Bucs move on without Joey Galloway

Wide receiver Joey Galloway doesn't appear to be in the Bucs' plans, based on coach Jon Gruden's comments Tuesday at One Buc Place.

Galloway has had a limited role in the Bucs' offense since returning from groin and foot injuries and did not play in Monday's 38-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

In Galloway's absence, Antonio Bryant has become the Bucs' go-to receiver. Bryant had a career game against the Panthers, with nine catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns, including a spectacular one-handed grab.

''We're gonna play our best players, and Joey's had a lot go on this year with his injuries,'' Gruden said. "He's missed an awful lot of time. ... We've kind of moved on a little bit.''

Bryant's emergence is the reason Galloway isn't playing more, Gruden said.

''They play the same position,'' Gruden said. ''Right now that's just the way it is. It's just unfortunate. Michael Clayton's our flanker, Joey's a split end and so is Antonio. Those are the positions they play.”

Gruden did not sound optimistic when asked about putting Bryant and Galloway on the field at the same time.

"There's a potential for that,'' he said. "Joey's been our split end, and it sounds easy. It sounds achievable. Joey's not the kind of guy right now that's comfortable coming off the bench and playing 18-20 times a game. He's a guy who functions better when he's playing.''

Comments

[Dave]

Put Galloway on defense, he can't possibly be worse than Barber.

[blackfromdc]

Gruden is an idiot.....We are down with less than 2 minutes to go and still don't run a 4 wr set. It is an insult to the fans and it is a joke to the rest of the NFL not to put a weapon on the field (speed) to at least give the defense a threat or a different look. We were predictable all night on offense and defense and that why we got embarrassed on MNF. We could at least run a screen to Galloway ala Steve Smith or packages to get your weapons involved, that's what a coach gets paid to do, instead he makes accuses as to what or why we can't do. Champions don't make accuses they find a way.

[Jay]

I hear that Brian Kelly was just cut by the Lions. Any chances of seeing him back here?

[Vincent]

What a tough decision. This is why it just always seems Gruden can't play with guys he doesn't personally really like, as in, "I can hang out with this guy." It's just how he is. He's got to love the guys around him, right or wrong. Of course there are football related answers that make it seem like a sound decision to "move on", but come on, by that logic they would have "moved on" in regards to Williams and Clayton as well!

I would love to comment on last nights game even though this thread isn't really about the game. The defense just got overpowered in the trenches! No shame in that. They just got whooped. No lesson to learn, just come back and play tough. However, let's hope the offense had discovered that it can throw down field! I loved the passing plays and the play calling. The Run game was lackluster, and I'd like to see Garcia continue to spread that ball around even more!

[shane]

I am confused regarding Galloway; maybe someone can explain why he is not getting 20 plays a game in place of Michael Clayton. How hard can it be to play split end? This would have really opened up the passing game last night and exploited Carolina who would have not been prepared for Bryant and Galloway playing together because Gruden hasnt shown much of it prior to this game. We could have used a few more points last night considering the D finally had an off night.

[DR]

I heard the Bucs traded the white tiger to Busch Gardens for free passes.
I agree Vincent, their line got punched in the mouth. I guess it was too cold.

[Jay]

Shane, the split end is often used in blocking for run plays, and runs crossing routes across the middle of the field in traffic. That requires the ability to lay a lick, take a hit and just stay healthy - which is something Clayton does pretty well. He's essentially another tight end in this offense, and as much as Gruden may dog him, Clayton can throw down in the trenches pretty damn well. Galloway, on the other hand, is truly made of glass. His speed would be a waste in that position, and frankly, he can't block for crap, and shows absolutely no heart for the game. In other words, he's useless.

[Dave]

You can't run a 4 WR set when your line isn't pass protecting, period. Sure put Galloway out there. He can stand idly by while Garcia scrapes himself off the field because there weren't enough tight ends in pass protection.

[shane]

Jay, good point. So maybe in the slot in place of Ike for a few plays. Either way, we could have used him last night in my opinion.

[Nick]

Just another star player turned against Gruden. Why does it always get personal with this guy?

[Times Editor]

Shane, one thing I'll say about playing out of the slot, the guy lined up there typically a physical receiver willing to run inside routes: i.e., not Joey Galloway. The receivers on the outside are the ones you're more likely to use in vertical routes.

[Times Editor]

That "Times Editor" is Stephen Holder. I'm using the administrator password. My bad.

[G. Michael Reynolds]

Still completely mystified by the continued refusal to lean on Cadillac, give him some quantity carries. Remember what happens when we give him 25+? He starts breaking big plays in the 4th quarter, like was done to us. I don't get it.

[Mordechai Bigfeather]

There seem to be a lot of offense-critical comments here, and that doesn't make sense to me. The offense did plenty-well-enough to win a "bucs game" last night. The defense on the other hand, despite two pretty excellent picks, was the reason for this loss.

I mean, I know home field is an advantage, but really, it looked as though Carolina was hopped up on meth and PCP last night, while the Bucs' D were the lazy stoners. The Bucs' lack of defensive intensity, of swarming to the ball, of basic tackling technique are what made Carolina's RB set look like something more magical than I think they really are. I almost hate to say it, but the Bucs defense looked .... unprepared!

I genuinely hope this is an aberration, that the remainder of the season will show us the defense we've been admiring up until now, but man ... that sure felt like an 'emperor's new clothes' moment there, didn't it?

