Finally making up for Sapp's absence

Jovan Haye comes from nowhere to revive the under tackle position.

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER, Times Staff Writer
Published October 27, 2007

Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT Jovan Haye at One Buc Place.
	[Brendan Fitterer | Times]

TAMPA - The man charged with playing perhaps the most critical position on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense was toiling on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad just more than a year ago.

The man who must follow in the footsteps of one of the franchise's greatest defenders - Warren Sapp - only recently started playing a position he now must master.

So, how exactly is Jovan Haye making it all look so easy? Who knows?

All that matters to the Bucs is that their experiment has worked out wonderfully, taking a former defensive end and moving him into the crowded confines of the interior defensive line, then watching him thrive.

Haye has taken ownership of the Bucs' so-called under tackle position. It was a job made famous by Sapp, who did things there that defensive linemen are supposed to be incapable of doing. Ever since Sapp's departure, though, under tackle has been a position that has produced more disappointment than pass rush.

Suddenly, Haye has barged onto the scene with a team-high four sacks in seven games, and he leads the Bucs' defensive linemen with 32 tackles. When he doesn't get to the quarterback, it seems he is in the backfield more than any of the Bucs' other linemen, providing a bright spot for a team with a lackluster pass rush.

And he is doing it at a position that is fundamental to the success of the Bucs' Tampa 2 defensive scheme.

"He has to be a dynamic player at that position," said Chris Hovan, Haye's neighbor at nose tackle. "The pressure is on him. You have to be the Michael Jordan of our defense. He's the playmaker. But the good thing is, when Jovan is on his game, he's hot."

The 25-year-old Haye was stashed on Cleveland's practice squad until the Bucs traded another under tackle - perpetual underachiever Anthony McFarland - to the Colts. That's when the Bucs signed Haye to their active roster to add depth to a position made thinner by the trade.

There was just one problem: Haye was a defensive end who had never played inside.

"Never," Haye said. "Not one snap."

But he was open to the idea because, well, consider the alternative.

"I said, 'Let me try it,' because it took me off Cleveland's practice squad," Haye said. "I was like, 'Wow. I can't complain.'"

Playing mostly a relief role, Haye quickly made the transition, playing behind Ellis Wyms. This season, Haye emerged from a stable of contenders in the preseason that included Wyms who was later released and Kevin Carter, who coaches have decided is better suited to play defensive end.

So far, Haye has done the best job of any player at the under tackle position since Sapp's departure after the 2003 season. McFarland, whose best season as a pass rusher resulted in 6.5 sacks in 2000, began to fizzle when he moved from nose tackle to under tackle to replace Sapp. While playing under tackle, McFarland never tallied more than three sacks.

Just like the NBA is yet to find the next Jordan, the Bucs have yet to find anyone like Sapp.

"I know what Warren Sapp has done for this organization," Haye said. "I definitely don't sit around and try to compare myself to him or want to be Warren Sapp. I mean, what he did was great. He's a future Hall of Famer. I'm just trying to work on what I can bring to the table."

It's unlikely Haye will ever have an unfathomable 16.5 sacks like Sapp did in 2000, but he is off to a surprising start nonetheless. He certainly looks nothing like a guy who was an edge rusher just a year ago.

"At defensive end, you just beat the guy around the corner, and that's it," Haye said. "At defensive end, it's almost like one-on-one unless you have a tight end (on your side). You rarely see an (under tackle) just get off the ball and just go past the guard."

Then, there's also the occasional double-team to deal with, though Hovan absorbs most of them - approximately 75 percent of the time, by his estimate.

But when Haye is doubled, "those double teams come hard," he said. "It used to be I had a 300-pound guy on me. Now, it's 600 pounds plus."

Making the dramatic switch is a disadvantage in some respects, but in other ways, it has given Haye an edge - his speed and quickness are nice assets, for example.

Maybe Haye isn't Sapp, but he has been good enough.

"There was a time here when Warren Sapp was the most dominant, well-paid (under tackle) in football," coach Jon Gruden said. "But (Haye) is a guy who has the typical traits you look for. He's quick, active, and he's a good guy to have against the run. He can stunt and he can move, and those are the traits you have to have in this defense."

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

[Last modified October 26, 2007, 22:47:22]