NFL: Even gimpy Davis scares Bucs

The defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers doesn't get much sleep as it is -- much like his boss, head coach Jon Gruden. But when the next game on the schedule for Tampa Bay (4-4) is against the Carolina Panthers, his sleepless nights become more frequent as he tries to block out the image of Stephen Davis running roughshod over his defense.

And the nightmare is a recurring one, beginning with Davis' days as a running back for the Washington Redskins. In a 20-17 overtime win at RFK Stadium on Oct. 1, 2000, Davis rushed for 141 yards on 28 carries and one touchdown.

In the Bucs' first meeting with Carolina this season on Sept. 14 at Raymond James Stadium, Davis stepped off 142 yards on 33 carries in a 12-9 overtime victory for the Panthers (6-2). Since that game Davis hasn't slowed down, rushing for 992 yards so far, which is second only to Balti more's Jamal Lewis in the entire NFL.

"He's playing great right now and he's running downhill," Kiffin said. "He's got great acceleration, great speed, and if you don't gang tackle him you're going to have a long day. He's breaking tackle after tackle after tackle."

Kiffin said he won't be able to decipher Carolina's precise game plan until the game gets underway, and he has studied film from the first game religiously trying to figure out how Davis and Carolina attacked his schemes. But he's expecting Panthers head coach John Fox to give the Bucs a heavy dose of Davis right, Davis up the middle and Davis left.

That is if the 6-foot, 230-pound bruiser is healthy enough to play.

Davis did not practice for the third day in a row Friday and is listed as questionable on Carolina's injury report with a nagging ankle injury. Fox said a decision would be made today on whether Davis or DeShaun Foster would start the game.

"He's been a great addition for us. He's big, strong, physical," Fox said. "I think he's faster than most people think. He's kind of just what the doctor ordered."

The way he is running the ball now brings up the question of why Steve Spurrier let Davis get away from the Redskins, especially looking at how both teams are doing in the standings (Washington is a dismal 3-5).

But as for feeling comfortable running the ball against the Buccaneers defense, Davis made sure not to give Warren Sapp and company any bulletin board material.

"Like I said earlier, those guys are making negative plays a lot of times," Davis said. "When you're running the ball you want to keep doing it. You don't want to run here, wait three plays later and run again. You just want to stay with your game plan."

Those are not comforting words for Kiffin to hear.

"Stephen right now, he's running the ball as hard as I've seen," Kiffin said. "He's cranked. He's really stepped it up a notch. The more carries he gets the stronger he gets, and they give him a lot of reps. All backs like a lot of reps, but if you give him the ball something good's going to happen."

For Kiffin's sake, he better hope Davis' ankle limits that number of reps.