Steadfast Brooks ignores his critics

"Other than (two plays Sunday), I think I played pretty good."

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published September 13, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Bill Serne | Times (2006)] Derrick Brooks says the Bucs' tackling Sunday could have been better but it will improve as the season progresses.

TAMPA - If you want to make Derrick Brooks raise an eyebrow about 3 inches, tell him how some believe his play has fallen.

If you want to put the leader of the Bucs defense on the defensive, suggest he got run over twice Sunday by Seattle running back Shaun Alexander.

Try to suggest at 34 he has lost a step, and he won't give an inch.

"I don't think I have (lost a step)," Brooks said. "But ... that's my opinion. I respect everyone else's opinion as a human being, but to me, it's all subjective. That's why I really don't get into the argument or buy into it when someone says somebody else lost a step."

As he dressed for practice at his locker Wednesday, his performance in the season-opening 20-6 loss was unbuttoned. Yes, he missed an open-field tackle on Alexander, who rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries for the Seahawks.

No, he didn't miss two tackles of Alexander. On the second, he knocked him out of bounds and was credited with one of his eight stops.

The lowlight was when Brooks lost the football trying to cover running back Maurice Morris. The 10-time Pro Bowl linebacker drifted to the inside, creating separation and an easy 34-yard touchdown that made it 20-6 with 7:55 left in the game.

By Brooks' memory, it's the only time he has been beaten deep

"I think I did pretty good, outside of losing the ball on the touchdown and missing the tackle in the open field," he said, pulling a shirt over his head. "Other than that, I think I played pretty good.

"For every bad thing that people say, I can turn around and give them two or three good (plays) that I had. But that's not going to get us anywhere. That's not going to get us a win."

Brooks has heard this all before. Even though he has another season on his contract, he has been made to feel like it's fourth and 12 in his career. Instead of being recognized as one of the best at his position, Brooks has to prove he is the best linebacker on his team.

But there are just as many who don't understand why anyone would pull on Superman's cape.

"He made some good plays, too," coach Jon Gruden said. "When you get opened up sometimes, you're going to be vulnerable to a great player in space. Derrick Brooks is the least of my concerns."

Overall, the defense hung with the Seahawks. Both big pass plays - the Morris touchdown and a 49-yarder to Bobby Engram - came with Brooks and middle linebacker Barrett Ruud in coverage, respectively.

"You recognize they're going to make plays. They get paid, too," Brooks said. "But you do your best to eliminate them."

Brooks admits the Bucs tackling could have been better, but it's not unusual.

"We don't play a lot in the preseason and rightfully so because of the injury factor," Brooks said. "Most defenses start out tackling slow because their starters don't get a lot of (playing time). Probably around Week 3, you're tackling better. That's when teams start to pick it up."

In the end, Brooks might be a victim of his career numbers. It's hard to know if you're slowing down when there's nobody running with you.

"There's no bigger critic of me than myself," Brooks said. "And all you can do is go out there and show it. You're not going to talk a play. You have to go out there and make a play. That's my attitude.

"No matter what I've done, I always feel like I could've done something better. If a team gets a yard, I'm going to think I could've done something to stop it."

[Last modified September 12, 2007, 23:41:25]