For now, it's nothing like the past rush

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published October 21, 2007

TAMPA - For 60 minutes each game, quarterbacks who played the Bucs used to hate getting caught in rush hour.

The collisions were inevitable, whether it was Warren Sapp or Anthony "Booger" McFarland pushing the pocket, or Simeon Rice coming off the edge and stripping the football with his strong right arm.

But those players are gone, and so is Rod Marinelli, now the Lions head coach who spent 10 seasons in Tampa Bay coaching the defensive line.

Now players such as Jovan Haye, Arena Football League refugee Greg White and fourth overall pick Gaines Adams are in a rush to make names for themselves.

But instead of crowded intersections, quarterbacks are enjoying more relaxing Sunday drives.

The Bucs are tied for 17th in the NFL with 11 sacks - eight of them coming from the defensive line. The lack of pressure on the quarterback is one reason opposing teams are converting an alarming 47 percent of third downs.

"We've got to get a better pass rush," coach Jon Gruden said. "And we have to play better as a football team. But we are playing a lot of new guys, and we are competing every week. I'm proud of them for that, I really am."

But former Tampa Bay defensive end Dewayne White, reunited with Marinelli in Detroit, said the Bucs' pass rush will never be what it was.

"It (was) one of a kind," White said. "And I don't think they expect it to be the same. You can't put that expectation on anybody."

What happened to the pass rush? Some possible answers:

Marinelli moves north

For 10 seasons, Marinelli was the best kept secret outside the NFL. Nobody drove players harder, and they loved him for it. The reason? He squeezed the most out of their abilities and put tons of money in their bank accounts.

Marinelli knew how to handle diverse personalities such as Sapp, Rice and McFarland. They each had unique styles, but Marinelli got them to play together.

Gruden used Marinelli to deliver motivational speeches to the team Saturday nights, and frequently there wasn't a dry eye in the house. He tapped into their pride, challenged their manhood and willed them to win. When he left to become the Lions head coach in 2006, his replacement, mild-mannered Jethro Franklin, never had a chance.

"When everything got a little crazy, he was like, 'Go back to the basics,'" Dewayne White said. "And everybody kind of relied on him as the foundation, as far as good play, bad play, go back to the fundamentals. That's what Rod brought to that team. He was there for 10 years, so when he left, there wasn't that guy who was like, 'Hey, when you're doing this, doing that, just go back.'"

Only two of Marinelli's players remain with the Bucs - Greg Spires and Chris Hovan. During Marinelli's tenure in Tampa Bay, the Bucs averaged 38.1 sacks per season. Last year, that number plummeted to 25.

Franklin was fired and replaced by another lifelong assistant coach - former Broncos defensive coordinator Larry Coyer. He's renting Marinelli's house in Tampa, so maybe something will rub off.

"I'm very fortunate to have been there," Marinelli said. "It was a great 10 years."

The departed

One by one, the Bucs' best pass rushers were shown the door.

It started with Sapp, who wasn't offered a contract in 2004. By that time, the Bucs had committed to moving McFarland to undertackle, and Sapp's production had begun to decline.

But last season, at 34, Sapp had 10 sacks.

McFarland never really lived up to expectations, in part because of injuries. He was traded to the Colts in October 2006 and helped lead them to a Super Bowl victory, but he is on injured reserve this year with a torn patellar tendon. White signed with the Lions as a free agent.

Finally, Rice refused to accept a $2.5-million reduction of his nearly $7.5-million salary and was released after failing a physical. He signed with the Broncos and has just three tackles in four games. In fact, he was inactive in the past game against the Chargers.

"We had a couple years running when God help anybody that had to play against Warren Sapp," Gruden said. "Who are we kidding? If you ask me, and I've studied a lot of guys, I've never seen a guy like him rush a passer inside. And when Simeon was healthy and was flying around, that was a scary deal. You're talking about more than 100 career sacks, and Sapp had almost that many from an inside position."

Small gains for Adams

Let the record show Adams' first NFL sack came last week against Vince Young. Of course, the Titans quarterback collided with running back LenDale White and was touched down by Adams.

Hey, it counts.

But Adams hasn't lived up to his billing as the first defensive player taken in the 2007 draft (No. 4 overall). He needs to improve his technique rushing the passer and still struggles against the run, his coaches acknowledge.

"I don't know how quick he will get there. But I'm kind of excited because I see him getting better," defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "I didn't see that early. I didn't quite see it."

Marinelli, who spent time with Adams before the draft, says only quarterbacks face more scrutiny when taken high in the draft.

"It's hard. In my opinion, it has always been a quarterback and a defensive end (under the spotlight)," Marinelli said. "Sometimes, a guy who's got to go in and rush, everything you've done in college doesn't work. You've been beating people with athleticism or just raw speed. Now, that speed is negated because guys' ability to set, slide, the different protections. All those things are different. It's about technique. And Gaines is as good an athletic rusher as I've ever seen."

Gruden insists that Adams is progressing nicely. And he reminds that there are 10 games remaining.

"I think he's on schedule if you're being realistic," Gruden said. "If you thought he was going to come in here and dominate as a rookie, only a couple guys have done it. And the season is not over yet. He got his first career sack last week. He's getting some pressure. What can I say? There's (10) games left to make a mark."

It could be worse. Adams missed practice Thursday because of a chest strain. He insists he will play today. Eventually, he expects to dominate.

"It is a marathon," Adams said. "Like I said, I'm just going to try and take a step each day."

[Last modified October 20, 2007, 18:20:02]