BUCS NOTES

Steussie Steps In When Davis Takes A Hit

Published: Oct 3, 2005

TAMPA - Since his return to the team during training camp, backup LT Todd Steussie has been an injury away from returning to the starting lineup. That injury occurred to Anthony Davis on the last play of the second quarter.

Steussie, who was cut by the Bucs before the start training camp and later was brought back, stepped in and played the entire second half. QB Brian Griese was sacked three times in the first half, but none in the second half.

"I just tried to stay calm and do my job and try not to have any let-off," Steussie said. "I'm just happy that we won."

Davis suffered a left shoulder sprain after Detroit CB R.W. McQuarters intercepted a Griese pass intended for FB Mike Alstott. Davis stayed on the ground for several minutes before he was helped up. He walked off the field on his own.

"I got blasted," Davis said. "I don't know who hit me, but it was a good hit. It was a great hit. It's something I would do to somebody."

Davis wasn't the only starter to go down. RB Cadillac Williams' left hamstring tightened up on him in the third quarter. WR Joey Galloway also missed playing time in the second half. He was carted into locker room with leg cramps at the end of the third quarter after catching a 6-yard pass for a first down.

Mark Jones took some snaps at receiver in Galloway's absence. Galloway returned later in the game. WR Michael Clayton missed some playing time with a shoulder bruise.

WALKER TO THE RESCUE, AGAIN: For the second-consecutive week, RT Kenyatta Walker made a touchdown-saving tackle. Last week against Green Bay, Walker chased down Packers CB Ahmad Carroll after an interception.

Against Detroit on Sunday, Walker caught Lions FS Terrence Holt at the Tampa Bay 23-yard line after he picked off a Griese pass intended for TE Alex Smith. The Lions settled for a field goal.

"You don't always get great highlights like that as offensive linemen," Steussie said, "so to do something like that, contribute in a way that somebody can see and do something that most people don't expect is big. It doesn't always look pretty having a big guy run, but obviously he caught him."

After the game, TE Dave Moore chanted "play of the game" as he dressed at the locker next to Walker's.

"After that play, I realized I need to start running gassers after practice," Walker said. "I was gone after that play, but I knew I had to make the play and I gave my best effort."

NOT SO SPECIAL: Detroit return specialist Eddie Drummond didn't provide much help in terms of field position. Entering the game ranked fifth in the NFC with a 23.5 kickoff-return average, Drummond was limited to 26 yards on two kickoffs. He averaged only 5.7 yards on three punts.

"Our coverage team took him out of the game," LB Derrick Brooks said. "That was so big for us defensively. They had to drive, very much, the length of the field to score against us every time they got the ball and teams normally don't do that."

BUCS BITS: Griese's 302 passing yards marked the 16th time in his career he has thrown for more than 300 yards. ... CB Ronde Barber recorded the 19th sack of his career. One more and he'll become the first cornerback in the history of the NFL to record 20 sacks and at least 20 interceptions. ... DE Simeon Rice moved past former NFL LB Pat Swilling into 15th place on the all-time sack list with his third-quarter take down, bringing his career total to 108. ... MLB Shelton Quarles sprained his left wrist in the first quarter, but remained in the game. He led the team with a game-high 10 tackles.

SS Jermaine Phillips sprained his right thumb in the second quarter, but remained in the game. ... A No. 55 Derrick Brooks jersey was spotted running around the field at halftime. It was the eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker's son, Derrick Jr., who plays for the Winston Park Warriors. The Pop Warner football team participated in a halftime show along with the Carrollwood Hurricanes. ... Moore moved past former Bucs S John Lynch into second place with 165 career games.

Katherine Smith