Bucs banged up: Askew, Sims have hamstring strains

Bucs coach Jon Gruden was plenty happy about a lot of things from Sunday's dramatic, come-from-behind OT win over the Bears.

Gruden praised the poise of Brian Griese, the protection by the offensive line, and the emergence of receiver Antonio Bryant and Jerramy Stevens.

But the Bucs again left a game banged up, as Gruden said fullback B.J. Askew and defensive lineman Ryan Sims suffered hamstring strains.

Gruden said he doensn't know yet whether Aqib Talib or Joey Galloway will play this weekend against the Packers, but said Talib has a better chance than Galloway.

Here's some excerpts:

Gruden on Griese: "He was great down the stretch, it's hard to duplicate that. It's hard to beat what he did in the last 30 minutes, 25-30 minutes of the game."

Gruden on the protection: "I think it had a lot to do with our ability to come from behind and win. Any time your quarterback has a chance to see and go through his reads, have vision in the pocket, it certainly helps."

Gruden on difficulty running the ball vs Bears: "We had some good looks, some draw plays. If you watch the game, they have a guy in every gap on every snap and it's hard to run. It's hard. It's a loaded box, a lot of single blocsk, and they've got an extra man in support a lot of the time.'

More to come

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[migget]

jon gruden still sucks,he's like jim jones with the kool-aid by his side you guys will drink anything!the team won't get better till the midget coach is gone, galloway from the ohio state luckeyes always has little track injurys maybe he should go play soccer!

hahahhaha ohio state luckeyes. you are so clever.

[Adam]

I'm sick of hearing about these hamstring strains.... the Bucs have that nice gym. MIX IN SOME LYING LEG CURLS!!! SHEESH!

[DMS]

Askew wuld be a considerable loss. We need him to block some of those Packers linebackers.

[Darren]

That game was rough. As a fan, I loved it, but the players were the ones who took the hits. I have nothing but respect for them.

I hope Askew and Sims bounce back quickly from their injuries and all of our Buccaneers rejoice in victory.

[Jay]

I would not be upset if Joey Galloway couldn't go again - I think we have some pretty good receivers, and when Joey is in there, too much effort is made to getting him the ball instead of just moving the ball. I'll take Ike Hilliard and Antonio Bryant with Clayton at #3 instead.

[JS]

i wouldn't care less for sims, but askew is really important for us. He's Alstott's heir, and he's also a hell of a blocker. why so manny hamy injuries? are the fitness coaches not working that muscle? F---!

[Kurt]

Am I the only one who sees Sims making plays ala Sapp every time he gets in the game? Jay, I understand what you are saying, but Galloway is a stud and gets 1000 yards per year for a reason. TO and all the great receivers (except Rice) miss 3 games a year; it's just part of the equation. We truly need him out there; not Clayton.

[bobbyd]

Not sure I'd call Askew Alstott's heir. He's been a very good blocking back but hasn't shown much ability to run or catch. And Storer has proven to be just as adept in the lead-blocker role, so it's not as big of a loss as it could be.

Sims is pretty disruptive in rotation with the other tackles. I don't see him getting all the way to the QB though, so he's not in the same vein as Sapp.

[Kurt]

He got to the QB yesterday with Carter!

[bobbyd]

He must have gotten there after the fact. He didn't get credit for the sack (or even a tackle for that matter).

[Kurt]

He actually pulled him down by the shirt while Carter got the credit. I saw it. I'm just saying, he blew the line up on that play. I'm not saying he is Sapp, but he has Sapp-esque plays at least once a game.

[DR]

Putting Galloway in the same boat as TO and other "great" receivers is just flat out idiotic. TO is a first ballot hall of famer, Galloway has absolutely no shot at making the hall of fame. Hate TO or not, you can't question him inside the white lines. Galloway lacks effort and can't make a play on the ball to save his life.
Sims is playin well, but he can't can't hold Sapp's left pinky toe. The Bucs are better off without the "white tiger" who is more of a cancer than anything else for the Bucs. The Bucs had the quick slants all day yesterday and they had the big body WRs to throw to.

