Tampa Bay Bucs' Clifton Smith honored by NFC

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Clifton Smith was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November, according to a news release issued by the team.

Smith had 11 punt returns for 199 yards (18.1 avg.) and one touchdown. He also registered 16 kickoff returns for 498 yards (31.1 avg.) and a score. Smith’s punt return average of 18.1 yards this season ranks first in the NFL and his 31.1 yard kickoff return average ranks second in the NFL. He is also the only player in the NFL to have a kickoff return for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown this season.

Smith was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 9 as he became the second player in team history to return a kickoff for a touchdown with a 97-yard touchdown return at Kansas City (11/2). He finished the game with two punt returns for 27 yards and six kickoff returns for 232 yards and a touchdown. His 97-yard kickoff return was also the longest kickoff return in team history and the 259 total return yards (232 kickoff return yards and 27 punt return yards) set a franchise record for the most return yards in a single game.

Smith had four punt returns for 90 yards, including a touchdown, and five kickoff returns for 142 yards, including a long of 49 yards at Detroit (11/23). With his 70-yard punt return for a touchdown, Smith became the first Buccaneer since 2004 to record a punt return for a touchdown and he became the first player in franchise history to return both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown.

Smith had five punt returns for 82 yards (16.4 avg.), including a long of 42 yards, and three kickoff returns for 76 yards vs. New Orleans (11/30).

Smith’s honor marks the seventh time in team history that a Buccaneer has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month. K Matt Bryant (December 2007), P Josh Bidwell (November 2005), K Martin Gramatica (November 1999, October 2000 and December 2002), and KR/PR Karl Williams (December 1996) have previously been honored.

Comments

[eric(bucsfan4life)]

he is a keeper..i would love for him to return one on MNF while everyone is watching

[Vince]

Cannot wait to hear what all the Gruden/Allen haters will have to say about this. Success . . . oh my god. That is just to much to bear. I think DR, Jay, Valrico Rick and the rest of the haters will say "Gruden/Allen suck because they wasted a 2nd round pick on Jackson when they could have had this guy."

Do you suppose they'll give either of them credit for succeeding with a guy that nobody else wanted? How about for coaching an undrafted rookie to be a great special team player and a potentially good back? No, they'll probably say the credit goes to the assitant coach. Maybe they'll say its just luck or that Smith has succeeded desoit Gruden (that seems to be a common theme from the haters when the Bucs have any success) Or, they'll say that Smith is proof that Gruden/Allen don't recognize talent because he was placed on the practice squad.

DR, Jay, Valrico Rick???

[OAR]

Vince, I agree where are the three stooges?
Congratulations to Smith, he definitely deserves it.

[Erick]

I'm just glad we found a diamond in the rough. They better lock him up come January. With a conservative offense we need the extra field position. Dexter should come on as a receiver next year and be Galloway's successor.

[Oldcrank]

Count me as one of the many who were calling for Deckster to be frozen until we could re-program him and give Clifton a shot. I am delighted he has shown his worth. But...Erick, I'm afraid you and Gruden are wrong about Dexter succeeding Galloway or any other receiver for that matter. Deckster is one of those guys that will take his eyes off the ball to see where the hit is coming from.

[Jon]

1 chance.

[Vincent]

This is why I say DR is the man. You guys talk about him and he hasn't even POSTED yET! When people talk about you like that, even if they hate you, in my book, "YOU DA MAN"!

Regardless, you're all good Bucs fans, and we all want to see the team succeed. We differ on how and why, but we all love Tampa! And for that you have my admiration, and respect for a differing point of view.

[Jay]

You rang?

Ok, here's your Haterade for the day.

