Bucs not content to hold the line

Coaches try moves in search of the most effective combination to shore up the offensive line.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 1, 2002

LAKE BUENA VISTA -- The Bucs have changed positions on Kenyatta Walker.

Considered a franchise left tackle when Tampa Bay drafted him 14th overall last year, Walker could return to right tackle where he played at the University of Florida.

On Wednesday, Walker and free-agent signee Roman Oben switched spots during 11-on-11 drills.

Oben, who has been battling returning starter Jerry Wunsch at right tackle, has played the left side for most of his six seasons.

If Oben, 29, is judged by coaches among the Bucs' five best offensive lineman, it stands to reason he and Walker, 23, could switch sides and play their natural tackle positions.

"It was (significant)," Oben said. "Being a lineman, you have to have the mentality that you just want to go out, you want to work and you want to get better. So they put me over there and they liked the combination with me and Kenyatta on the right. That's great. That's where he played his whole college career. It worked well."

The odd man out might be Wunsch, the sixth-year pro from Wisconsin. Wunsch, 28, lost 30 pounds in the offseason to get below the team-mandated reporting weight of 310 pounds.

"We're looking for the right combination," coach Jon Gruden said. "It might not be the best combination, but we're looking for the right combination. Roman Oben has shown some versatility. We think Kenyatta Walker has a lot of versatility. We're going to try to find the range and the aptitude of every player on this team and do what we feel is right."

As a rookie, Walker struggled with the transition from right to left tackle.

In fact, he was a big reason the Bucs finished 30th in the NFL in rushing and allowed 47 sacks. His worst game -- and the offensive line's -- came in a 17-10 loss to Pittsburgh in which the Steelers sacked Brad Johnson 10 times.

"I definitely will not repeat last year," Walker said. "I think about that every day. I'm trying to stop ya'll from saying the offensive line is the weakest link on this team. We've got to make a point."

Walker said he has had no difficulties moving back to right tackle in practice.

"Definitely, it's a natural spot for me," he said. "Believe me, the offensive line will be totally different this year."

The Bucs have not lost confidence in Walker's ability to play left tackle, Gruden said. The addition of 18-year veteran and former Florida standout Lomas Brown, 39, should help his development.

"All I can say is he is a long-term guy here," Gruden said of Walker. "He's going to be a big part of this football team for years to come. He's a great guy, he's got great athletic ability and a great future ahead of him. He's working good right now. He's hit it off with (offensive line coach) Bill Muir, he's got his big brother now in Lomas Brown and I expect this guy to take off as a football player for us."

Under Gruden and Muir, no line job appears safe. Walker and Oben provide versatility.

"We're trying to learn about these guys, honestly," Gruden said. "We've practiced a lot in shorts, we've put them in a lot of situations. Goal line, short yardage. But you never really can tell. ... He was a right tackle at the University of Florida.

"That's not to say that's what we're going to do, but that's what we did. That's what we're doing, trying to give everybody the opportunity so we can evaluate them and get the right five guys."

So what position does Walker believe he will play this season?

"Who knows? I can't control things like that," he said. "It's going to be interesting. We're just trying to get the best five (offensive linemen) out there."