[bobbyd]

I remember the play, just didn't realize Sims made it. Just shows the Bucs are developing some depth there. It certainly helps when you can swap guys in and out and still pressure the QB. I'm pretty excited to see the line producing hits again. Much improved over last season. This week should be a fun matchup for them against Green Bay. I think they might knock Aaron Rodger around a bit.

[bobbyd]

There you are DR! Enjoy the game? Gruden made some pretty good adjustments no? How about some love for the coach?

[Teddy Ruxpin]

migget is a complete idiot!!

Who's with me?

[DR = Douche]

FROM DR: The Bucs are better off without the "white tiger" who is more of a cancer than anything else for the Bucs.

Ummm, DR do you have access to the locker room? Pretty bold statement from someone I assume hasn't spoken to a single player. Since when is getting injured an indictment on a player's character? He has been one of the best players in Bucs history...3 straight 1,000-yard seasons had never been done before.

[Larry]

Sims is a bigger loss than Askew. Storer is also a solid fullback and can hold is own when the Bucs go to a traditional backfield. More than half the time they're split backs anyway.

Sims does tend to make 1-2 splash type plays when he's in the game. We'll feel his loss most because it will shorten the defensive line rotations. The D-line will have a busy day chasing Aaron Rodgers no matter what, easier if you get to take an extra 4-5 plays off with a deeper rotation.

[Vince]

DR -- why are you still commenting on these boards? You still have not admitted that you were flat wrong - W-R-O-N-G about the Bucs and Plummer?

Everything you say is just babble.

[Windy]

Almost sad to see that Dexter Jackson wasn't banged up enough to sit out. JoeBucsFan.com is calling to cut Jackson.

[The Man]

Galloway needs to be put on IR and get rid of. The team is better off with Bryant, Hilliard, and Clayton, especially since defenses can't key in on a single man, which is always what happens when Galloway is the first read on a play. Besides, he's never there cheering on his team when he's hurt, which is most of the time... he just runs away and hides in the locker room or just stays home like yesterday. I can't wait till him and Gaycia are gone from this team, it will improve chemistry in the locker room once those 2 selfish guys are gone.

[jobucs]

Quit commenting on DR !! He will go away.

[DR]

I will never go away. I am like herpes, I just keep coming back, baby!

[GrudenHater]

DR, keep it coming, man! Please, don't go away. You are right about Galloway and I'll take it a step further--he was finished starting in playoffs last year. He will collect a paycheck this year as a role player.

migget is not an idiot because he doesn't drink (the Gruden kool-aid) and doesn't smoke and inhale (the Jon Gruden plan--just be mediocre).

[GoBucs]

midget and gruden hater,
not only are you both idiots, but you also losers. Don't you have something better to do with your time that bash a coach that has put together a team with some promising new secondary, linebacker, d line, o line, and running back members? All of which are young! Not to mention the tons of cap room will have next season. If you were true bucs fans (or knew anything about pro football) you would see the big picture. You are the type of people that would only be happy with a team that wins 5 super bowls in a row (with is unrealistic). You should check out the Dallas Cowboys, I heard they are looking for a couple more bandwagon fans. I bet you two are making out right now.

[Vince (not the other Vince)]

I think Gruden is a great coach, and if the Bucs let him go, he will be hired before the next day dawns!

[GrudenHater]

Another guy who's taken over by the smoke-screen.

The only thing that Gruden has built is a strong interior offensive line. I wouldn't trade these guys for anyone else. Defensive line--outside of Gaines Adams, everyone else is a has-been or a wanna-be. I'll give Aqib Talib time to develop because he is a rookie, but I don't see any other future all-pros on this defense.

You remember when we had Sapp, Brooks and Lynch? And Ronde and Simeon? They fit a great system well. Now we are blitzing like crazy because our defensive line can't put enough pressure on the QB with 4 guys rushing. So the LBs blitz, leaving DBs exposed.

