Transcription of Gruden's news conference

HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN

(On injured players)
Patrick Chukwurah has a shoulder injury. Alex Smith has an ankle injury. They both had X-rays, and the X-rays appear negative. Their status for the upcoming game will be questionable at this point. We'll just update you during the week.

(On if Alex Smith's ankle injury is similar to the one suffered by Michael Pittman)
We don't believe it's as serious as Mike Pittman's. He has a chance to play this week, as we said. All we can do is update you here in the coming days.

(On the running game)
We've had some good days running the ball and we've had some days that weren't so good, especially the last couple outings. But situationally we haven't given our runners the opportunities that we did earlier in the season. We were way behind in Indianapolis and we were in a throw-it mentality. You've got to recall we only had 40 snaps of offense. When you're down by two or three scores, you're throwing it, trying to catch up. Yesterday, we didn't have much success running the ball. We didn't have it a lot, and we felt the best way to win the game was throw. We knew we could have success throwing the football and we tried to put Jeff Garcia in position to make some plays.

(On if the Bucs are trying to trade for a player)
I'll let you know we are certainly investigating the possibility of a trade. Again, it takes two to tango. The trade deadline, they tell me, is approaching us, so we should know something soon.

(On the pass protection)
It wasn't stellar. It wasn't our best game pass-protecting. I'm disappointed in some of our sets and some of our stunt pick-up. There were some good downs. We've got to do a lot better. In my opinion, Jeff took some hits he shouldn't take, but when we had to protect in the end, we did a pretty good job of protecting.

(On his thoughts on the final drive)
There was a lot of clutch play-making there by a lot of guys, some really good pick-ups, as I said. Jeff's pocket presence, creating opportunities to find back-side complementary receivers; Ike Hilliard's instinctiveness, awareness -- it was a clutch drive in a situation where our back was against the wall and we needed it.

(On K Matt Bryant)
Oh yeah, it is a lot better, it is a lot better. I don't really have to worry. They had 12 guys on the field when we did kick the winning field goal. I was a little worried that someone might miss that, but I have a lot of confidence in Matt. His 62 yarder to beat Philadelphia [and] big kick yesterday; he has made some clutch kicks when we needed him. People tend to forget the kickoff that he made the last play of the game. Basically, it was well-placed and really didn't give them an opportunity for one of those Tennessee nightmare returns like they had a few years ago. We are real confident in Matt, and we consider him a strength of our team.

(On if you can win without a running game)
We won a Super Bowl here, we won a championship with one of the 26th, 27th, or 28th ranked rushing games. We would like to certainly have better success then we have had the last two weeks. We walked out of Carolina feeling pretty good about pounding it in there for a couple hundred yards. Sometimes the best way to win a game is methodically running it, defeating the clock. Sometimes throwing the football and getting some other guys involved is the thing that gives you the best chance to win, and that is what we did yesterday.

(On if the offense scaled back in the second half)
I don't think so. We have a 10-3 lead, we have the ball first down, backed up on our 12 yard-line. We threw the ball to Jerramy Stevens who was wide open. We had a pass protection break down really; we had a guy get beat. I don't know what you mean vanilla, but that is your opinion, no we didn't try to stay vanilla. We didn't have the ball outside of that series much until the final 1:17 of that game.

(On the Detroit Lions)
They are 3-2. They are a hard team to play in that dome; I have been there many times. They have a great home field advantage there; they play well in the dome. They have added a lot of defensive players. We all know that they will be well coached. Mike Martz, Rod Marinelli, Joe Barry [are] tremendous coaches. [They have an explosive offense, they have fire power, and they are committed to throwing it, it appears to me. Defensively with the emergence of [Ernie] Sims, their young linebacker and the additions they have made in their front four, it will be a tough task for us.

(On the secondary)
I can't say enough about how hard we have been playing on defense. Phillip Buchanon has been a real good addition here. You saw Ronde Barber show up and make some big plays for us. Jermaine Phillips has really been solid back there in the safety position. Clearly, Tanard Jackson is on the rise, he's going to be a really good pro. We hope to get Brian Kelly back soon and in the time being I thought Sammy Davis and Torrie Cox filled in and did a nice job. That's a credit to Raheem Morris and that group of guys.

