Earnest Graham | Homer insight? (1 Viewer)

[tombonneau]

Pretty grim right now between bye and RB injures, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this boat.

Picked up Graham off waivers ... any homer TB insight on this guy?

All I know about him is from what I saw of the game he looked decent. TB homer at my office said he looked great running hard and bouncing off guys.

And Gruden said something about wanting to get him on the field.

Oh, and Caddy has been dinged his whole career.

Between all those I thought he was worth a flier.

Any TB homers care to chime in? Seems he is favored more than Pittman at this point? True? False? Does he have a chance to be in RBBC with Caddy a la Maroney/Morris and thus be worth a spot start?

 

[PantherPower]

I can't believe I picked him up in MULTIPLE dynasty leagues off the wire, and in 3 leagues, I had no dollars to bid, and STILL got him! Did no one watch the game last weekend? And I saw a quote where Gruden said they "have to get this kid the ball" Seems he's a great pickup that can be had for super cheap. I know he will help me this week with Jackson, Portis, and Bush out in multiple leagues...

 

[gump]

CW is the clear-cut starter. There is no RBBC.

Graham is a better 2nd option for the Bucs than Pittman.

So maybe Graham gets close to 10 breather carries a few times and some 4th qtr action if CW is banged up (which is definitely a possibility).

Otherwise, if CW stays healthy and Buc games are close...don't expect much from Graham.

 

[tombonneau]

Here is a recent article:

Gruden Addresses RB Situation

Posted By Anwar S. Richardson at Sep 24, 2007 at 12:27 PM

Updated Sep 24, 2007 at 12:50 PM

Gruden spent a portion of Monday’s press conference trying to downplay any possible running back controversy between Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham.

Williams has struggled in three games this season, while Graham rushed eight times for 75 yards and two touchdowns off bench yesterday against St. Louis. In fact, Williams’ playing time was limited in the fourth quarter as Gruden elected to run Graham and Michael Pittman instead.

“We have the rookie of the year, Cadillac Williams, who played extremely well in the 05 season,” Gruden said. “He was the rookie of the year going into the 06 season. He was our feature back. Earnest has been a key member of our special teams. He played 18 to 20 snaps there, and to be honest with you, hasn’t been given the opportunity to go in there and play some scrimmage very much until yesterday.

“He’s had some isolated shots here and there, but yesterday he did a good job. He did have a fumble in Seattle earlier in the year as you know, but he did capitalize yesterday and take advantage of his opportunity.”

Gruden said Williams would start against Carolina, but would not say what Graham’s role would be.

“We certainly need to get more out of him [Williams] because he’s capable of delivering some home runs and big hits for us,” Gruden said. “We’re going to keep giving him the ball and hopefully those runs are in our near future ... He played pretty good yesterday. He had a fumble. He had touchdown. He had two, three or four very nice runs to start the second half on our opening drive for a touchdown. I’m not going to defend him anymore than I have to. I think he’s a hell of a back. Obviously he put the ball on the ground. He’s had some issues with his ribs. We expect a lot more because of what we’ve seen him do in the past. That’s all I will say about it. I want him to get going again, obviously, and quick because we need him.”

In addition, Bucs coach Jon Gruden said rookie safety Sabby Piscitelli has fractured his foot and his status is unknown, while defensive end Patrick Chukwurah (knee) is expected to play this Sunday against Carolina.

And gotta like what he has to say here about his favorite play of the game.

TAMPA - Cadillac Williams' costly fumble and sore rib cage prompted coach Jon Gruden to call on reserve running backs Earnest Graham and Michael Pittman in the fourth quarter.

The duo put the game away.

Graham rushed for a career-high 75 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries, a blistering 9.4-yard average. Pittman finished with 91 total yards, 56 rushing and 35 receiving.

Suddenly, the Bucs' backfield is a committee.

"It's great to see," Pittman said. "When somebody's hot, keep feeding him."

Williams gave the Bucs a 10-0 lead with his 7-yard run early in the third. But his fumble on the first play of the fourth at the Bucs 33 set up the Rams' only score and created some drama.

It was Williams' final touch.

"I decided that it was best to give Earnest Graham an opportunity," Gruden said. "He's run the ball well when given the ball, and he took advantage. I also thought Michael Pittman was stellar. He made some great plays, runs and catches. We have good backs."

Graham, undrafted out of Florida, is in his fourth season, a testament to determination. Prior to Sunday, he had 228 career yards on 57 carries, his longest run 17 yards. His biggest role had been on special teams.

"I've made progress every year I've been in the NFL," Graham said. "You have to come to work every day and get better. You have to work hard. You have to grind. It's that simple."

After sealing the win, Graham had plenty to say about his long-awaited splash.

"My favorite play in the game was the long punt return when I had ... a crushing block," he said of Mark Jones' 35-yarder. "That's something I've been working on hard all offseason. I peeled off and almost knocked the guy out."

No way.

"Honestly," he said. "I played at Florida. I've scored touchdowns before."

But not in the NFL.

"I've done it in the preseason," Graham said. "A touchdown is a touchdown."

Of course, Williams will remain the focal point of the Bucs' rejuvenated running game. But Gruden indicated there could be more carries in Graham's future, and Pittman's, after the team amassed 182 rushing yards.

"You have one ball, and we think Carnell Williams is a great back," Gruden said. "Michael Pittman has been given a lot of the leftovers and rightfully so. Obviously, now we're going to have to put our minds together and figure out how to get Earnest Graham more involved because clearly he's also deserving of the football.

"That's a good problem to have."