Bucs tackle says he's a changed person and plans to anchor a rebuilt line.
By RICK STROUD
Published August 23, 2003
TAMPA - It was nearly a year ago when tackle Kenyatta Walker played so poorly against the Houston Texans in the final preseason game that he lost his starting job. Then he lost his uniform, unable to dress as an inactive player on opening day. Then he seemed to lose interest, chatting on his cell phone in the waning seconds of the Bucs' 26-20 overtime loss in that opener.
"He certainly didn't start the season well," coach Jon Gruden said. "Our relationship might have been pretty well-documented there with him on the sideline on the cell phone. But you know, the bottom line was he didn't play good. He didn't play good against Houston, he didn't play well enough to be a starter. Jiminy Christmas, we're not playing head games with anybody."
Walker could've folded like a tortilla under the pressure. In two years he had gone from first-round draft pick to the first one everyone picked on for wasted potential. The doghouse Gruden put him in was the biggest this side of Derby Lane.
But the former Florida Gators star went to work, starting 13 games and three in the postseason to help the Bucs to a Super Bowl championship. And since his altercation with bouncers at an Ybor City nightclub in May, on the first anniversary of his joining the Bucs, Walker has tried to play it as straight as John Lynch.
"I won't be a distraction this year," Walker said. "I can't be a distraction this year. No more awkward comments from me. You'll see, I'm going to be a different Kenyatta Walker this year."
Tonight against the Jaguars, Bucs fans may get a glimpse of a different offensive line.
Jason Whittle, a free-agent guard from the Giants who broke his fibula in minicamp, will see his first action in a Bucs uniform. When he is completely rehabilitated from the injury, Whittle likely will start at right guard in place of Cosey Coleman, who is having an outstanding camp and could be moved to the other guard position.
"To be honest with you, I think he's a lot more determined this season," offensive line coach Bill Muir said of Coleman. "The competitiveness of the situation we developed in the offensive line during the offseason and early part of training camp has affected him very positively. He's responded well to it.
"There is no question the figurative red light was put on Cosey when we brought Jason Whittle in and said, "Hey, what you did last year wasn't good enough and now we're looking for better.' We're not closing the door. It is legitimate and open competition, and he's responded quite favorably to that. Now, does that mean you guys ought to get the bus ready to take him to Canton? Don't do that. He's a work in progress, but it's a better work this year."
Muir worked magic with Tampa Bay's offensive line last season, which produced one 100-yard rusher in a game. This season the Bucs expect to be better with Walker, Whittle, Jags free-agent center John Wade, Kerry Jenkins and Roman Oben.
"Getting Roman Oben back was an issue of maintaining our continuity," Gruden said. "Here's a professional football player. Whittle gives us another size guy (to) compete for playing time and be a starter.
"John Wade is a guy who's been a starter and gives us what we think is a size guy (who) has some range that can really play the game. We're hoping the Soul Patrol (Coleman and Walker) on the right side gets better."
The expectations still weigh on Walker, but he feels lucky to have Muir on his side.
"He will stay on your a--," Walker said. "He's like a fly in your face. But that's fine. I need it. I've had my share of shining moments, but I've had my screw-ups, too."
Walker says he has learned from them. Before missing Monday's game at St. Louis with an ankle sprain, he had been one of the Bucs' most consistent offensive lineman.
General manager Rich McKay said the Bucs put Walker in a bad situation by forcing him to start at left tackle as a rookie on a team challenging for a Super Bowl.
"Here's a guy that by our system is anointed a starter," McKay said. "And he's anointed a great starter because he's a No. 1 pick. And all of a sudden, you've taken a giant step back from a public perception standpoint and that's a hard thing to deal with.
"The thing I liked from Kenyatta is he got angry and maybe he didn't handle it the best way in the first 24 to 48 hours. But then he kind of did. He grew from it, and he played."
But as always, Gruden believes Walker, and the offensive line for that matter, can play better.
"Is there still room to grow? I think there is, and sometimes we just keep reminding him of that, you know?" Gruden said. "He's a guy who has great range, he's got size and speed and all that. He's a young guy, and we want to see him jump 7-foot-3. I don't want to see him jump 5-foot-5. I want that bar to be raised.
"I want to see if he can come out here every day and find a way to get over it. We still think we have more to do, but he is maturing into a better man and a better football player."
