony Gironda]

I say we risk our 1st round draft pick next year for Michael Turner. I mean, what do we got to lose?? GO FOR IT!!! GO FOR IT!!!! GO FOR IT!!!

[DR]

I thought I went a little overboard calling the Bucs fans the worst fans in the league but yesterday, you guys proved it. Yeah, it was a nice hit against Clark, but to cheer and make ignorant statements about hoping to end his season and/or career is absurd. It was truly pathetic and embarrassing.
Watching the other games with ex bucs I noticed Joe J. catch a ball and lower his shoulder and pop the defender pretty good before going down. Joe J. got up and extended his arm down to the defender and helped him up. I definitely miss first class people like a Joe J. and a John Lynch. We could still use both those guys.

[Derrick]

1st round pick? how much have you people had to drink? You gonna cut Cadillac after the season? or are you ok with two first round rb's?

This loss had nothing to do with running. This was Monte’s loss, plain and simple. I love him mind you… but Monte owns this one. The D played prevent defense from the kick-off. It made no sense at all. Manning just waltz down the field at will.

Second half – when we were still in it… NO ADJUSTMENT whatsoever… and the Payton waltz continued. This one’s yours Monte, and there’s no getting around it.

[DR]

Derrick, an ACL tear is really a 2 year recovery program, ask any of the RBs who came back from, they weren't the same the next year. Caddy has a patellar tear, much worse and players careers have ended more often than not from that kind of injury. The Bucs have the cap space. They should get rid of a damn QB. The Bucs would be stupid to plan on Caddy coming back.

[DR]

Monte needs better personnel. Their defensive front four are terrible. They weren't playing a prevent dummy. This is the same thing Manning did to the Bears in the Super Bowl, and the Bears defense is far better than the Bucs. Don't get your panties in a bunch. The Bucs can win the division with 7 wins. The NFC South may be the worst division ever.

[Tom]

Derrick, a patellar tendon tear is virtually impossible to come back from. Do you know what that tendon is? Go to your knee cap and up an inch to that thick tendon that comes from your quadriceps to your knee cap. Imagine tearing that tendon and trying to play in the NFL again.

I hate to say it, but I think Caddy has played his last game. If not in the NFL, than definately as a Buc.

[Tom]

I hate to say it, but I must admit DR is right. The Bucs got totally out-coached. The Colts played a better cover 2 than we did.

The one thing that Dungy will always be better than Gruden is that he gets his players to run through a wall for him. I am really disappointed in our coaching staff yesterday, particularly Kiffen and his vanilla defense.

[Mr.T]

I think many of us know how the 4-3 and Cover 2 is supposed to work. We don't have the DL yet to get it done. I would have been happier with more blitzing and if we get beat, we get beat.

10:03, I have to get my "panties in a bunch"... they're cheeper when you buy in bulk.

Like it or not, Tom and Mr. T are right. Monte's great, but he blew this one. You all can proclaim Payton to be a God... but he's as beatable now as he was in college. Blitz, blitz, blitz him... and he'll throw picks all day.

[DR]

If you blitz and your DL is getting murdered, you're going to give up a big play. Manning has been blitzed and it doesn't work as well as you think. Monte should have thrown different looks and schemes out there but i doubt it would have mattered. I guess Monte's biggest mistake was thinking he had the personnel to play Indy straight up.

[Clint]

I think we are all on the same page here.(Or mostly.) Mike Turner is already a proven RB that has to play behind one of the best players the NFL has to offer. He is well worth a high draft pick and could be easily be a starter in any franchise around the league. I think picking up Moore from Min would be a waste of time and pick. Trade Simms for a pick to use on Turner.

I'll give up two big plays for 8 picks anyday. However, I do agree with you on "Monte's biggest mistake..."

Someone call Tiki!

[Tom]

How about a high pick and Clayton to the Chargers for Michael Turner? I like you idea Clint about trading Simms for a draft we could use as leverage for a RB. We all know Simms does not suit this offense. He may do well in vertical offense like Norv Turner's. When he's not a head coach that is.

DR, you're right. We can't just play our scheme with our personnel and compete with Peyton. Or Brady. We don't have Sapp and Rice to pressure the QB. You're really surprising me today, DR. Did you stay at a Holliday Inn last night?

