Game Thread W1 - Tampa Bay V New Orleans (1 Viewer)

[Illegal Pants Downfield]

This from the gamebook: http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/gamecenter/p..._20080907_TB@NO

2-7-NO20(3:57) P.Thomas left end to NO 24 for 4 yards (C.June). NO-P.Thomas was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.

Does anyone have any info? I caught it out of the corner of my eye, and it looked like Thomas was holding his knee?

 

[Afro Samurai]

He was fine. He kind of walked it off. Came back in the game on the final series.

 

[JamesTheScot]

<----- worried E.Graham owner.

WTF!?

Graham rattles off 10 carries for 92 yards in the first three quarters to Dunn's 5 carries for 26 yards and then no carries for Graham in the 4th while only trailing by 4 points.

Graham is out producing Dunn in carries and YPC for 3 quarters and then...? Did he get dinged up or something?

If you look at the play-by-play, Dunn had two 10+ yard runs, but Graham had a couple as well.

Any insight?

 

[saintfool]

<----- worried E.Graham owner.WTF!?Graham rattles off 10 carries for 92 yards in the first three quarters to Dunn's 5 carries for 26 yards and then no carries for Graham in the 4th while only trailing by 4 points. Graham is out producing Dunn in carries and YPC for 3 quarters and then...? Did he get dinged up or something?If you look at the play-by-play, Dunn had two 10+ yard runs, but Graham had a couple as well.Any insight?

don't over-react. graham was effective but the bulk of his #'s came on a 46 yard run. he looked good otherwise. nice mix of catches and strong runs. he's not in any danger of losing his spot based on this performance. tampa wasn't really in control of the game, i thought. the saints were able to pressure garcia. galloway, bryant and gracia all looked out of synch. they just need to shake off the cobwebs. they'll be better but it might take a while.

 

[J R]

<----- worried E.Graham owner.

WTF!?

Graham rattles off 10 carries for 92 yards in the first three quarters to Dunn's 5 carries for 26 yards and then no carries for Graham in the 4th while only trailing by 4 points.

Graham is out producing Dunn in carries and YPC for 3 quarters and then...? Did he get dinged up or something?

If you look at the play-by-play, Dunn had two 10+ yard runs, but Graham had a couple as well.

Any insight?

Graham did have a carry and a catch in the 4th.2-9-TB 28 (15:00) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass incomplete deep middle to 84-J.Galloway.

3-9-TB 28 (14:54) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass short right to 84-J.Galloway to TB 41 for 13 yards (43-K.Kaesviharn).

1-10-TB 41 (14:15) 7-J.Garcia pass short left to 19-I.Hilliard to NO 48 for 11 yards (41-R.Harper).

1-10-NO 48 (13:38) 7-J.Garcia pass incomplete deep right to 89-A.Bryant.

2-10-NO 48 (13:32) 7-J.Garcia pass short right to 19-I.Hilliard to NO 37 for 11 yards (51-J.Vilma).

1-10-NO 37 (12:57) 28-W.Dunn left guard to NO 23 for 14 yards (43-K.Kaesviharn).

1-10-NO 23 (12:11) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass short left to 34-E.Graham to NO 5 for 18 yards (55-S.Fujita).

1-5-NO 5 (11:30) 7-J.Garcia pass incomplete short right to 84-J.Galloway.

2-5-NO 5 (11:24) 34-E.Graham right guard to NO 2 for 3 yards (58-S.Shanle, 91-W.Smith).

3-2-NO 2 (10:43) 7-J.Garcia pass short right to 19-I.Hilliard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

0-0-NO 2 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.

I don't know why he didn't get the ball on the next drive, but that was the last one before the final 2 minutes, so it's really just one drive Graham didn't get the ball. The shotgun worked well on this TD drive. Maybe that's why.

 

[gump]

<----- worried E.Graham owner.WTF!?Graham rattles off 10 carries for 92 yards in the first three quarters to Dunn's 5 carries for 26 yards and then no carries for Graham in the 4th while only trailing by 4 points. Graham is out producing Dunn in carries and YPC for 3 quarters and then...? Did he get dinged up or something?If you look at the play-by-play, Dunn had two 10+ yard runs, but Graham had a couple as well.Any insight?

The Bucs OL was not good...and the offense as a whole was out of sinc.As I said before the season...Graham is the horse. His success though will depend on whether the Bucs get leads. If that happens...he will get alot of work in the second half of those games. If they are playing catch up, he won't get a lot of work.

 

[JamesTheScot]

My concern is that even if you take out his big run, he was still clipping along at something like 5.0 yards per carry. I saw the 4thQ reception in the play-by-play, but I couldn't find the 4th quarter run in the play-by-play when I checked it. Not sure why.

Despite doing well early on, his role diminished as the game wore on while Dunn's role increased.

I've seen a quote from Gruden since the game saying he needs to get Graham more carries, but that sounds like coachspeak. After all, what did Gruden see in the game film that he didn't see from the sideline for the first three quarters?

Last thing I need is the risk of a 10 carry day. I just don't see 50 yards runs saving me every week.