Dec. 5--TAMPA -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did a terrific job against the New Orleans Saints on a rainy afternoon last Sunday. Look at all those rushing yards. Thirty-four carries for 149 yards and a touchdown. That's how you move the ball on a wet and windy day.
Look closer, coach Jon Gruden said.
Look at who was the second-highest rusher on the field.
That would be Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia, who rushed for 42 yards on seven carries.
"Jeff had some great runs, that's for sure," Gruden said. "Let's be honest, we ran the ball better because Jeff is running. He really hurt them with some of those scrambles."
Garcia's 20-yard carry was the longest of the day for any runner on either team. Warrick Dunn rushed for 74 yards on 22 carries with a long of nine. Cadillac Williams had 20 yards on four carries, including eight on his touchdown run.
While Garcia's ability to gain yards with his legs adds a dimension to the Bucs offense, Gruden isn't so sure he wants his quarterback carrying so much of the load in the running game.
Actually, Gruden isn't sure he wants one back carrying the load.
Gruden was willing to let Earnest Graham pound away at opposing defenses when Graham was healthy. But when Graham went down for the season with an ankle injury, Gruden wanted more of a running back by committee running game.
He got away from that in recent weeks, but intends to spread the work around Monday night at Carolina.
"Looking back on it we should have given Caddy the ball a little bit more than we did (against the Saints)," Gruden said. "We're going to have to give him some more opportunities in the final month of the season. I think (the Saints game) was another step for him.
"I think his confidence is growing, and (the touchdown) was good for him. But we need to give him the ball more."
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