I don't buy into Gruden's philosophy that offense wins Championships and defense can go for a ride. His last team--the Oakland Raiders--proved that. How did that #1 offense do against the Bucs' #1 defense?

And this defense? It has given up 24 points two out of three weeks. Including to Chicago offense with Kyle Orton. Maybe if they had Griese, they might have put 42 points on the board.

Ya the defense makes "splash plays" (my least-favorite term) but now they give up big plays.

I'll be around if you want to make an educated comment... or the usual uneducated one.

I gave Gruden five-year grace period after the Super Bowl. Grace period is over.

[Stab]

Anybody notice how often the Bears threw to the flats and was successful? The linebackers never did defense all day long. Thanks to Lovie for giving up on the play.

Ronde Barber got used yesterday. Brandon Lloyd made Ronde look like he was 5'1".

[bobbyd]

GH,
If the "grace period" is over, shouldn't your comments be based on what is actually happening in reality? The Bucs are in first place in their division, and so far this season, they've lost 1 very close game. Are they looking like a polished product? Nope. But they've still managed to keep pace.

I think you may be a bit mistaken in your assessment that Gruden believes offense wins championships. The offense he runs is designed to control the ball and keep the defense off the field. It's not a quick strike offense. I believe Gruden is fully aware of the Buc's strength. As for the defense, there has been one particular player getting exploited (Barber), and it's definitely concerning. It should be interesting to see how they adjust.

Sit back and enjoy the ride. It's going to be a good season. Be a lover, not a hater.

[bobbyd]

Yup Stab,
They had two successful plays that they ran repeatedly. The flat pass to the right and deep passes in Barber's direction. The rest of their offense was shutdown pretty well. I can see the Bucs giving them those short passes (that's typical cover 2 stuff), but the repeated success of the deep passes in Barber's direction have me a bit freaked. I'm not used to seeing him get beat like that.

[Jennifer]

I cannot wait for the Packers to kick the Bucs *** and their lame fans too!!!

[Justin M]

Dont know if it has been said, but Brian Griese is 7-1 in his last 8 starts with the Bucs. He is the man for this team.

[GoBucs]

Get a new team Gruden Hater. By the way, who would you hire to replace him? Please use all of you limited football knowledge answering the question.

Jennifer- Did you and your cheese head friends like your Dallas butt whipping last night? Talk about being taken to the wood shed! I hope u enjoyed it, because your about to see another next week.

[Larry]

Gruden is a very good (can't quite go to great) offensive coordinator. Whenever he's no longer the Bucs head coach he'll be hired within a week or two by a team needing a good coordinator. Mike Martz, only younger.

[DR]

Jennifer has herpes, like me.

[Ebeneezer Manning]

Dangit, Colts are 0-2 in their new field without that dangnub pumpt in crowd noise whoozeamawhatsit...

[shane]

Bucs fans need to be extra loud for this battle of the bays. It may be a blowout or it may be a close one you never know I do believe we will see ronde play a lot of slot coverage because of his exposed weakness in man(with DD and GJ it may be a very good idea to limit ronde to strictly zone coverage) and aquib will be playing the man on the outside. Hopefully the run defense(which believe it or not is much improved over last year) hold up when Greenbay's passing offense starts to sputter.

[Robin]

Holy run-on sentence, Batman!

[Jay]

The only reason Ronde Barber struggled was because the Bucs dropped out of Cover 2, put an 8th man in the box, and forced the corners to play man coverage. That's a playcalling issue, because their nickel cornerback was called up off the practice squad a few days before the game, not necessarily that Barber has lost a step. Give Hamilton a lot of credit for filling in under short notice and doing an above average job.

If anything, there were several mismatches that didn't work out for the Bears, like putting Ruud on Matt Forte and having him come up with that miraculous catch. The entire LB corps really played well, as did the safeties. In fact, Hovan and Sims were brutal up front, collapsing the pocket and making The Neckbeard look terrible.

