Party on defense fun for Phillips

The Bucs safety has gone back to hitting hard and enjoying it.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Published September 26, 2007

Jermaine Phillips forces a fumble in the second quarter as he tackles Isaac Bruce during the Bucs' victory on Sunday. A hit by Phillips sent Bruce to the sideline.
	[BRENDAN FITTERER | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Getty Images] Bucs safety Jermaine Phillips dances during a time out in Sunday's game.

TAMPA - There are a multitude of reasons for the sudden resurgence of the Buccaneers defense.

New acquisitions such as Cato June have performed as advertised, Derrick Brooks looks 10 years younger and an infusion of youth has added some needed energy.

But among the most overlooked reasons opponents average 12.3 points is that Jermaine Phillips' finger is back on the trigger.

The hard-hitting strong safety seemed gun-shy last season, and the result was a rash of missed tackles, assignments and interceptions. To understand the impact, consider that those breakdowns occurred at a position known as the last line of defense, which would partly explain the disconcerting number of big plays by opponents in 2006.

But now, Phillips has fired a retaliatory shot at his critics with stellar play in the first three games, his 24 tackles ranking third on the team behind linebackers Barrett Ruud and Brooks.

"Like we always say around here, if you're going to shoot your gun, gunfighters get shot sometimes," Phillips said. "I'm a gunfighter and I've been shot a couple times. But I think I've shot more people than have shot me. It's fun. You have to keep coming back."

Suddenly, Phillips is getting back to enjoying football. You can see it in the way he celebrated playfully after his leaping interception of Marc Bulger against the Rams on Sunday. And it's evident each time he levels another defenseless receiver see Isaac Bruce, whom Phillips sent to the sideline after a brutal hit Sunday.

Long regarded as one of the team's most punishing hitters, his play last season gave some reason to wonder whether that was all he could do. And often, in his haste to make the highlight hit, he failed to wrap up ballcarriers. The situation devolved to the point Phillips was thinking rather than reacting.

And in a defense built on speed and rapid response, the problems were hard to mask.

"Last year, I was stressing and it showed up in my play," Phillips, 28, said.

He credits his defensive backs coach with helping him get his head straight.

"I have a coach here in Raheem Morris who is going to make sure I stay on track," Phillips said of the former assistant defensive backs coach, who returned to the organization after a year in the college ranks. "If he sees me slipping in any way, he's going to get on me and make sure I correct it. And I'm going to go out and work on that. That's the type of player I am. But I think I missed that last year. ... I just said, 'Man, what am I doing wrong?' He went back to the lab and told me what I was doing wrong and it's been working for me."

It also didn't hurt that Phillips could draw motivation from the Bucs' decision to draft two safeties in the first four rounds in April. If he couldn't do the job, it appeared they'd get someone who could.

But he is getting it done. In fact, he is among the defenders setting the tone.

"He has done a great job through the first three weeks," coach Jon Gruden said. "He's made some big hits. We are getting a lot out of Jermaine as a playmaker. He has been a leader."

And, as cornerback Ronde Barber said, he is even becoming the envy of others in the secondary.

"I was joking with (Brian Kelly), Barber recalled, "(saying) whoever thought we'd see the day when (Phillips) would be on the board with a pick before me?"

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3377.

[Last modified September 25, 2007, 23:47:04]