Gruden reacts

Jon Gruden, in his weekly Monday press conference, lamented several shortcomings in Sunday's 24-23 loss to Jacksonville.

For one, the Bucs' combined minus-5 turnover ratio the past two games is difficult to overcome, he said.

"The last two weeks our turnover ratio is what's hurt us," Gruden said. "You can go through all the statistics you want. But at the end of the day, it's turnover ratio that decides football games."

Regarding the third-down play late on the Bucs' final drive on which Jeff Garcia overthrew Ike Hilliard deep, Gruden defended the play call. The Bucs appeared to be trying to position themselves for a game-winning field goal but saw a favorable matchup and took their chances.

"If you get a guy open, I don't think it's low percentage," Gruden said. "We felt we had the right play. I don't regret that call."

Gruden was asked about first-round pick Gaines Adams, who showed obvious signs of frustration Sunday over his limited playing time. At one point late in the game, the defensive end tossed hiis helmet in disgust after being pulled in favor of end Greg White.

"I think the way he played yesterday, he has a right to be frustrated," Gruden said. "Sometimes, there's going to be a little frustration when you're not playing. I expect him to be a big part of the second half of the season.

"There's some aspects that I'm really excited about. I just think Gaines Adams has now had half a season to get used to this league and I believe he's ready to take off. He knows how to play and he understands our defense now.

"We do expect Gaines to be an every-down player for our franchise for years to come. Whether that's this week or next week, I don't know."

On the injury front, Gruden said starting right defensive end Greg Spires has a calf injury, though Spires said after the game he was told he had an Achilles' tendon strain. Torrie Cox has a knee injury, the extent of which Gruden did not know.

Gruden did not express much optimism about the chances of any of the team's injured key rotation players returning this week. Among them are tight end Alex Smith (ankle), defensive end Patrick Chukwurah (shoulder) and receiver Michael Clayton (ankle).

Comments

[Trotter]

Ike was open, not sure how that can be such a bad call. Hero, or goat...guess he's the goat today.

What concerns me is his comment about Bennett has to make the catch, but gives the perception that he benched him for awhile because of that. That to me is Grudens problem, Bennett is a weapon he took off the field because he dropped a pass, so, who didn't drop a pass yesterday little guy? Use your head Gruden.

Fix the D Monte. Where is that guy who was talking about this lights out play of Buchannon...horse dung. Kelly needs to get back, and this loyalty to old hero's who miss tackles consistantly must end.

[Jason]

Sloppy play! to many drop balls, to many penalties.
Once again we out perform the other team and lose the game.
Garcia over threw a number of receivers.
It's like some players are losing thier kool during the game, and it's costed the team two weeks in row.
Mostly these are mental mistakes.
Maybe it's time for Yoga...

[Sky]

What I saw in the game is that not enough of Earnest Graham was used and in the right way...use him how the Eagles us Westbrook--leads to great play! Feed Stovall more down the field.

[Clint]

Please play Trotter on the defensive side of the ball. (Not special teams) Our DT's are not playing well(Exception of Haye) Maybe its time to implement the 3-4? Just a thought.

[Skylar Zalamut]

Lack of execution in crunch time it the way I see it. Buchanon is playing lights-off; not out. He couldn't cover a bed yesterday. Garcia missed too many big plays that would have put that game away much earlier. it was a well called, poorly executed gameplan and I agree that Graham needs the ball more as he is and has always been a stud. I kinda get pissed thinking Art Valero and everyone else missed that over the past 4 years. we could've used the draft pick on Caddy for something like another underachieving offensive lineman.

[Rick]

I do not understand. You have scored 17 unanswered. Your defense has dominated the Jags keeping them pinned for two offensive series deep in their own territory. You have frced them punt from inside their own 10 and you partially block the punt taking over at their 30 yd line. And you run a sweep with Graham? It is time to go for the jugular! BAD MOMENTUM KILLING CALL!!!

