Banished to the doghouse, Michael Bennett should get handoffs from his former doghouse buddy, Jeff Garcia, in K.C. on Sunday.

Back on Sept. 16, Joe told you Michael Bennett was a bitter man. Bennett had a microphone stuck in his face in the Bucs locker room by the Pewter Report and referenced playing for a new team and how he might move on “with some other players.”

Per league rules, this video disappeared from Pewter Report’s Web site within 24 hours. Michael Bennett also disappeared since that time.

He’s been buried on Chucky’s bench or inactive, even when Bucs brass knew Warrick Dunn was banged up entering the Dallas game.

A former Pro Bowl running back, Bennett was handpicked by Bruce Almighty and Chucky to join the Bucs last year. At 30 years old with light mileage, he’s in his prime and ready to contribute.

Yet rather than use him, Chucky deactivated him last week and opted to moan about a ”shortage of running backs.”

During preseason Bennett proved healthy, quick and consistent in the former Earnest Graham role of August workhorse, the go-to guy when the first-teamers left the game.

According to the Tampa Tribune, Chucky said Bennett may emerge from the doghouse in Kansas City this week and take some handoffs from his former doghouse buddy, Jeff Garcia.  

Joe’s pulling for Bennett.

Success this week will likely prompt Chucky’s forgiveness and have the coach expand his options to dress three running backs on Sundays. The Bucs could use all the offensive firepower they can muster.

Carmella's father-in-law says the Bucs can't find a hole

Regular JoeBucsFan.com readers know how much Joe loves Bob Garcia, Jeff Garcia’s candid ex-football coach dad, who is one the most entertaining Bucs analysts on the planet.

Here’s good ol’ dad with a take on last week’s game and the state of the Bucs’ running game. We apologize for the expletive.

“[The Bucs] played pretty well, but offensively, god, we haven’t been able to run the ball the last two games.

The [running game] numbers have been poor for quite a while, even against Denver. Jeff said, ‘Hey, they stayed in that Cover 2 and we tried to run the ball but we [couldn’t].’

“There’s no openings. I’m watching other teams where, shit, the guy is just running through a hole into the secondary. But our guys have a tough time getting through the line of scrimmage. Why it is, I don’t know. But [the Bucs’] coaches, they’re able to look at the film and slow it down and see who’s making the block or if they’re getting any movement up front.

The elder Garcia, who was a legendary high school and small college coach in Northern California, has a weekly blog for the Gilroy Dispatch. He speaks his mind on all things Bucs, 49ers and local sports. You can find it at GarlicSports.com

Don’t fret Bucs fans. Despite the injuries beginning to mount for the Bucs, there’s really no reason to be concerned.

The latest injury seems to be guard Arron Sears who suffered a concussion in practice earlier in the week, so reports Dave Scheiber of the St. Petersburg Times. That’s on top of running back Warrick Dunn’s pinched nerve and safety Jermaine Phillips’ broken left forearm.

Why isn’t Joe sweating? Because of the Bucs’ depth.

Phillps could be a key loss but Sabby Piscitelli will fill in quite nicely. Plus, Piscitelli lays the wood to receivers so Joe will be happy to see some receivers splashed.

If Dunn can’t go, Joe is more than happy to see Michael Bennett take the field. His speed would be a nice changeup to Earnest Graham’s bulldozing style of running.

And if Sears can’t go, the Bucs have Jeremy Zuttah, who may be better than Sears.

Don’t worry Bucs fans. In years past this would be a time to be nervous. Not this season.

Travis Bell of WTSP has a video report on how Bucs defensive back Sabby Piscitelli will start this week at Kansas City in place of ailing Jermaine Phillips who has a broken forearm.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune has his weekly Bucs podcast on TBO.com. Cummings has all sorts of tidbits including how the White Tiger, Joey Galloway, is getting frustrated at the offense. So is Joe.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune has his weekly podcast on TBO.com. He talks about the loss to Dallass and a look at the game with the Chiefs. Cummings noted that pretty much the entire Bucs team, both players and coaches, are in agreement that the offense may not be agressive enough.

Cummings also hinted the White Tiger is getting frustrated with the timidity of the passing game.

Additionally, Cummings hints that Warrick Dunn is banged up and has a bad back. It’s bad enough that he may not be able to answer the bell in Kansas City.

Charley Casserly and Jason Horowitz of CBSSports.com preview the Bucs-Chiefs game. As good as the Bucs can be, it’s scary that the Bucs have but one road win. Give it a look.

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Bucs running back Warrick Dunn is nursing a sore back and Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune suggests he is questionable to make the trip to Kansas City. Joe's not too concerned.

Some interesting news coming out of One Buc Palace Thursday from Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.

Seems as though Warrick Dunn missed practice and Chucky wouldn’t say whether he will make the trip to Kansas City or not.

“I am one of these coaches who believes you got to practice to play,” Gruden said. “I don’t want to discount how important I think practice is, but we think he is going to be OK. We’ll let you know tomorrow. We got a number of guys who have been idle and it reflects the way you play. It’s a tough business, especially when you don’t practice. We think he’s going to be OK, but we’ll let you know tomorrow.”

Dunn got his back dinged in the loss to Dallass and Richardson hints Dunn is questionable for Sunday’s game.

