Wow! Doesn't he look like ...

Sabby Piscitelli doesn't believe anyone should be compared to ex-Buc John Lynch, much less him.

By RICK STROUD
Published August 5, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Brendan Fitterer] Rookie Sabby Piscitelli has several safeties ahead of him on the Bucs depth chart.

LAKE BUENA VISTA - He knows what you're thinking.

The same square jaw. The similar Pac-10 background. The exact position in precisely the same defense.

"I think people see me and see a big, white safety and right away compare me to him," Sabby Piscitelli said.

"It's one of those things that jumps right out at them."

At 6 feet 3, 224 pounds, Piscitelli is an inch taller. With 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash, he also might be a half-step faster.

But Piscitelli won't be able to run away from comparisons to John Lynch.

If this was the end of Piscitelli's NFL career, and not his first week on the job, he would be thrilled to match resumes.

But it can be hard to grow in such a big shadow. Lynch, a 15-year veteran, has been selected to eight Pro Bowls, including three straight with the Broncos.

Meanwhile, Piscitelli has played only six years of football. Because his parents feared injury, he didn't take up the sport until his junior year at Boca Raton High.

"I just think it's not fair to compare anyone to him," Piscitelli said of Lynch, a fan favorite for his first 11 seasons in the NFL with the Bucs. "He's probably one of the best safeties to ever play the game. He is going to be a Hall of Famer. You can't compare anybody to him. It's just like setting them up for failure."

But nobody expects Piscitelli, 23, to fail. Quite the contrary. The kid who grew up idolizing Lynch now studies video of his greatest plays.

Before arriving in Tampa Bay, Piscitelli already had established his own reputation as a playmaker. He finished his career at Oregon State with 15 interceptions, second most in Beavers history.

Piscitelli already has demonstrated a knack for being around the ball with two interceptions during a practice last week.

"It's the fact that he's just so athletic," defensive backs coach Raheem Morris said. "You can't hide that. He's really freakish athletically, and he'll go out and make a play and make it look really easy.

"You saw it a couple of days ago when he made a couple of interceptions. If he could pick it up in the classroom and take it and run with it, you never know. The sky's the limit for the kid. I'd like to see him do it."

After only a week in training camp, Piscitelli has a ladder to climb.

The Bucs' second-round pick has several safeties ahead of him. Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen, who struggled at times last season, appear to have returned to their 2005 form under the direction of Morris.

Veterans Kalvin Pearson and Donte Nicholson have an edge in experience. But Piscitelli and fellow rookie safety Tanard Jackson are gaining fast.

"They've got to go out there and play the game, put on the underwear, put the pads on and go around and actually hit people," Morris said. "When you see them do that, it'll tell the story.

"You'll never stop the comparisons. Sabby can't feel pressure. He has to go out and apply it. If he can't do that, he'll never be successful. But if he goes out and tries to be the best Sabby he can be, he'll be pretty ... good and, hopefully, great."

Piscitelli was given the day off Saturday. Tired legs that had begun to stiffen needed some rest. It also was an opportunity to clear his head. He'll be back today, running and hitting and making plays on the football.

"I was trying to learn everything at once," Piscitelli said. "I think that was a mistake. It's better to take it one step at a time and just let it flow.

"Hopefully, I have the ability and will have the opportunity to make some plays and make my own name."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud @sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 5, 2007, 01:02:27]