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Buccaneers | Gruden impressed by C. Smith

Anwar S. Richardson, of The Tampa Tribune, reports Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden relied heavily on RB Clifton X. Smith after RB Earnest Graham (knee) was slowed by a knee injury in Week 9. "He really helped us not only in the kicking game, but from scrimmage," Gruden said of Smith. "Earnest went out in the first half and missed a few possessions and gritted it out, but on those final couple of drives, you saw a lot of Clifton Smith as a runner and a receiver, picking up the blitz, knowing what to do ... You look at him and he's not a tall guy, but he's a very thick and quick, shifty, elusive back. He's a natural. He understands the game and shows great poise for a young player. That's just a credit to him."

2008-11-03 06:33:17 | Source:

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