BUCS BEAT

Darby Could Be 3rd-Down Dandy

By ROY CUMMINGS The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 10, 2007

TAMPA - Cadillac Williams may be the Bucs' feature running back, but as he prepares for his third NFL season he's still not an every-down back.

Williams currently heads to the sidelines in favor of Michael Pittman on a lot of third-down plays and the time may come soon when he's surrendering some of those critical third-down snaps to newcomer Kenneth Darby.

Though he wasn't drafted until the seventh round, Darby seems to have all the makings of a productive third-down NFL back. The Bucs think so, anyway.

Their coaches are comparing him to a young Aaron Stecker. While that's not the kind of comparison that will excite anyone, it's not a knock either. Stecker is, after all, a very valuable commodity.

He's one of those guys who lacks the ability to be a feature back, but usually finds a way to get you that first down when you need it.

Darby, who probably would have been drafted a lot higher had he not had such a miserable senior season at Alabama, is the same kind of player. He's smart, tough and versatile.

"And he's only going to get better," Bucs running backs coach Art Valero said. "I mean, he's one of those guys that does everything very well and those are the kinds of guys that can help you in a lot of ways."

Just how much Darby will help this year is hard to determine. He may have to beat out fellow running back and special teams standout Earnest Graham just to earn a roster spot.

You can be sure, though, that the Bucs will do all they can to keep Darby around, because some believe he's capable of being more than just a third-down back. A good runner and excellent pass catcher, Darby was on his way to being one of the top backs in the 2007 draft when he learned last year that his father had contracted lung cancer.

That news and the eventual loss of his father in November robbed Darby of a lot of focus and energy. The result was an 835-yard rushing season that left Darby at the bottom of a lot of draft boards.

Darby says now, though, that his focus is back. With his father resting in what he believes is a "better place," he is ready to prove that a lot of teams made a mistake by passing on him.

"The draft was frustrating," Darby said. "It was very frustrating. But as it went on, I collected myself and settled down and said that wherever I go, whoever does pick me, they're going to get a great product.

"I mean, my dream every since I was a little kid was to play in the NFL and now that I've made it here, I'm 100 percent football and ready to move ahead full steam."

TIRE CHANGE: Cadillac has been running a lot on a different kind of tire this off-season. There are times, in fact, when Cadillac has run with no tires at all.

In an effort to strengthen the muscles in his feet and improve his overall balance, the Bucs have had Williams running in tennis shoes and sometimes with no shoes at all.

The tire change comes as a result of the problems Williams has had avoiding foot injuries, which have cost him playing time in each of his first two NFL seasons.

Williams is running in specially designed football cleats during regular workouts, but he says the straight-line running he's doing with sneakers or no shoes is having the desired effect.

"It's a little different but it's helping me to get a good feel in my feet," Williams said of the footwear change. "The bottom line is I think it's helping me a lot."

SIZING UP THE BUCS: It's still too early to make any sound judgments about the Bucs' 2007 team, but one thing Coach Jon Gruden seems sure of is that this team will be bigger than any Bucs team he's had.

"We're bigger than we've ever been before," Gruden said. "I mean, [TE] Jerramy Stevens just about hits his head on the ceiling when he walks around here.

"[S] Sabby Piscitelli is a big guy, [WR] Maurice Stovall is bigger, [RT] Jeremy Trueblood is bigger, Aaron Sears is a big guy. So we're definitely bigger. And big is good if you ask me.

"Now, I don't know if we're going to be better, but we will be bigger."