Is it time to give Bennett a look?

One question I get here (or anywhere I go) almost daily is whether the Bucs are considering using Michael Bennett more extensively. There seems to be an overwhelming curiosity about the guy.

It's understandable why people would ask.

Bennett has been at the very least a serviceable running back during his career and, at best, a dangerous runner with home-run potential. Yet he hasn't been a mainstay in the Bucs' offense this season. In fact, he has barely even been a participant (5 attempts, 11 yards).

Up until now, I've dismissed the question by simply asking in reply, "Have you seen Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn run?" But the answer is no longer that simple. The fullback position has been decimated by injuries, with free agent Jameel Cook plucked two weeks ago from his sofa. That has forced Graham to take some reps there the past couple of games, leaving Dunn to carry a bigger load. That was fine until Dunn got hurt and obviously was affected by his pinched nerve in Sunday's loss at Dallas. He had just three touches.

Despite all this, Bennett was inactive. It was a curious move. The easy explanation is that Clifton Smith was active after being promoted from the practice squad and the Bucs found it hard to justify activating three running backs. But they've had Bennett active at times this season as the third back, so it wouldn't be unprecedented. Furthermore, the Bucs until last Sunday had a dedicated return man among the gameday active players in Dexter Jackson, who took almost no reps at receiver.

Maybe we can bring some clarity to this later as the Bucs get back on the field today. All I know is that I'm not so sure what to tell all of you when you inevitably ask about Bennett.

Comments

[Vince]

Couldn't it be as simple as they don't trust Bennett's ability to pick up the blitz? This is a very impotnat responsibility in Gruden's offense.

[Tom]

Yeah, but Vince, why can't we use him in the return game. I can't imagine Clifton Smith being that much of a devastating blocker that he is ahead of Bennett on the depth chart.

With Dunn and Graham healthy, we don't have that many touches for Bennett. I do not like Graham as a full back. If you have a top ten RB as blocking back, that is a bad idea.

We need to get Askew healthy or keep playing Jameel Cook. Keep Jackson inactive and let Bennett return kicks.

[Jay]

Stephen, how good are Bennett's hands? I mean, there's a log jam at RB if they decide to bring Caddy back, but it seems like the WR position and returner positions are ripe for the taking. Plus he's younger, and more versatile than Galloway (might be faster too). Can you imagine the matchup of him on a LB? Maybe the end around? Even a WR screen? There are so many possibilities for him to get on the field if the coaching staff is comfortable with him changing positions.

If Alstott can redefine the FB position, why can't Bennett do the same for the WR spot?

[Chico]

"...why can't Bennett do the same for the WR spot?"

He's 5'9. Even little tiny Galloway is 5'11.

[bobbyd]

Tom,
I'm not sure Bennett has ever been a return guy. It takes a special kind of crazy to do that job and Bennett just might not have that skill.

[Voc]

Bennett is sitting on the couch collecting a check... There are so many unanswered questions with this team: Cadi, WR's, RB's, play calling, and drafting D-Jax. Look it starts at the top. Gruden is not going to admit, it was a mistake trading for a guy we hardly ever see. He admitted about Grad after he had gotten rid of him...

Like I have said before, the other teams in this division are getting better and younger, and not just on defense which is what we do...

Ask Gruden about Bennett, I am sure he will give you a striaght answer (BS)

[Jay]

Chico, Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers is 5'9", 188lbs. I don't think that's an issue.

[Valrico Rick]

All you people are missing the obvious! The answer is simple, Gruden is an idiot! 'Nuff Said!

[Vince]

Never takes long for the haters to come out (Voc).

Voc, you think Gruden is at the "top" for player/personnel decisions? That's just strange. Don't you recall Gruden saying that he wanted a WR over Talib?

The Bucs have questions at WR, correct. I agree this falls on Gruden and Allen. However, even with the questions at WR, the Bucs have a top-ten offense and are winning (I agree lack of playmakers at WR leads to poor red zone performance). Remember though Gruden wanted a WR (other than Jackson). We got Jackson becasue the front office found themselves in a pinch.

What are the questions at RB? Bucs have very little invested in Bennett and have a top-ten running game without him. Your point?

