Players on the hot seat

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published September 7, 2007

How it got hot: Doesn't it seem like a lifetime ago when the quarterback led the 49ers to the playoffs instead of five years and four teams ago? Given the way Garcia played in Philadelphia last season, you might wonder how he's on the hot seat. That's easy: The Bucs are asking him to be a savior. In short, they hope Garcia can change their offensive fortunes. If he can't, well, at 37, this could be his last chance at a starting job. His play last season certainly didn't reflect his age, but make no mistake. Father Time is not on Garcia's side.

How to cool off: One word - win. Garcia is tailor-made for Jon Gruden's version of the West Coast offense. And if he can run it effectively, he'll be lauded. Garcia said he was reborn last season in Philadelphia, when he went 6-2, including two playoff games, after replacing the injured Donovan McNabb. But there, he had lower expectations and a better supporting cast.

How it got hot: This isn't blasphemy; just cold reality. Brooks remains one of the game's best linebackers, but can he live up to his standards and those he has created? He has, understandably, lost a step at 34, and his ability to play through injuries could diminish with age, too. Brooks has never missed a game, but he has played while injured. If the injuries begin to pile up, it's doubtful he will be able to play at a high level. Even when healthy, there have been instances when Brooks failed to make plays he used to make look routine.

How to cool off: Look, Brooks has spoiled us. So frankly, the expectation is he'll continue to do so. Everyone, Brooks included, will be looking for him to make the spectacular plays on a more regular basis. That's how great players often are judged. It's not solely about numbers, though Brooks still puts up plenty of those. He finished 2006 with 150 tackles and three interceptions. And he played well in the preseason. If Brooks has a strong showing this season, he will continue to make it difficult for the franchise to replace him. Remember, the heir apparent might already be on the roster. Does Cato June sound familiar?

How it got hot: The running back has followed a path similar to Michael Clayton. Williams set the bar high in 2005, winning Rookie of the Year honors and setting an NFL record with 434 rushing yards in his first three games. Then he became human. Williams has experienced a precipitous drop-off, averaging 61.7 yards in the 25 games since. Another parallel between him and Clayton: Williams has battled injuries. His most recent, to his foot, sidelined him for the final two games of 2006. But it hasn't been solely his fault. The play of the quarterback and offensive line often has been subpar.

How to cool off: Williams could start by regaining his swagger. He is a punishing runner who gets better as games wear on. And when he is delivering blows, he tends to play better. That means hitting the hole rather than picking and choosing his spots. It's not all the offensive line and quarterbacks' fault. Frankly, the line wasn't particularly good in 2005, when Williams was at his best. He also would help himself by becoming a receiving threat. His touches are limited by the coaches not deeming him a reliable receiver. Thus, many of the snaps on passing downs go to Michael Pittman, who is a far morecapable receiver. Finally,Williams has to stay healthythrough a whole season,which hehas yet to do.

How it got hot: Clayton burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2004 with 80 receptions for 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns. In the two injury-plagued seasons since, Clayton has a combined 65 receptions, 728 yards, one touchdown and a rash of dropped passes. Adding insult, he has lost his starting job and been contributing extensively - of all places - on special teams during the preseason. The No. 15 overall pick is already being referred to as a first-round bust, and it's difficult to defend him.

How to cool off: Clayton says he finally is completely healthy. If he can manage to regain some consistency in catching the ball with new starting quarterback Jeff Garcia, he might regain the confidence of his coaches. That would be a nice start toward rejuvenating his floundering career. Also, Clayton has to continue to stay out of the training room as he is gaining a reputation for being injury-prone. He must find a way to harness his physicality (6 feet 4, 215 pounds) and blocking ability by being smarter.

Greg Spires, Defensive lineman

How it got hot: The lack of heat (pun intended) on opposing quarterbacks reflected poorly on the entire line. The Bucs tied for 30th in the league in sacks last season. So why is Spires, perhaps, under more heat than other linemen? For one, at 33, he is getting to the point age in which he won't be able to play as much. Two, Spires is scheduled to earn $4.5-million in base salary this fall, up from $1.5-million last season. He had a solid year in 2004 with eight sacks. But in the two seasons since, Spires has a combined nine sacks. His production cannot continue to slip, or there is little chance he will be around for the two seasons remaining on his deal.

How to cool off: The Bucs can afford to have Spires play fewer snaps. But the key will be making his plays count. He has to generate morepressure on the quarterback. Hisrun-stopping ability hasn'teroded as much, but hedoesn't spend nearly as muchtime in opponents' backfields.Another nitpick: His play hasbeen uneven fromgame to game. Lastseason, for example,Spires recordedfour of his five sacks inthe final three games.The Bucs need a wire-to-wire performancefrom Spires, whoalong with KevinCarter and GainesAdams will bekeys to theBucs revivingtheir pass rush.