Gruden did say he expected RB Michael Bennett to play if Dunn can not go. Considering Tampa Bay is playing Kansas City, which is 1-6, and the Bucs have a bye next week, there is a strong possibility Gruden might rest Dunn for important games down the stretch.

While Dunn, who will be replaced by Michael Bennett if he can’t go, was big news, what was bigger news is that Chucky was using Cadillac Williams in practice. Chucky, unless he is playing with a poker face, all but announced Cadillac was ready to roll.

“We had a 12 play simulation of the Chiefs,” Gruden said. “We did the best we could and Carnell took about 10 or 11 straight plays. It’s exciting to see him out there, but not only see him out there, but the progress. He really looked good today. Next week during the bye week, we’ll put the pads on and try to make it a little more tough, but step two went well today.”

Joe thinks Chucky was out of his mind last weekend when he said the Bucs are thin at running back and that was one of the reasons the Bucs lost to Dallass. While Joe would love to see Cadillac back, he is more of a mind that Chucky is blowing smoke.

Former Bucs tight end and current Bucs radio network analyst Dave Moore says Arrowhead Stadium is the loudest outdoor stadium in the NFL.

Current Bucs radio network analyst and former Bucs tight end Dave Moore was interviewed on the NFL Network today and it was really interesting.

Moore talked about a lot of things concerning the Bucs. One of the most interesting was Moore suggested the Chiefs, despite being a brutal team, will not be an easy win.

Moore went on to say Arrowhead Stadium is the loudest outdoor stadium for visiting teams to play in and the fans give opposing offenses fits in communicating. Give it a look.

As JoeBucsFan.com readers have come to expect, Joe has the power rankings for Week 9, including two new sources for the weekly mix.

The first new source is Joe’s friend, the guru of TheBigLead.com, Jason McIntyre. Mr. TheBigLead has the Bucs ranked No. 11.

“Best secondary in the league? Ask Steve Smith, Roddy White and Terrell Owens.”

The second new source is Vic Carucci of NFL.com. He still thinks highly of the Bucs as he has them at No. 8.

“The Bucs had a perfect opportunity to enhance their status as an elite team, and they squandered it.”

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com seems to be of the same mind. He also has the Bucs at No. 11.

“At some point, they must throw it more vertically. Jeff Garcia is more than capable. Let him go.”

Pat Yasinskas of BSPN.com lists the Bucs at No. 9.

“Loss to Dallas shows offense still doesn’t have any consistency.”

And as always Joe saves the best for last, Paul Zimmerman, the beloved Dr. Z of SI.com. Dr. Z has the Bucs at No. 7.

“The Cowboys’ only touchdown drive, aided by four penalties, was a discouraging thing. The worst part of it was down near the goal line, when Cowboys tackle Mark Colombo messed with LB Cato June, drew an annoyed retaliation — hardly anything serious — and, naturally, had worked referee Gene Steratore for a major penalty on the defense. And then I heard an interesting piece of information from Fox’s Daryl Johnston, the color commentator. Officials this year have been instructed to cut out the double foul penalty and designate only one recipient. Leave it to the league and its officials to screw things up wherever they can. For sake of expediency or image or whatever the hell motivates these people, they tell their officials to just make a call, whether it’s fair or unfair.”

Scott Reynolds of the Pewter Report suggests that if Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia doesn't start taking shots downfield, specifically at the end zone, Chucky may bench him for Luke McCown.

Interesting little tidbit Joe heard while coming home from work.

Joe was listing to the Buccaneer Blitz heard on WDAE-AM 620 with Scott Reynolds of the Pewter Report and WDAE’s Steve Duemig. Reynolds hinted that there may be (another) quarterback change in the near future if the Bucs offense repeats this week in Kansas City that dreadful performance they turned in at Dallas last week.

Apparently talking to various players and Chucky, Reynolds claims Chucky was calling for passes to the end zone against Dallas but Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia was reluctant to throw there, instead checking down. Reynolds isn’t sure why Garcia wouldn’t try a shot at the end zone but suspected that Garcia was paranoid of throwing a pick.

This week in practice coaches have told Garcia (and also, God forbid, Son of Bob) that they really should be throwing to allow the receivers to make a play deep, not just throw to them when they are wide open short. In fact Reynolds claims allowing receivers to make a play when they have one-on-one coverage was emphasized this week to Garcia and (God forbid) Son of Bob.

Antonio Bryant’s touchdown pass in the first quarter against Seattle was an example of letting the receivers make a play.

Reynolds went on to say that if Garcia is benched again he’s done. If (God forbid) Son of Bob starts again and throws three picks like he is wont to do, he’s done.

Chucky will then turn to Luke McCown.

Reynolds seemed serious.

No cheers for the run defense in K.C.

Now cut that out. This isn’t an X-rated post. Joe is talking about the Chiefs’ run defense.

Joe isn’t ever going to analyze endless stats for you. But he appreciates when others do the work for him.

The good men over at Arrowhead Pride have all the ugly stats of the Chiefs’ worst-in-the-NFL run defense, and a look back at how consistently poor it’s been in recent years.

Take a look. In 2008, Chiefs are last in the NFL stopping opponents who run over right tackle.

This is great news for Jon Gruden and his mysterious running back shortage.

The man known as “The Backwards Hat,” Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger, has his weekly video report on the Bucs. In this segment, Backwards Hat talks about, among other things, kickoff return specialist Clifton Smith’s “zoom.”