Bucs ready to take a test drive in their Cadillac

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Thursday, November 13, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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After a long 13-month rehabilitation process, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear ready to take a test drive in their Cadillac. Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, the NFL's offensive rookie of the year in 2005, has been out since early in the 2007 season with a torn patellar tendon in his knee.

Whenever a team gets its leading rusher back from injury, it’s a good thing. Williams’ return to Tampa Bay is even more timely because Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn are both nursing injuries and aren’t fully healthy.

Commentary: Good NFL teams have running backs who have either amassed 1,000 yards rushing or are close to it by this point in the season. The good news for the Buccaneers is that they do have that 1,000-yard rusher. The bad news is that it comes in the form of a two-headed attack of Graham and Dunn.

Graham leads Tampa Bay with 560 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while Dunn has gained 423 yards. The problem has been that Graham is only averaging 62.2 yards per game and Dunn is amassing 52.9. During crunch time in the playoffs, you need your lead running back to be able to help take pressure off your quarterback with more than 60 rushing yards.

Enter the Cadillac. While he isn’t quite ready to take over the full-time lead rushing role, Williams is going to play a considerable amount this week against Minnesota. In addition to his running threat, Williams is also dangerous out of the backfield as a receiver. In 2005 and 2006, Williams caught a combined 50 passes. He adds an extra dimension that Tampa Bay doesn’t get with Graham in the backfield. Dunn can catch the football, but he isn’t a power runner like Williams.

Fan Pulse: Fans are excited about Williams getting back on the football field for the Bucs. While they aren't naive enough to think that he will make an immediate impact, there is excitement nonetheless that Williams is coming back.

Fantasy Football Impact: Fantasy players all over are preparing to dump Graham and Dunn and pick up Williams on the waiver wire. That is a good fantasy move, but it isn’t wise to start Williams just yet. Give him a couple weeks before you can expect significant fantasy numbers from him.

Injury Watch:> Graham has missed practice this week because of a knee injury and he may not play against Minnesota. Dunn will get the bulk of the carries, but expect Williams to be mixed into the running attack. Safety Jermaine Phillips is still out with his broken forearm.

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About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every...
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