Jermaine Phillips, Strong Safety

How it got hot: It's hard to say when the strong safety started feeling the heat. Maybe it was when he whiffed on tackle after tackle last season. Maybe it was when he allowed big pass plays because he was woefully out of position. Doesn't matter. If neither issue ruffled Phillips, then he was sure taken aback by the Bucs drafting two safeties in the first four rounds. It won't be long before Tanard Jackson and Sabby Piscitelli are ready to play, and the only thing Phillips can do to hold either off is to show rapid improvement. Phillips will be called upon to make strides against the run, too, after a season in which he was partly responsible for the Bucs' frequent struggles against it.

How to cool off: The thinking among coaches is the return of defensive backs coach Raheem Morris will go a long way. One of the primary things the staff wants is Phillips to finish plays. Too often, he went for a highlight-reel hit rather than a sure tackle. There seems to be an overall renewed emphasis on tackling, and if Phillips takes the hint, it will help. Plus, Phillips should benefit from the presence of cornerback Brian Kelly. The veteran missed 14 games last season after foot surgery, leaving Juran Bolden as the starting corner on one side. Kelly remains one of the best one-on- one cover men in the game, so the guy doesn't need much help. That should free up Phillips to concentrate his efforts elsewhere.

How it got hot: The left tackle fell out of favor with the Giants and was sent packing. Now 31 and coming off a season in which he missed seven games with a broken leg, he has found a team to invest in him with hopes he can regain the form that allowed him to miss only eight games over the previous seven seasons. Then again, it's the games he hasn't played that are a cause for concern. Petitgout has a history of back injuries, for which he missed six games in 2003. Considering how much the Bucs will be relying on him, Petitgout can't afford to break down.

How to cool off: In a nutshell, be the left tackle the Bucs have been seeking for many years. The line's most critical position has been a source of concern in Tampa Bay for most of Jon Gruden's tenure. And the offense's performance has suffered, in part, because of it. The Bucs were 28th in rushing last season at 95.2 yards per game and 26th in passing at 174.9 yards per game. If Petitgout does what he was brought here to do, the Bucs should see much-needed improvement on offense and the Giants might regret their decision.

Alex Smith, Tight end

How he got here: The tight end was a pleasant surprise as a rookie in 2005 with 41 catches, second most on the team, for 367 yards and two touchdowns. It's not so much that his numbers decreased last season (35 catches and 250 yards but three touchdowns). He didn't show the growth coaches hoped for. Jon Gruden put Smith on notice last season, saying before the season opener, "I'm not into how many balls you catch. Running routes and catching balls are certainly part of it, and he can do all that stuff. But I want to see him be great. I consider him a talent, but we'll have to find out how much talent he has."

How to cool off: The plan derailed slightly with a preseason ankle injury. But after his return, coaches will look for progress as an all-around tight end. Given the struggles to run the ball, much attention will be paid to those paving the way for Cadillac Williams. That's where Smith can show the most growth, gain respect and hang on to his starting job.

How it got hot: Adams did nothing to get himself in this position. Instead, it was the organization's decision to part with end Simeon Rice, one of the NFL's premier pass-rushers, that thrust Adams into this situation. But there's one problem: Adams is a rookie. He will need time to become the consistent sack threat the Bucs believe he can be. Considering the team's lack of a pass rush last season - just 25 sacks - it seems an odd time to send Rice packing. Adams didn't ask for this, but it's going to be hot for him. Of course, it's not like being the fourth pick in the draft comes without pressure anyway.

How to cool off: In short, Adams has to grow up fast. He doesn't have time to ease into this. If he is going to be a success at all, then he should beat out Patrick Chukwurah at right end. A top-five pick has no business playing behind a journeyman who, arguably, is out of position. Adams has shown some hints of the player he can become. He is always around the ball, a result of his impressive speed. And he has a way of anticipating quarterbacks' throws, showing an ability to deflect passes. Those kinds of things will have to become routine. Unlike some rookies who are spoon-fed in their first seasons, Adams has no such luxury.

Barrett Ruud, Linebacker

How it got hot: The middle linebacker was under no pressure in his first two seasons while playing behind longtime starter Shelton Quarles. With Quarles retired, the spotlight will shine squarely on Ruud, the unproven 24-year-old who now is responsible for being the quarterback of the defense. Publicly, the organization showed support for and confidence in Ruud by making him the unquestioned starter. But then they signed Eagles castoff Jeremiah Trotter, which at the least shows some concern. Ruud is a good athlete and more than capable in pass coverage. But more than anything, he will be called upon to show toughness as the Bucs try to improve their run defense.

How to cool off: Ruud will be expected to build on the success he enjoyed last season when Quarles was sidelined. He started five games and reached double figures in tackles three times, showing his sideline-to-sideline ability. But what kept Quarles going in his latter years was not only talent, but field awareness and anticipation. With Quarles and Derrick Brooks on the field side by side, they often sniffed plays out before they developed. Ruud is still young, but coachessay he is showing growth in this area. And the moreRuud plays, the more he'll grow.

[Last modified September 5, 2007, 11:33:39]