Gruden and Allen had absolutely nothing to do with "discovering" Clifton Smith. All credit goes to Jim Abrams (head of scouting), Reggie Cobb (college scout), Frank Dorazio (college scout), Dominic Green (college scout), Tom Throckmorton (college scout), Seth Turner (college scout), and Dennis Hickey (director of College Scouting). These guys did their job well, and they deserve the credit for finding players like Donald Penn, Earnest Graham, Arron Sears and Clifton Smith. They are not in charge of the draft, nor do they make the final decisions on who plays, who stays and who sits for each of the games. That falls on Gruden / Allen - and I will give them credit for making good choices (or in the case of Jeff Faine - great choices). But when it all comes down to it, Clifton Smith deserves the majority of the credit, because he runs fearlessly (unlike DJax 2.0) and intelligently (following his blockers unlike someone like Michael Pittman). Granted, he has some ball control issues, but I expect those to be worked out. There's really no reason to hate, because the team looks very good, and it looks like they'll make the playoffs (maybe even homefield advatange with a bye).

So how does any of this make me a stooge again?

[OAR]

Jay, I guess you can be Moe.

[Jay]

Sweet. At least I'm not Shemp.

[bobbyd]

Hey Jay,
Did Tony Dungy hire those scouts?

[OAR]

No Jay, Shemp is DR and Curly is Valrico Rick.

[Jay]

Sorry BobbyD, I have no idea. I'm not a Dungy guy at all. Hell, I still think that Sam Wyche was an ok coach. Hugh Culverhouse, on the other hand...

[OAR]

Jay (considering your Moe) can you go knock some sense into Shemp and Curly.
I'm sure Kiffin would thank Wyche for his eye for talent. (Lynch, Sapp, Brooks, and Chidi Ahanotu(although he's got personal issues now was a great pick)) All smart players and fast.

[Itch]

Looks like Clifton makes up for the Dexter disappointment. I am glad we got him as a late round gift.

[Itch]

Jay - You look fabulous in your TuTu in your profile. With moves like that you should play for the Lions.

[Valrico Rick]

I just have to say, why did the Bucs run out of options before Smith got a chance to return kicks? The big eyes Gruden/Allen didn't see him coming, they found him by accident otherwise he would have been in the mix from the first week. As I have pointed out before without injuries to Williams and Pittman, EG is still riding the pine because they didn't know what they had. Even the Lions have good players on their team. Having good players on your team and making the right decisions aren't the same things! You know what's coming next, 'Nuff Said!!!

[Vincent]

Great take on the Bucs Valrico Rick, and I aplaud the proper use of your sign off "Nuff' said". I do have on kaviot... many, many teams, in the NFL have brilliant players that haven't the opportunity to showcase their talents, so I don't agree with knocking Gruden/Allen for not evaluating them properly. It seems that this is par for the course.

[Vince]

Jay, a very reasonable argument, although Allen is in charge of all those guys you mentioned.

Valrico Rick -- you never fail to disappoint. I love how you think EG is some great talent that was stuck on the bench because of Gruden. I know this will make you mad but the Bucs believe that Cadillac turns EG's 900 yards into 1,200. EG is a great teammate (incredibly great) and a very good running back (he does everything well) but he is not a great running back because he is slow (the reason no one drafted him). He has also been the beneficiary of a much better line. Again, I love the guy but he could not crack the starting lineup because he could not beat out the players above him. Gruden would play whoever would help him win (Period).

Now you equate EG and Smith. Allen gets the blame for Smith being on the practice squad. No way an undrafted rookie starts on special teams ahead of a 2nd rounder. I agree that is a bad philosophy, but that is the NFL. Again, Gruden would play anyone that would help him win, regardless of draft status (in a weird way, Gradkowski proves this point). Valrico Rick, you are a true hater (like DR, maybe not Jay) because you start with a premise (Gruden is evil) and try to find facts to support your hater's point of view (EG is now good so Gruden must suck at evaluating talent). You are like a Duemig disciple -- you ignore the fact that Gruden (like most coaches) tries to do everything he can to win so he does not do crazy things like sit people for grudges, end Alstott's career etc . . . .

Think about the preseason. Gruden always said that Clifton Smith was a special player. In addtion, if you think Gruden is such a bad talent evaluater, how do you explain all the talent on the team or how do you explain Gruden's strong desire to keep Dunn (when he came here) or draft Westbrook (McKay chose Simms, but that is another story).