(On being four and two and having won different ways)
I'm really proud of our team. Not to compare this team to last year, I'm not going to do that, it's not fair to these guys; we have a whole new football team honestly. We have a long way to go. We have some key injuries right now that are troublesome that we have to overcome, but we do have enough grit, enough stuff inside our building here to rise up and I know we'll be there Sunday and we'll compete. We just got to find a way to get some players healthy and in the absence of some of these guys were talking about, some guys have to step up.

(On how big of a Bulls fan he is right now)
Man I'm big and number two in the nation. That is unbelievable; I say it every week, just unbelievable. Coach [Jim] Leavitt and their organization, their athletic department, their coaching staff, support staff. I had the band right in front of me playing the National Anthem, the trombones players, even they're great, so they got it going on. I'm really fired up and I can't wait till the next game.

Comments

[Tampabaysportsfanatic]

Chuckwurah maybe the biggest injury. He has looked good when he has been in the lineup and we need a pass rush badly.

[Clint]

I think instead of trying to trade for a RB we should seek the services of a decient pass rusher.

[mh001]

You're right about the pass rush...
But if you could, would you trade for any of these guys??

Simeon Rice: 0 Sacks
Warren Sapp: 0 Sacks
Elis Wyms: 1 Sack
Dewayne White: 1.5 Sacks

[Vinnie is a dog]

If the Vinnie Testerverde can come off the couch and play at that age, does anyone have James Wilder and Lee Roy Selmon's number ?

[Jules]

How about getting Ronde to talk Tiki into making one last playoff run with a coach that has the perfect offense for him. Get out from behind those cameras and back between the hashmarks, BABY! LET'S GO!! Hell.. EVEN Ricky Williams seems like a good option. Give 'em league minimum and a one year contract with a million "pot" clauses in it and call it a day.

[Steve]

How's Chris Simms feel right about now?

The Buc's must have kept him on the list for a possible trade, and people are cold calling retired QB hacks rather than trading with the Buc's.

[Tampabaysportsfanatic]

Barber already said that Rinde and his mom want him to play here, but he said no. Also, if he did unretire he would be NYG property and we would have to trade, which would have to happen by tommorow, not happening.

Bad thing about pass rushers is that no one will trade you a good one. Maybe the Bucs can get Charles Grant next year if he goes to FA. We brought him in this offseason. The guys we have are just going to have to step up.

[Ken]

Fanatic...no dice on Grant. He signed a big contract extension. Seems like the Saints were pretty intent on keeping him out of a Bucs uniform in 2008.

[Tom]

TBSF,

Didn't the Saints give Charles Grant a huge deal in the offseason? I am not a big Charles Grant fan. I think he has been a big underachiever and only played decent last year. Will Smith is the man on that line.

Jovan Haye played well yesterday. We need to get a push up the middle to be effective.

On another note, I haven't watched the game on tape, but Donald Penn looked pretty good again in pass protection against a very good Kyle Vanden Bosch. He's pretty athletic and moves well.

Now we need to get the running game going and we'll be a force in the NFC.
Go Bucs!!!

[Clint]

One name......Jason Taylor.(Dolphins) Last year in his contract..wants to win a championship. The Fins are bust this year and should start the rebuilding phase.

[Sean]

Tom,

It was Donald Penn that missed his block that led to a Garcia sack and Alex Smith injury. Pretty sure you don't need game tape to know a blindside on Garcia and a another 6-8 week injury on a key offensive player is not going to get it done.

[mh001]

The O-Line has only given up 7 sacks all year (Tied 6th in NFL) including none again on the weekend.

Detroit has given up 28 in 5 games.
Time to feast D-Line.

[John P]

mh001,

Nice stat on the Lions O-line. Didn't know they were that bad at pass blocking. Gotta respect Kitna for enduring that kind of punsishment. He reminds me a little of Garcia in personality, and I'm rooting for him - outside of this week.

