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Here are Jon Gruden's remarks on Buccaneer Monday following the 30-27 overtime win at Kansas City.
Among the points that raised my eyebrows, the injuries to Earnest Graham and Alex Smith.
And the return of Cadillac Williams on the horizon.
BUCCANEERS HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN QUOTES
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008
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HEAD COACH JON GRUDEN
(On Sunday's game)
"I'd just like to say we're very happy to have won that game. It was an exciting finish. I would have liked to have not turned the ball over as many times as we did. We didn't play our best defense in the first half but it's a real credit to our coaches and players for hanging in there and finding a way to win. We suffered some more injuries yesterday. Earnest Graham hurt his knee; we're evaluating him at this time. His status is uncertain. And Alex Smith is also being examined here today. So those two guys in particular we're worried about."
(On if Sunday's win could be a defining game for this team)
"It might be. We've still got a lot of work to do with seven games left. It's just encouraging to know that we could come from behind and win. We did it in Chicago and it was just as dramatic as it was yesterday. But it's a collective effort. I think our team believes in one another. It's just a huge win, no matter how you look at it."
(On if the bye week is perfectly timed)
"Yeah, I think it is. It's going to help us. Obviously our running back situation in particular is very concerning to us. Both fullbacks, both halfbacks. Carnell Williams will get a chance to work in this week a little bit more and we'll determine his progress next week. But we've got a number of guys that are nicked up and guys that we need back. Hopefully this week will help us."
(On if the game builds the team's confidence)
"I think it helps you. I think success is a great motivator and confidence-builder. But this team has done it all year. We came from behind in the fourth quarter against Green Bay; we came from behind in the fourth quarter at Chicago. This is a team that plays for 60 minutes. We've fallen short a couple times, but in our three losses we were knocking on the door in those games, too. So it's a solid football team that plays hard. I'm really proud of the guys and hopefully we can get some players well that need to get well."
(On if Clifton Smith is becoming a player the team needs to get on the field somehow)
"Yeah. Yeah, he is. He really helped us not only in the kicking game but from scrimmage. Earnest went out in the first half and missed a few possessions, came back and gritted it out. But in those final couple drives you saw a lot of Clifton Smith, as a runner and a receiver, picking up the blitz, knowing what to do. It's a real credit to him, and certainly Rich Bisaccia and Tim Berbenich have done a great job with him. You look at him, he's not a tall guy but he's a very thick, quick, shifty, elusive back. And he's a natural – he understands the game and he shows great poise as a player. That's just a credit to him."
(On how he feels about his team)
"I like this team. We've had nine pretty solid outings. We've won six, lost three. You go to the stadium yesterday and there is no Warrick Dunn, there's no Arron Sears, there's no Jermaine Phillips, we lose Earnest Graham. What can you say? People have stepped up when they've been asked to step up, whether it be Brian Griese or [Jeff] Garcia, Clifton Smith. I like this team. They work hard, they believe in one another and they're pretty good. They're pretty good. As long as the coaching doesn't screw it up we'll be alright."
(On Antonio Bryant)
"He was a superstar yesterday. Two one-handed catches; an unbelievable catch on the touchdown to make it 27-25; after the catch; as a blocker – he was a great receiver on the tape I looked at this morning. He's our leading receiver and he's got two 100-yard games the last three outings. He's running all the routes. He's got great stamina and I'm really happy for him."
(On the receivers playing well)
"Yeah, they really did. [Michael] Clayton played well, really well, physical. He caught the ball, made some good runs after the catch. I thought Ike Hilliard was outstanding between the hashes again, making some key inside grabs. [Joey] Galloway, we've got to try to get him more involved but he had a big hit right towards the end of the first half to set up a field goal. Antonio Bryant has played great for us and Michael Clayton has played very well as well and Ike has been real steady for us. We like the receivers and we clearly look at them as a strength of our team."
(On G Jeremy Zuttah)
“He has probably done as much or more as any of the guys that we have had here. He started opening day as a right guard, played against Carolina as a left guard in an emergency role. Started and finished yesterday at left guard, at Arrowhead Stadium. Not a lot of rookies start at two different guard positions in the first half of the season and play as well as Jeremy Zuttah has. He has a great future and we will give him a game ball.”
(On the NFC South)
“Yeah, I think pro football is pretty much like that these days. Not a lot of people, at least the experts, expected much out of the South. Atlanta was a wrecking machine yesterday, New Orleans has a lot of firepower and Carolina is as good as anybody I have seen on film all year. At the halfway point I think it is proven that the South is pretty talented this year. Maybe we will get one Pro Bowler in the game this year.”
(On the run defense)
“Well I think that in some ways they caught us a couple of times running the ball from some unconventional formations that you don’t normally run from. I think in some ways it is good for us, it is kind of a gut check, it will get our guys attention. And Jamaal Charles is a flash back out of Texas. We knew that coming into the game that he is a quick and elusive runner. They had us off balance there. They had some real good mixture between the creative passes, the bootlegs and some one back shotgun runs that we don’t see all the time. They used the element of surprise to their advantage, especially early in the game.”
(On RB Carnell Williams)
“I just got done meeting with him and as I said earlier, we will put him in pads tomorrow, he is not I am sure real thrilled about enjoying his bye week like some of the other guys but we will have him in pads tomorrow and Wednesday. He has a great look in his eye. He is very confident, I think, in his knee and what he has put into this. We will see what Earnest and Warrick’s health status is and we will make that decision next week but there is a possibility that he can help us and that would be really exciting, I know that.”
(On the play calling of the Chiefs)
“Yeah, Chan Gailey did a great job particularly in the first half. He did a nice job.”
(On becoming Tampa Bay’s winningest coach)
“Well, I am very appreciative for the opportunity to be here as long as I have. I thank the Glazers for hanging in there with me. There’s been a couple tough years. There’s been some exciting times, but I really respect and appreciate their confidence and giving me the opportunity to stay here and do what I like to do. Monte Kiffin, Bill Muir and Rich Bisaccia, my coordinators, been with me and I really appreciate them. I got to give Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber the guys that have been a big part of winning all of those games, I should give them that ball. It was a special day and we had to work hard to get that game ball, I know that. That was a tough one to get.”
(On RB Earnest Graham)
“I think he got hurt early in the game. He went to the locker room, trainers looked at him, courageously he came out and played in the second half. It’s a tough time of year, midseason, for a running back in the NFL. These guys are all sore and beat up. Have we asked a lot of Earnest? Maybe too much at times, yes, yes we have, but that’s what you do with your best players. When you are in the thick of a tight tournament like we are, we’re going to keep trying to pound the ball inside to Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] and try to get some points in the paint, as I say. We got to lean on our guy and he’s our only healthy versatile back going into the game, so that was our plan yesterday. Unfortunately, we fell behind and we obviously had to get into a little bit of a throw it mentality late in the game.”
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