JavaBuc
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« #4 : November 24, 2006, 09:06:58 AM »
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That's a good article, so I'll post it here since people rarely go to the links:
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IRVING, Texas - Defensive backs know all too well about Joey Galloway's remarkable speed.
Someone apparently forgot to remind his quarterback.
One of the biggest regrets the Bucs had Thursday was that Galloway, their top receiver, didn't have a more significant impact on the game.
And it wasn't for a lack of opportunity. Opportunities were there all day, much like all season. But, as has typically been the case, most of the home run passes the Bucs attempted ended up going foul.
Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski's ongoing struggles with accuracy have taken the biggest toll on Galloway, the team's biggest deep threat.
There was the potential game-changing deep ball that turned into an interception in the first quarter. There was a would-be 29-yard touchdown in the second quarter that was tipped away when Gradkowski waited too long to launch the throw, forcing Tampa Bay to settle for a field goal.
More misses. More regrets.
Galloway, 35, is frustrated. He retreated to the team bus rather than talk much about blown opportunities, which said a lot even if he opted not to verbalize his discontent.
"If we're going to beat tough teams on the road, we can't let opportunities get by us," Galloway said.
He declined to offer an assessment of Gradkowski. His review of the offense was, at the very least, sobering.
"We have to get better as an offense," said Galloway, who had three catches for 71 yards. "That's from top to bottom. We need to do every facet better. We're not doing anything well right now. We have to be better at all of it."
Gradkowski's struggles in connecting with Galloway stem from two things: questionable arm strength and occasional hesitation that leads to late throws.
At times, Galloway has gotten behind his defender, only to find Gradkowski couldn't get the ball that deep. Other times, the 6-foot-1, 222-pound rookie has had enough power in his arm, but a late throw has given a beaten defender time to recover.
A short throw ended with an interception by Roy Williams in the first quarter. And a late throw got batted down by Anthony Henry, the sixth-year player out of USF, in the second. Even Gradkowski's careerlong 53-yard completion in the first quarter might have resulted in a touchdown if Galloway hadn't had to stop and wait for it.
Any of those plays might have extended the Bucs' early lead, and maybe changed the outcome. As it was, blown chances seemed to be the story of the day - in a season that is blowing up before the Bucs' eyes.
"That's basically how it's been all season," receiver Michael Clayton said. "We haven't been able to make that one big play to get us back in it. And when we have made it, we haven't been able to capitalize on it."
Gradkowski isn't oblivious to the problem.
"I think I underthrew Joey a little bit," he said. "He was moving faster on (artificial) turf."
While Gradkowski struggles to figure out Galloway's 40-yard time (Galloway claims it's 4.1 seconds), the Bucs are missing out on precious shots.
"We have opportunities that we're letting slip by," Galloway said. "To come to Dallas and play a tough team like this, a tough defense, you have to bring your A game."
And what, Galloway was asked, would have happened had those long balls been completed?
"We'll never know," he said.
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