[Vincent]

I don't know Vince, it sure seems like Gruden did take Alstott out of the offense! I mean, I know he was laden with health problems, but remember that game against the Panthers in Carolina, I think it was two seasons ago? Anyway I'll never forget it because long story short, the Bucs were in Field goal range and they had a 3rd and 1 and they ran Williams up the middle, not Alstott (the original A-train)! They were actually knocked out of field goal range and the panthers won! The point is, I found the play call extremely out of character. AS the weeks went on Alstott's role was diminished greatly. Maybe it was injury but I don't recall. It left me thinking Gruden disliked Alstott. I gotta be honest, it seemed like Simms fell into the same boat. I thought Simms actually threw better down field, than he did the short pass. And I gotta be honset, it seems like he's healed his relationship with Garcia, but it still seemed like Gruden took a real personal disliking to him. Not saying Gruden is bad, I love that he's so emotional. Yet I find him to be flawed, just like a great many other coaches out there.

[WS]

Clifton Smith is the man !!!! Gruden is doing a great job (not a shock since he is a true student of the game)! Dunn is kicking butt!! Antonio Bryant needs a long term contract!!! Barrett Ruuddddddd should be in the probowl. Rhonde is have an amazing season!!! Cato June is an amazing unselfish player!!! Bruce Allen has us a ton under the cap!!!!! Caddy is back!!! Jeff Faine was a great pick up!!! See how positive energy works all you haters out there??? Hope you are miserable complaining about for Gruden for years to come, suckers! I luv me some Bucs!!!(maybe I'll say that at the end of every blog) I luv me some Bucs!

[Jay]

WS, I was looking online at some of the side effects of Zoloft. I think they're very interesting, don't you?

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

* seizure (convulsions);
* tremors, shivering, muscle stiffness or twitching;
* problems with balance or coordination; or
* agitation, confusion, sweating, fast heartbeat.

Less serious Zoloft side effects may include:

* drowsiness, dizziness, weakness;
* nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, or changes in appetite or weight; or
* decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

Yeah, I think that last one is the deal breaker.

[Vince]

Vincent,

Alstott was a terrible blocker and certainly not a traditional fullback for a West Coast offense. Simms -- a slow-footed pocket passer --was the exact opposite of a "Gruden" quarterback and Garcia was appropriately benched early in the year (Garcia has acknowledged as much and, if anything, Gruden should get credit for pulling him).

Here's the thing, to believe your "conspiracy theory" about these players, you have to believe that Gruden does not want to win at all cost. I have never heard a single credible person suggest that is true, in fact everyone says the opposite. Besides, why would a coach -- whose job is on the line -- not play who he believes gives the best chance to win?

[Vincent]

Vince, I agree with all your points on Alstott and to a lesser degree Simms. Yet we've all seen Alstott take on no less than 5 defenders and drag them into the end zone. I guess you're right about Simms too. However I remember the two versions of Simms, the one that did a three step drop and had the ball "batted down" at the line, and then there was the "deep throwing" Simms, who hit Shepard in stride to what should have been a win in the play offs against the Redskins. I guess Gruden didn't want to go with a vertical offense? All I can say is, it seems like Gruden definitely gets emotional and it affects his decision making with players. I understand that I can't substantiate this claim. I don't know Gruden, and there's no proof. And I think NFL coaches in general don't want to win, they want to win with "their guys". A coach wants to put his "Stamp" on a team and THEN win! Again, this is completely subjective and no point in arguing.

[Vince]

Vincent, very good points and I agree that Gruden, like all coaches, has guys he favors and disfavors. Gruden clearly fell in love with Cadillac and Clayton. They are both good, but I am not sure that they live up to their draft status.

[Kurt]

To Valrico Rick & DR (the only two true haters that consistently have no justification for their gripes!) Gruden became the 3rd fastest coach to reach 100 wins behind only Madden and Cowher (two HOF'ers for sure.) I don't believe either of them had to rebuild their respective franchises either. Just another major fact that blows your stupid comments into lala land where they belong. Keep hating and we'll keep b!tchslapping you around.