[STIXX]

Look we won the game. Thats what counts. Gruden is a good coach and I for one am glad he`s here. He makes tough decisions that most people are scared to make. Get off his back or find another team to babble about. Yes that means you DR and your girlfriend JENNIFER.

[shane]

i agree stixx couldn't have said it better

[DR]

It's no surprise the Bucs played better without Galloway. Bryant ran a good pattern to finish the Bears, and Galloway would have probably out ran the ball and cried about how bad the pass was. I agree with gruden hater, Galloway's career ended last year before the playoffs. Stick a fork in him, he's finished. Good riddance.
gruden's offense started playing well when he was forced to play call. If anyone was watching the game, the quick pass plays were open all game. Running screen plays inside your own 20 in 2nd or 3rd and long situations is just stupid and Gruden ran that a few times. He got away with it once but that was with better field position. He called a horrible game until the 2 minute warning.

[bobbyd]

It must be amazingly difficult maintaining such an intense level of tragic stupidity DR. If you understand anything about football, you know that it's very difficult to do quick pass plays against press coverage (which is what they call it when the defensive backs are right up on the line of scrimmage with the receivers). Stay with me here. Under press coverage, the DB's can re-route the receivers for up to 5 yards. That makes the "quick pass" a bad option because there's a good chance the receiver can't be where you expect them to be.

How did your beloved Brett Favre do last night? Boy, I wish he was here in Tampa throwing touchdown passes to the other team.

[bobbyd]

Oh, by the way DR, if Galloway was there (and healthy), the Bucs likely would have decimated them. With press coverage, you run the risk of a fast WR getting past the DB and being wide open down the field for a deep pass. The Bears would have had to change their defensive game plan to account for that which would have left more options on the table for running the ball.

No matter what, you have to be happy with the outcome though, right?

[Weatherman]

Some of you so-called "Tampa Bay fans" need to make it easier on everyone else and yourself and jump ship now. Us real Tampa Bay fans are sick of your schit. Face meet fist.

[DR]

bobbyd, with Bryant and Clayton, who outsized the DBs and caught easy "press coverage" balls all day, those guys out muscled the DBs at the line of scrimmage. Galloway can't do that. If Galloway was there, the Bucs may have lost the game, just like they did to the weak defensive New Orleans Saints.
By the way, I think Favre is the most overrated QB of all time. He has won many games, but nobody in NFL history has blown more games than Favre. He would fit well in Tampa, though. He would have the most overrated WR of all time to throw to, Galloway, and he would have the most overrated coach in the NFL right now. It would be the perfect threesome that would accomplish nothing in the end.
Boobyd, come with something better than that crap.

[DR's #1 Fan]

I would just like to say that DR is awesome! His comments are so insane and ridiculous sometimes they amuze me to no end. I love wasting time at work reading this blog and everyones beef with DR. Please never go away DR, if you left, there would be no one to laugh at!

[bobbyd]

You're funny (like a clown) DR. Once again, you're the flip-flopper of the forum here. In your original post you lambasted Gruden for not throwing enough quick passes. Now you're saying they caught easy "press coverage" balls all day. You're speaking out of the wrong end again.

"If Galloway was there, the Bucs may have lost the game"

That's priceless. What a truly inane statement. If a plane crashed into the Bucs locker room they may have lost the game too. Way to add more fuel to the idiot fire you've built for yourself.

[Jay]

Bobbyd, I agree with DR on the notion of Galloway playing. Anytime he's in the lineup, he's the first look, and frankly, he takes too long to get in and out of his breaks. All those quick slants and outs were perfect against the Bears defense, yet still chewed up chunks of yardage in a short period of time. Hillard, Clayton, and the two tight ends Stevens and Gillmore were also the best types of receivers for that type of game plan. Galloway wouldn't have contributed anything there, because he doesn't fight for the ball.

[Jay is right and DR has herpes]

DR and Jennifer have herpes?