[cory]

You people are rediculous talking about graham. Use him like westbrook? How are you even going to say those 2 names in the same sentence? We should of played him and used cadillac's pick elsewhere? You think it was misfortune that he was undrafted and has been third string his whole career? He doesn't have a touchdown since he has become the starter and is averaging under 50 yards a game on the ground. 3-1 with cadillac and 1-3 without him. GROW UP

[Skylar]

I hate to break it to you Cory, but Graham is averaging 4 yards per carry this season which means that if he's averaging 50 yards per game, he's only getting the ball 12-13 times. Most starting tailbacks get the ball 25 times, which would equate to, drum role please, that's right carry the 2 and it equals 100 yards a game. Wow, I know that's kind of hard to figure out Cory, but I think you just passed the first grade. Next, we'll work on your spelling: ridiculous not rediculous would be correct. Granted, I won't go as far as to use his name next to Westbrook, but Graham has played exceptionally and deserves the "rock" more. Cadillac has underachieved since his 5th game of his first season and can't catch a ball out of the backfield. Graham has the longer play from scrimmage this year by eight yards and has 21 more catches in essentially the same number of starts. Have you seen how effective a back can be when he is capable of catching a ball on the run? Please get your facts straight before you try to tell me to grow up buddy. And yes, there are players on occasion that get overlooked, especially when they are a RB on a pass-happy Spurrier team. He certainly made the team though undrafted didn't he? Does that tell you something? Anyway, I don't think having an opinion about a particular players' skillsets warrants resorting to telling people to grow up, but telling people to grow up does a@@wipe.

[Tom]

Skylar, I agree with you that Graham started to get going in the second half. He did make some nice runs but the Jags were blitzing quite a bit.

Unlike so many fair weather, bandwagon fans, I am not too concerned right now about the rest of the season. I am not going to say we need to start cleaning house right now in the middle of the season. I still think we are going to win the division and Gruden will be back next year.

[aaron]

i think we are going to win the division and gruden will get fired. we will lose in the first round, but just making it wont be enough to save gruden or allens job. bring on cowher or weis or andy reid or mike martz. could you imagine us with martz. he would fix clayton, mold stovall and take ike and joey to new levels. add a real offensive genius and our defensive genius, monte, and kapow!! a real team. gruden helped us win a SB and as a fan i am greatful. but it is time to part ways, time for some fresh air. he needs it and so do we.

[Tom]

Aaron, what are you saying? If we go from 4-12 and win the division, we fire the coach? We rebuild a team capable of winning the division then we break the organization down and start over? Are you kidding?

I like Cowher. He's a player's coach and a winner. However, the rest of your choices are horrible. Charlie Weiss is having the worst year in ND history. Andy Reid is having severe family problems and may be fired from Philly. Plus, he's bringing you the same system of offense that absolutely hate. He would also fire Kiffin and bring in an Eagles, blitzing defense.

However, the worst choice of all is Mike Martz. Good Lord, that would be a nightmare. Talk about the bonehead of all bonehead head coaches. He is a terrible head coach and a great coordinator. Just like Norv Turner. Think carefully about what you're asking.

[aaron]

yes, charlie weis is having a bad year but this crop of seniors is not his. look at the juniors and below and he recruited them. the past two years he has had a top 10 class. this up coming year he is #1. two five stars and 15 four star recruits. this years team is still half of willinghams recruits. weis's boys are the young ones on the bench. reid is having family problems but what does that matter, he still has a job to do. and he is good at it. he runs the same system as gruden but has better play calling and makes better personell decisions. just look he let old garcia go. that was a smart move. he is responsible for our last two losses. martz is 56-36 as a head coach, not too shabby. he developed kurt warner, trent green and marc bulger. who has gruden the qb and offensive guru developed...gradkowski? simms? if simms had the coaches around him to help him develop he could have been really good. but not with gruden screaming and yelling gin his ear every other play. martz does know how to run an offense and knows how to develop players. not to mention he has a SB ring. that looks nice on a resume.

[DR]

Skylar, Cory had a main point that you ignored: Graham should never ever be mentioned in comparison to Westbrook. Graham has done good but he is nowhere near the talent of Westbrook. You take Westbrook away from the Eagles the last 7 years and they wouldn't had the success they had.
There are many good football players that went undrafted that have played and play in the NFL. Warner is probably the biggest name. Romo another. RBs Mike Bell, Mike Anderson, and Graham to name a few. There are more busts in this league than there are players who live up to expectations. Thats just the nature of the business.
Aaron, Charlie Weiss is a terrible coach. If he was black, he would be fired right now. Not to play the race card but compare Weiss to Willingham's record after 3 years and you see what my point is. You got to wonder if the loss of his camera man on the sidelines from his New England days has killed his play calling. F'n cheater! I could call plays if I knew what the defense was doing.
You guys are going to hate this but if you have a RB that you think is a solid player like you say Graham is, averaging 4+ yards a carry but only gets the ball 10-12 times a game, what does that mean? Bad coaching. When you're down 7-0, you don't have to abandon the run. Gruden abandons the run too quickly and he doesn't have the solid WRs you need to be able to do that. You have a WR crew that gets better when the run game is going. The run game opens them up.