The "better and younger" comment does not make sense. We have one of the youngest and potentially most talented offensive lines in the game? Gruden has to get some of the credit for the line, right? You realize (I hope) that the Bucs line is a re-make of the Raiders line -- big, fast, aggressive. If you blame Gruden for everything, you have to at least give him credit for the line and top ten offense, right? Isn't that only fair?

I love the haters!

[Sean]

Conversion projects to wide reciever have been tried numerous times. How many times have world class sprinters been brought into the NFL to play wide-out? How often does it work out? If you're going to play WR two things are going to happen...your going to get hit hard quite a bit, and your going to have to develop soft hands. Height has little to do with it. Steve Smith from Carolina is 5'9". He seems to do just fine.

[skp]

i know it was only preseason and defenses attack QBs in a very vanilla way, but i was pretty impressed with bennett's pass blocking when he was getting preseason reps...maybe reads are his problem, but physcially he looked a willing and effective pass protector....it's a long season, and if dunn needs a break, KC is the place to give it to him and let the larry johnson-less chiefs regret letting bennett go

[Justin]

The way Bennett played in the preseason, one would have thought they would have worked him in for a least a play or two here or there during the season. I realize preseason is just preseason, but the guy is clearly a home run hitter with his speed and big play abilities. There's clearly something else going on as to why he never gets playing time. Vince's argument about not picking up blitzes has some merit to it, but that can't be all of it. Teams have to game plan for talent like his. Maybe Gruden is truly pissed at him for something. It makes no sense really. You always put your best race horses in the line-up come game day. He musta said something to really tick him off.

[Yoshi]

I think that Bennet could be really good in the screen or quick slant plays he has tremendous speed there is no denying that. He can serve as a wes welker kind of player but when it comes to the running game i still think that caddy is the best and would be an upgrade over warrick dunn. Dont get me wrong, warrick is good (even though i did not agree with aquiring him to begin with) but i think Cadillac is strong enough to come back this year and it would give the team a big morale boost. Going back to Bennett, I also think he could do damage at the KR position. If he doesnt have the experience then start giving him some reps because anything is better than what we have seen so far.

[Fred]

I can tell you what he said Justin. Bennett made a comment to PR about his lack of playing time and ever since then he hasn't seen the field. It's a shame JG can be so petty and not let stuff go, but he's got a history of stuff like that. Even at the expense of not playing the more talented players. Sad isn't it?

[Voc]

Look Vince you make some very good points, however, I respectfully disagree...

As far as the oline, great point, but the log jam at RB will become a problem once Williams fully recovers, he is making a lot of money. As far as the top ten offense lets be real here, we have played a slew of games at home, lets evaluate that top ten offense one we start playing roads games, check the road record for the bucs...

As far as the offensive line, I have no issue there, but what good is it for the QB to have time to throw when there is no one other than Hilliard who I trust with hands on this team.

The truth is these teams in this division have gotten better and younger at skilled posistions as we have lagged behind.. That is a fact. We are "quote" lookig for a reciever each year!!!

I will not even start on the QB situation and that band aid that is there.

Not a hater, I am just expressing my views which I can do. Look I will be the first to admit, I do not want Gruden as coach of this team, but this the hand that we have now. I am not comfortable getting to the playoffs each year and getting bounced in the first round...

[STEVE]

Why is this musing about Bennett even posted??.....you rabid bucs fans should be paying homage to your offensive-guru of a coach for putting up 9 whole points Sunday, rather than grumbling or doubting your little demi-god....

[DR]

It's quite obvious there has to be regret for getting Bennett. Usually, when you trade for a player mid season and then resign him, that player tends to play games when he is healthy. He's healthy enough to be in the dog house. The only reason he hasn't been released yet is because they know that when they do, he will be resigned immediately. He still has game breaking speed and Gruden refuses to use it. Dexter Jackson is the same way even though he looks terrible at kick returns, but you drafted him at WR so why don't they use these guys at least every once in a while to change things up. Maybe something good will happen. No good can happen when your watching the game from the isdelines.