[Tom]

Monte did nothing to change things up. Play bump and run sometimes. Blitz sometimes. Man under sometimes. Zone blitz with Gaines or Chukwurah dropping back. What happened to Ronde blitzing? Anything!!! Anything!!!

In the early days, the Tampa 2 used to bump guys up front and push them to the LBs. Now, WR are just getting free running lanes.

[Mr.T]

Amen to your last post, Tom. Enough of the vanilla stuff!

Someone call Tiki!

[DR]

San Diego is going to want a first rounder for Turner and probably a second dayer. I agree, trade Simms for any pick, though, I don't think he'll bring in anything higher than a 6th round pick, if any pick at all. Would like to know why he's still on the team, especially with these injuries to their RBs. I'm thinking its an ego thing.
I stayed in a Holiday Express, and it was great. Haha.
Yeah, i'm not sure why they didn't go after Wayne and Gonzo with the bump and run. With the DL getting beat every snap, bump and run would have delayed the patterns and make those weaker WRs earn it.
My 'Boys better be brutal with the bump and run next week with Moss. They better force him in the middle. I don't think Moss has caught a pass anywhere near the hash marks yet.

[Daniel]

After the Colts first two touchdowns, the Bucs made some adjustments and were only down by six at the half. A stop of the Colts second half drive would have put the Bucs in good position, but the Colts made their own adjustments. Instead of going inside with their patterns as in the first half, the Colts ran more outs to counter our adjustment. Obviously getting pressure on the QB is a big key to our defense, but 10:24, this is not college anymore, few teams blitz Peyton and don't pay the price. The Colts O-line was better than our front four and given time, Peyton will pick any defense apart. Keeping Peyton OFF the field with a running game and some ball controll would have been nice, unfortunatly our third string back and young O-line didn't get it done. There is no shame in losing to the Colts, lets see how the team responds to a little adversity against the Titans.

Blitz him and he'll throw picks... period.

[Mr.T]

I think our DEs did relatively well yesterday. The problem was the tackles were getting turned outside too and Peyton would step up. I wonder if it would make sense to put Carter in next to Hovan (they thought about it before).

Not a bad starting line of:
Chuk, Spires, Hovan, and Carter.

The rest could rotate in:
Adams, Peterson, Haye, White, and Sims.

[Daniel]

2:01, The problem with the Colts is they run a one back set most of the time with 3 WRs. Even if you bring five they still have six men blocking and now a line backer is covering a back or a reciever because our safteys play deep. Peyton does three step drops most of the time, you can bring six and you still don't get there. He is not in college anymore. The Patriots got to him by bringing guys from different angles and locations using a 3-4 defense, they only rushed four or five guys. Vince Wolfolk wieghs 340 or more and collapsed the pocket, our NT weighs 295.

[Mr. Mar]

How about Jamal Cook returning?

We might be getting...Now keep this quiet Marcus Allen or Eric Dickerson...shhhhhhhhhhhh ..But seriously...I understand the logic but Turner has a great line in front...Say the next name 20x's before bed and allah willing it will happen RICKY WILLIAMS...RICKY WILLIAMS

[Clint]

Priest Holmes? Ricky Williams? Moore? I'm from Canada and saw what Ricky did for the Argos.....nothing but break his arm. As for Mr. Holmes....what has he done in the last few years except talk about returning. I don't really need to talk about Moore? Who? What is with management and their poor band-aid solutions. I know nothing has been done yet...but this speculation has to be coming from somewhere. Pay SD what they want for Turner and move on.

turner is the best option then williams...if not we really need good ole allah

[Michael Savage]

Allah is a Bucs Fan?!

yeah and if the bucs win the superbowl they'll get like 28 virgins

[aaron]

turner is the best option. he is young and fresh, because all he did the lst 4 yrs is spell LT when he was tired. he is a beast, 5'10" 240. we need that kind of a back. everydown brusier, but with the speed to break one off. turner is better than ANY rb coming out of college anyway. a 1st rd pick is not a bad deal for a guy like this. he could be one of the best rb in the league for yrs. i am probably dreaming though. that makes too much sense for gruden and allen to do something like that. so what # do you guys think mewelde moore will want?