[Dave]

You people thinking that Galloway is a "star" and that this is all Gruden's doing are being ridiculous. Galloway doesn't fight for the ball like Bryant does. All he was, was fast. If the pass is slightly off, it goes incomplete when Galloway is the target. As far as everyone questioning why Caddy wasn't used more, if you've been paying any attention, Gruden said that he would slowly work him back in to his role. Until then we will see him gradually more each game. You have to be careful with that knee of his and not rush him back to quickly into the featured back role.

[e]

God... is this what life without Monte is gonna look like?
e

[Dave]

Aparently life without Monte has already begun...

[blackfromdc]

Why is everybody so hard on Galloway, he has been the team best receiver for the past 3 years, now he can't even get on the field even as a decoy. Teams are going to start double teaming Bryant and then what?

[Erick]

Bryant was amazing but I don't totally understand why Galloway can't be used more. Why not too downfield threats in Bryant and Galloway with Clayton handling underneath duties. Galloway isn't all that but he could still be useful, especially when we're way down like last night. And where did the running game go? Do we still have running backs? Maybe our O-Line isn't all that after all. D-Line. I'll give you a pass on this one, just don't make a habit out of it.

[James]

Hey idiots, it wasn't the lack of Joey Galloway that lost the game. Go ask Monte Kiffin.

[WS]

WHY IS EVERYONE FREAKING OUT? It was one game that was very close till the 4th quarter, against a very good team (on the road). The Bucs have a very competitive team (9-4) that will be fine. People- this is the NFL. Losses happen to ALL teams. Ask the Giants.

[skydivingbucsfan]

Look was it just me or did we not have ONE SINGLE BLITZ PACKAGE THE WHOLE NIGHT!! I mean seriously how do you expect to pressure delhomo when you only rush 4 every damn play!! What the hell monty??? Personally I think the offense did great...yeah they had a few dropped balls AFTER the defense got the WHOLE TEAM out of rythm by letting those 2 not very explosive running backs run all over our defense. The entire defense is to blame for that loss PERIOD!!

[BucsVet73]

I thought it was tha head coachs' job to devise ways to get the ball to your best players. Galloway has to be at least one of them. Since Gruden is so high on multi position players, why doesnt he utilize his receivers in all different formations? He has 2 speed burners and 2 physical possession receivers. To an offensive "genius" Whats tha problem?

[Jay of St Pete Beach]

Let's be realistic. Joey is not in Chuckie's plans. Period. Even a less the "offensive genius" could find a way to get them both on the field and spread the defense. Did'nt Bryant score a long TD with Joey spreading the field? Let us hope Atlanta's 1-2 punch of Turner and Norwood will not pose the same problems. I told everyone here that the Bucs were winning in spite of Gruden. Love Chuckie or hate him. The direction of the team is disturbing.

[Jay of St Pete Beach]

ps. And for those who think this in "just one game"? LOL

I pray we can win just one playoff game for a change. Just one.

[Vince]

Vincent,

Caddilac and Clayton are in thier 20s. Galloway is almost 40. To suggest that Galloway is not playing because Gruden does not like him is just strange.

Read Gruden's comments closely. Gruden is saying that Galloway will not accept a part-time role. Galloway is a good but old and one-dimensional receiver. Bryant is the total package. He goes deep and over the middle and more. Galloway cannot play Clayton's position because he will not go over the middle and cannot block. So, he sits. Not even a tough decision really.

[eric(bucsfan4life)]

why are you footbal dummies aka gruden haters talking about gruden not playin galloway? carolina ran for 300 yds thats why we couldnt blitz skydiver..the offense was fin until we started dropping balls..but this was all about defense or lack of.. we have to win out and hope carolina drops two..you gruden haters are just IDIOTS

[Vincent]

Okay Eric, calm down! No need to get crazy! Is it even worth mentioning to you that we are capable of carrying on a discussion that involves more than just what actually transpired in the game? Ease up. We all saw the game, we all know why the Bucs lost. It's almost an infantile discussion at this point, considering how obvious the loss was! The Bucs got run over! No mystery, okay we get it! Otherwise, someone along the list of bloggers brought up the subject of Galloway. People are just discussing it. No biggie! We're not making any statements or declarations about Gruden, we're just discussing the future of one of the most prolific receivers in recent memory, to put on a Bucs jersey. That's all. We're all Bucs fans here. No need to get too upset.

BTW Vince, Yeah, I kind of see your point about Galloway's age diminishing the Bucs' level of commitment to him. But I was referring to how Clayton has been very disappointing in the past few years, and Williams has been obviously injured, and that if Gruden wasn't so enamored with them, he would have cut them both.

[TriplePlay]

Maybe you Tivo/Divo users that watched the game need to watch it again. We did blitz - Carolina's O line picked it up almost every time. The only time we saw our guys in the backfield was when Delhomme got out of the pocket. Let's face it their game plan was perfect and ours was suspect which turned into non-existant in the 2nd half. It was really sorry to see that we couldn't adjust in the 2nd half. Carline knew they could run the ball to kill us and worst of that knew we couldn't stop it. That's scary - you can bet our remaining opponents are all watching this game and we will see more of this type of scheme. Of course not all teams have a line like Carolina's but here we go.

Bucs need to step up and get hot. I'd love to see this offense put up the same numbers - if we do we'll win.

As far as Galloway - I'd like to see singleback set with Bryant and Galloway both running deep routes. I'd like to see Garcia try to hit them back to back.