[Leo In Canada]

As was reported in a recent pre-game report, Bennett suggested he was too esteemed to play special teams. That appeared to be resolved. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I think Justin is on to something. We only see the tip of the iceberg. There must be an underlying problem. The truth be known, it is a nice problem for the Bucs to have. Many teams would enjoy having this logjam @ RB. IF Bennett cannot receive touches because of the quality in front of him, that is not so bad. It would be advantageous to find something productive for him to do though.

[Nick in Melbourne Bch]

Vince, we are not Gruden haters in fact I like him as a head coach but he needs to put the best players on the field. For Clifton Smith to be on the field at RB (and he was last Sunday) instead of ex Pro Bowler and thousand plus yard rusher Michael Bennet(not to mention he has world class speed) is just not smart. He had an awesome preseason plain and simple. I guess you defended Gruden for not playing Earnest Graham all of those years. Quit defending Gruden just for the sake of it. I don't want to see Gruden go but I do want a more potent offense and Michael Bennet would give that to us right now.

[skp]

FYI, the RBs coach and the Special Teams coach are one and the same...perhaps he doesn't deem him a good enough contributor on the ST units. we just dropped another LB (mccoy), so the special teams might be thinning out since injuries at FB, RB, and WR is pulling special teamers out of the player pool

[vince]

Nick, we must not be watching the same team or reading the same papers. Clifton Smith was in at RB because he was in as the returner. That makes 3 RB (and a fullback) so Bennett sits. Not Gruden's fault that Bennett cannot beat out Smith for return duties.

I am a Graham fan, but your comment is ridiculous. Every GM in the league felt the same way about Graham. The Bucs sat him because he could not beat people out in front of him. He is doing well now. Great, but c'mon . . . blaming Gruden? Like Graham was great but Gruden sat him anyway? That is stupid.

Our problem on offense is not that we need another running back to check down to. Have you been watching the games?

[ws]

Valrico Rick- Just to let you know, 'Nuff is not a word in the English language. You seem to use this incorrect verbiage every time you blog (I mean bash Gruden). It seems that you know the same amount about football as you do about the English, nothing! Is Dungy a terrible coach now that he is 3-4? No, but I'm sure you think that he sucks too. I bet you think Don Shula sucks too, since he had a few bad years at the end. Sure Gruden had made some bad choices, but so has every other coach in the NFL(other than Brian Billick). Gruden is a damn good football coach. Only people that don't know sh... about football think otherwise. By the way, there are tons of Buc fans that don't know sh.. about the game, never played the game, never coached the game, and are just arm chair qbs just like yourself. Take a English class at JC. Go Bucs! See you in the playoffs.

[steve]

Hey "ws".....rather than worry about "Rick" taking an English course..why not invest in an 8th grade spelling course yourself???...so you don't mis-spell "verbage" as "verbiage"...(you bucs loser)

[enuff said]

lol...thank you steve, i agree and sh.. (that can be question too, even though he was referring to a foul word)

[Vince]

Steve, I hope you are joking? Do you really think "verbage" is the correct spelling? Where did you go to 8th grade?

[Vince]

Steve, you made my day. One football blogger incorrectly calling out another football blogger for a purported spelling error? Classic . . . Love the 8th grade reference. Pretty witty for a guy who must have only made it to seventh grade. (DOH!)

[mike hafford]

hey vince! who really care,s about spelling incorrect or what have you. people are here to talk about our bucs! and i do agree gruden is a pinhead! at times and we will not win the division or a playoff game playing not to lose. i do not care about everybody saying we need a .to.type wr. yes that would be nice but i think we have talent on offence. grudens call. 9 points should not win you a football game in the nfl. i have won high school games with 9 pts. lol but gruden blows to many games.he has no balls! you have to take some chances once in a while. dink and dunk bs. cowgirls! were ripe for the taking. he screwed that up. he has no trust in his players who in turn make alot of money to play this awsome game we call football. let them play! open up the stinking offense. and i think we could score 28 pts a game or better. until then playoffs maybe one and out! yes. go bucs!

[Vince]

Sorry if the humor was lost on you Mike.

Should Gruden open up the offense or should Garcia? Read Garcia's comments reported on this blog.

[Chucky]

We won't give Gruden and Allen any credit for completely rebuilding a roster in the NFL without anyone realizing it. You know, since that happens all the time.

Gruden haters make me sick.