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Webster works on versatility

Lost among Bucs Pro Bowl linebackers Derrick Brooks and Shelton Quarles, and newly arrived free agent Dwayne Rudd, is fourth-year pro Nate Webster.

A product of the University of Miami, Webster has played middle linebacker for the Bucs since his arrival in 2000 and has developed nicely. Problem is, he's playing behind Quarles.

Now, the Bucs have asked Webster to learn on the strongside, backing up Rudd.

"Call me Slash," Webster joked, referring to the nickname given to former Steelers quarterback/receiver/running back Kordell Stewart. "They played me in the game at (strongside) and I got a sack off of it. It's different, but it's not too different. I can handle it. I'm thinking, since I'm going to be the swing guy, that if Rudd goes down I can fit right in. If Quarles goes down, I can fit right in."

Linebacker coach Joe Barry said the Bucs have a tradition of asking their linebackers to take on different roles, and Webster's time has come.

"Remember, Nate's going into his fourth year in the system, and as you can remember, there have been guys, like Shelton, who have played every linebacker position there is at one time," Barry said. "(Former Buc) Jeff Gooch, did the same thing when he was here. So, it's not uncommon for some of our linebackers to learn more than one position. We said, "Hey, the time to do it is now in training camp. Not the seventh week of the season.' "

"If you're going to experiment, if you're going to have a guy learn another position, now is the time to do it."

In the middle position, Webster is responsible for defensive calls and plays more in traffic situations. On the strongside, the side that typically lines up over the tight end, Webster will be more responsible for containment and will be asked to cover more open space.

"If they move me out there, I would go compete for the starting job," Webster said. "Wherever. It could be Warren Sapp's position. It could be Simeon (Rice's). I'm going to kick up some dust along the way. I'm pretty good with my hands and feet, but the thing will be for me to get familiar out there playing in open spaces; that's what outside linebacker is about."

The Bucs didn't just stop at Webster, they also have given backup strongside linebacker Ryan Nece a few snaps at weakside, behind Brooks.

"There's nothing wrong with a little versatility," Barry said.

NAME: Todd Elstrom.

HT./WT.: 6-2, 200.

POSITION: Wide receiver.

COLLEGE: Washington.

BACK IN THE DAY: Had 18 touchdown receptions as a high school senior and was a Washington state finalist in the 100 meters in 1997. Caught 95 passes for 1,422 yards and nine touchdowns with the Huskies, including a team-best 47 catches as a junior. Was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Saints last season and was cut in late August.

TO MAKE THE TEAM: Elstrom faces long odds to make the roster as one of 11 receivers battling for likely five spots. More realistically, he is competing with rookie free agents J.J. McKelvey and Sam Collins for a spot should the Bucs want a receiver on their five-man practice squad. Elstrom joined the team late in the summer, attending only one minicamp because he was playing in NFL Europe.

LITTLE-KNOWN: From a tourist perspective, Elstrom got the most out of NFL Europe, starting his summer with the Scottish Claymores, then playing for the Barcelona Dragons before finishing with the Rhein Fire of Dusseldorf, Germany, where he had three catches for 50 yards. "I made the rounds," said Elstrom, whose lone travels outside football were a few days in Amsterdam. It was his first time in Europe, though he has a cousin who is a professional skateboarder who tours overseas.

QUOTE: "The beer." - Asked his favorite part of his time in Germany, outside of football.

"(Ken) Dilger wasn't going to come here. It was the Hooters 50 percent off card that worked. That's a fact." - JON GRUDEN, Bucs coach on his famous recruiting meal with tight end Ken Dilger in an Indianapolis Hooters restaurant last year.

- Compiled by Roger Mills and Greg Auman.

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