Has Earnest Graham Seen His Better Days?
August 28th, 2010
Joe’s starting to wonder about Earnest Graham, and he hopes it isn’t just preseason follies that are playing games with Joe’s mind.
Joe has gone on record several times about how he thinks the Bucs’ running backs are mediocre, and Earnest Graham is one reason why Joe thinks this.
Now before any Bucs fans start frothing at the mouth and banging on a keyboard, Joe loves the guy. He’s one of Joe’s favorites. But Joe really is starting to wonder if Graham has seen his better days. After all, he is 30, which is senior citizen age for a running back.
Last year, Joe was at the Tennessee preseason game and saw holes open up on the left side for Graham to run through but he never took advantage of those holes. Now whether he lost a step and didn’t hit the holes quick enough or didn’t read the blocking, Joe’s not sure.
This cropped back up tonight. On the play before his touchdown reception from Josh Johnson, Graham ran the ball to the left sideline. For football freaks and former players, the 1-hole was open, or a hole between left guard and center. Graham tried to run through the 3-hole, or between the tackle and guard. There was nothing there but a scrum.
Now Joe isn’t sure if the Bucs encourage their running backs to run to daylight, or if they are instructed to remain disciplined and run to and hopefully through a specific hole. Again, Joe is not sure.
But it’s starting to make Joe pause and wonder if Graham is able to read blocking, has lost too much of a step, or if these instances are just preseason mirages.
August 29th, 2010 at 12:02 am
wheres the pool joe lol
August 29th, 2010 at 12:05 am
A whole article about everyone’s favorite EG all because he missed one hole (that’s what she said)?
The Bucs played marvelous tonight on defense. They won the first half. As we all know in preseason, the first half is the only half that counts.
August 29th, 2010 at 12:06 am
I also thought Rudy Carpenter looked stout as well. 🙂
August 29th, 2010 at 12:10 am
Only one more of these silly games to go.
August 29th, 2010 at 12:49 am
Relax Joe, I’m sure it’s just a pre season mirage.
August 29th, 2010 at 12:59 am
Come on Joe, not everyone is Adrian Peterson out there. And it was one play!
The way I see it, Raheem and Olsen need to do what’s best for the team and make Graham a running back again, where he belongs, and where his talents can be utilized!! Our running attack would be much more effective, like it was in 07 and 08 when he was in action.
And him being 30 is no assertion that should be used for the argument to saying his better days are over. That’s ridiculous. Look at Thomas Jones! He’s 31, and just came off a freaking 1,400 yard season! Pretty spectacular. Graham still has good football left in him, plus he hasn’t been banged up that much or have that much mileage on him like the other backs in the league do. Until 2007, he got no carries at all. His only seasons running were in 07 and 08, and they weren’t even full 16 game seasons. Graham is 30, but he’s probably got the body of a 28 or 27 year old.
August 29th, 2010 at 3:27 am
There’s value in the old man (Earnest, I mean), whether it’s on the field or in the locker room, we’ll see. Man, what a handle – “GatorBuc.” Wish I had grabbed it first!
August 29th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
I was thinking the same thing about Graham, the way he keeps accepting demotions instead of calling for the ball, maybe he just wants to keep cashing paychecks and not putting his head on the chopping block. I loved when he was Mr August and everyone has heard how he was living out of his car after college. I don’t blame him for wanting to extend his high paying career for as long as possible. Maybe, he’s the opposite of Styles G and he’s a great practice player but come game time, he’s sacrificing his playing time for the good of the younger backs. Maybe he can squeeze a few more years out of this gig.