[Tom]

Sean,

I've gotten up to halftime watching it on tape and Penn looks great against Vanden Bosch. Don't forget, this guy is in his second year and went against Freeney two weeks ago and a very good DE last week. I'm pretty encouraged how well he's played thus far.

[Captain Fear is a Punk!]

Tom,

All your schoolboy momentum comes to an end this week as the Bucs get devoured in the Lions Den! They'll still be 4-3 so at least you got that goin' for you.

[Tom]

Tanard Jackson is a stud. In my opinion, he may be playing just as good if not better than LaRon Landry. He may be the biggest steal in the draft. Next to Adrian Peterson!!!!

The six teams that passed up on A.P. need to have their heads checked.

[Tom]

Was that comment from a Lions fan? So you're the one. I thought Lions fans were just mythical creations, kinda like the Loch Ness monster or Bigfoot.

When was the last time the Lions put a respectable product on the field? I think that was back in 1997 when the Bucs destroyed them in the playoffs. I was there. Nice try!

[ElvX]

Send Clayton and a number 1 to San Diego for Michael Turner. Caddy may not come back, best to get the best guy available...and then some.

[aaron]

not clayton...send maurice stovall and a 2nd round pick for turner. nobody wants clayton right now. everybody has seen his production drop off. stovall is still a realtivly unkown other than people knowing he has potential. i think he would be more attractive than clayton in a trade. but only we know that clayton is still better than him. we are deep at wr. galloway, ike, and clayton. besides i think clayton is a good #3 wr. stovall is buried on the bench and we can get a pretty good wr in april. plus we will get parris back and he made huge strides this offseason. but we NEED turner. we definatly cannot get a back of his caliber in the draft this year we need him bad because we probably wont see caddy again and if we do he will be more of a Yugo than a caddy. no offense, i love caddy but that injury is devastating. if we can get turner we instantly have to be respected as a good run team. come on bruce/jon get it done. enough of your weak moves like signing crockett think big. the season is on the line.

Stephen,

where's this weeks controversy. How about "given how surprisingly well Penn has done, given his inexperience, and the constant injuries plaguing Petigout, don't be surprised to see Petigout dumped in the off season."

Just trying to help you out with your conspiracy theories.

great post 6:27. stephen is a closet Ram fan.

[DR]

Leave Stephen alone. And quit with the double entendres

[Stridex will do wonders for you Tom!]

Living in the past Tom shows you have no foresight. Lions show their teeth Sunday while kicking in the Bucs. I'll be looking for your sorry A** on Monday. By the way what high school do you go to? I'm sure you are nothing more than a pimply faced kid.

[Gregg Prescott]

The trade rumors for Michael Bennett is a done deal, accoriding to the Kansas City Star's Adam Teicher. What the Chiefs received in return was immediately unclear. The Chiefs declined to confirm the deal, but Bennett said he was informed of the trade by officials of both teams.

“It was a shock to me,” Bennett said. “It really caught me off-guard. I heard the speculation for the past few days, but nobody from the Chiefs said anything to me, so I guessed it wasn’t going to happen. I was wrong. It’s a business. It’s just one of those things that happen.”

“I’m sure I’ll get to play down in Tampa, but I’m kind of sorry to leave the Chiefs,” said Bennett, acquired by the Chiefs from New Orleans last year for a draft pick. “I felt this was a great place. I got to be like a big brother to a lot of the other players. I’ve spent all night talking to guys on the team and saying good-bye.”

Look for Priest Holmes to be activated this week.

[DR]

The Chargers want a 1st and 2nd rounder for Turner. Do you guys expect the Chargers to feel sorry for you and just give him away?
If the Michael Bennett trade is true, thats great to bring in another fragile RB who has never played 3 games in a row in his career. He'll be on the trainer's table in no time.

[Gregg Prescott]

I included the link from the Bennett trade article. I'm a big Chiefs fan. Bennett has done everything asked of him by the Chiefs. He was a former Pro Bowl RB with Minnestoa and, besides Turner, may be the best FA option for the Bucs.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/318881.html

[Gregg Prescott]

I'm sorry, I meant "potential" FA. Bennett is also in the last year of his contract, scheduled to make $1,200,000 this year.