First-round pick must wait for opportunity to show off talent

By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published August 11, 2007

TAMPA - First-round draft pick Gaines Adams had to wait his turn, but it wasn't long after the defensive rend ran onto the field for the first time that he made his first impact play.

He batted down a pass.

Adams, the No. 4 overall pick, watched veteran Kevin Carter play the first series and free agent Patrick Chukwurah start the second in Friday's preseason opener against the Patriots. He finally made his debut on an obvious passing down and on the next play flashed the power and quickness that made him the first defensive player drafted.

On third and 7, Adams overpowered a blocker, penetrated the backfield and got his hand up to knock down Tom Brady's pass intended for running back Kevin Faulk.

On the next series, Adams flushed Matt Cassel on third and 13 at the Bucs 38. But Cassel gained 12 yards then got 2 on a fourth-down sneak.

GOING TO PARIS: With all the talk about the close competition at receiver, the game's highlights came from an unlikely source: 2005 seventh-round pick Paris Warren.

Michael Clayton did not dress because of a hamstring tweak. David Boston started ahead of Maurice Stovall. And by the time the offense started moving late in the first half, Warren was the favorite target of backup quarterback Luke McCown.

Warren, who stands to be the odd man out when the Bucs trim their roster to 53 players, caught three consecutive passes in the final minute of the half, the first two for first downs and the last an 11-yard touchdown that gave Tampa Bay a 10-7 lead with 31 seconds left.

BROOKS' BOBBLE: Linebacker Derrick Brooks nearly intercepted Cassel in Patriots territory, but he collided with cornerback Brian Kelly and was unable to hold on.

"I broke on the play, and I thought I had it. But when I broke on it, I ended up hitting my own teammate," said Brooks, who has 24 career interceptions. "Hopefully, I'll be ready to catch the next one."

FILLING THE VOID: Mike Alstott's season-ending neck injury leaves the team looking for a starting fullback. Michael Pittman is always looking for ways to get on the field.

Problem solved.

Rather than promote free agent B.J. Askew, the Bucs started Pittman, who has proved to be a talented receiver out of the backfield and a reliable pass protector.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE: Linebacker Ryan Nece is looking to get all the reps he can at middle linebacker. He got plenty Friday, starting for injured Barrett Ruud knee and playing the entire first half with the first and second units.

Nece has started 35 games in five seasons with the team, all at outside linebacker. He switched to the middle at the start of training camp when coaches realized they were thin behind Ruud.

ON THE LINE: Anthony Davis was a busy man. He started at left tackle in place of injured Luke Petitgout (back) and moved inside to left guard when the second team took over midway through the first half. He was the only offensive player to play the entire first half.

Joanne Korth can be reached at korth@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8810.

[Last modified August 11, 2007, 01:02:20]