Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice typically gives fits to the league's beefier offensive tackles. Last season, the lean and speedy Rice exploded past Falcons veteran Bob Whitfield on his way to quarterback Michael Vick.
In a 20-6 victory on Oct. 6, Rice had six tackles, 1.5 sacks and knocked Vick out of the game with a third-quarter sack. In a 34-10 victory on Dec.8, Rice had three tackles and a pass defended while helping limit Vick to 15 yards rushing. And it's safe to say Doug Johnson, a classic pocket-passer subbing for the injured Vick, is not nearly as mobile.
"It's not about who's missing the same," said Rice, asked if he will miss the excitement of chasing Vick. "The game is the excitement in itself."
Whitfield - 6-foot-5, 310 pounds - is in his 12th season protecting the blind side of Falcons quarterbacks, from Bobby Hebert in the early 1990s to Jeff George, Chris Chandler, Vick and now Johnson. A Pro Bowl selection in 1998, Whitfield holds the team record of 123 consecutive starts from 1993-2000.
Coming off his second Pro Bowl season, Rice - 6-foot-5, 268 pounds - is off to a hot start in 2003. His three sacks in two games are tied for the league lead. He also has 10 tackles, including 7 solo, two forced fumbles and two passes defended.
