Earnest Graham Is The Forgotten Man
January 7th, 2010
A lot of attention has been focused on why Bucs running back Derrick Ward was underused. But the definition of “underused” may very well be Earnest Graham.
WDAE-AM 620 sports personality Ian Beckles has gone so far as to say Graham was almost “Alstotted.”
But to learn if not appreciate just how far Graham has been demoted and/or forgotten is to take a gander at the numbers, which is what eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune did. Kaufman’s findings are nothing short of alarming, as documented on TBO.com’s Bucs Twitter feed.
Here’s a mind-boggling Buc stat from ’09 — Earnest Graham finished with 14 rushing attempts, 8 fewer than backup QB Josh Johnson.
Can you imagine? Graham has eight fewer carries than a “career backup” quarterback?
That borders on the outrageous. How can such a talented back slip that badly?
January 7th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
What’s really rediculous is that we could have been a power running team with three really strong runners and racked up probably 2-5 more wins or at the very least not require our young QB’s to push the limit of there experience. Olson has to go. It has become apparent that Jags pretty much left because he disagreed on the QB situation and ultimately we would have been better off with him over the offense and “Radio” over the Defense from Day 1. What a different season we might have seen had that happened. I guess I could wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which one fills up faster but I’ll wait and see what the idiots do over the offseason.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Agree totally, tired of the offense being blamed on Jags…would love to see McCown under center, Jags calling the plays and the three headed monster running the ball. Luke had to be cleared out to diminish any doubt for who was going to be the starter…Freeman.
January 7th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
they gave one of his carries to a damn rookie on the goal line!!