Speed of live game shocking for Smith

TAMPA - Free safety Dwight Smith made his debut as a starter Monday night, and by all accounts held his own. Smith acknowledged, however, there were a few times he could have reacted quicker.

"Really, I have to get acclimated to the speed back there," said Smith, who had three tackles in the 17-0 win over the Eagles. "We've been doing a lot of walk-throughs (so) in the first quarter the game speed kind of shocked me as far as getting into positions I needed to get in. I was a little late early (in the game) because of the speed. But I think it's going to come the more games I get in, and the more comfortable I get back there. I'll be good."

Coach Jon Gruden said Smith's debut had its positives.

"It was his first start and we thought he did a good job back there," Gruden said. "The game is going to become easier for him. His instincts will start to really show up the longer he plays. I've been really pleased with him and I think our defensive staff feels the same way."

Second-year safety Jermaine Phillips also saw time at free safety.

"We're cross-training him a little bit to back up John (Lynch) and Dwight," Gruden said. "He's a core special-teamer for us. He's only in his second season and when it's all said and done, we expect him to be a key contributor here."

KENYATTA'S DAY: Right tackle Kenyatta Walker admits Sunday's individual matchup against Carolina left defensive end Julius Peppers is worth the money.

Walker, who began his career at left tackle and was moved to right tackle last season, seems to have found his spot on the right side.

Peppers, the second-year player out of North Carolina, was defensive rookie of the year last season. He finished with 12 sacks while missing four games because of a suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

"This is definitely an exciting matchup for me," Walker said. "I like all the guys I have to play twice a year, I get very excited about it. The first time I played Peppers, I didn't play very well. The second time I played him, it was a different Kenyatta Walker.

"So now, he's going to look at both tapes and see what he did the first game and what he did differently in the second game. It's going to be a great matchup."

INJURY REPORT: Linebacker Shelton Quarles (fractured left arm) is out. Defensive ends Ellis Wyms (ankle sprain) and Greg Spires (groin) returned to practice and are expected to play. Fullback Darian Barnes (left knee) returned to practice and could play.

SPECIAL GUESTS: On the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, area heroes from the United States military, veterans of foreign wars and firefighters attended practice and received a behind-the-scenes tour Thursday at One Buc Place.

Several players and coach Jon Gruden signed autographs and posed for pictures with members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, VFW Post 4321 and Tampa Fire and Rescue Station No. 8.

For Lynch, the visit was doubly special. Among the guests was Navy Lt. j.g. Ron Flanders, with whom Lynch played Little League and attended Torrey Pines High in suburban San Diego. They were in the same Spanish honors class.

"In Little League he was throwing 80 mph," Flanders said. "He was the quarterback of our football team. We all feared and revered John Lynch. But as we all know, he's one of the nicest guys. He's so unassuming; it's refreshing."

PARTIAL CREDIT: Jermaine Phillips isn't too keen on an NFL rule that deprived him of a blocked punt against the Eagles. Phillips got a piece of Dirk Johnson's first-quarter kick, but the ball went beyond the line of scrimmage so Phillips was not credited with a block.

"Hey, in my mind it's a block; I got my hands on it," Phillips said. "That's the rule and that's how it goes, but I think it's still a big play in the game. I just hope I get one that doesn't go back to the line of scrimmage so it will count as a block."

Johnson's punt went 7 yards to the Eagles 31. The Bucs offense cashed in on the field position to take a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.

PARKING AT A-LO: Bucs fans will have more places to park Sunday. The city will open Al Lopez Park to as many as 1,900 vehicles for home games this season. Until now, fans could only park on about 450 paved spaces in the park, which is north of Raymond James Stadium on Himes Avenue.

Drivers will be charged $15 for cars and $30 for campers.

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