News | Bucs

Defense reclaims its sense of pride

Players old and new have responded to a challenge from Kiffin in the offseason.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published November 25, 2007

---

ADVERTISEMENT

TAMPA - Monte Kiffin sat for hours in the dark last offseason, watching video of every snap the Bucs played on defense in 2006.

Then the lightbulb came on, and he knew exactly what he had to do.

Taking a wrecking ball to the whole mess was tempting, especially because his defense had tumbled from first in 2005 to 17th overall, dropping out of the top 10 for the first time in a decade. Personnel changes had to be made, for sure, especially to a withering defensive line that could no longer put any heat on the quarterback.

But it was more than that. The Bucs defensive coordinator felt too many of his players lost their heart and hustle. So on the first day of minicamp, Kiffin went back on the attack.

His target? Their pride.

"I was convinced that we lost a little of our intensity, our concentration," Kiffin said. "We were a little bit lax in some areas. That can happen sometimes because we've been so good. They just felt like '06 would be like '05 - we just go back out and do our job. Well, that wasn't the case."

"We came back in the minicamp, and we called everybody out. It was pretty evident. They really accepted it. Their pride was hurt. We set the standards high around here. We said if you're going to play with this defense, decide whether you want to step it back up or not or if you just want to be average again like they were last year. I think the veterans have played a big part in that. They accepted it. People didn't make excuses, and I think as a coach it starts with myself. We had to look hard at ourselves as coaches."

Entering today's game against the Washington Redskins, the Bucs defense looks like the Bucs defense again.

Tampa Bay is second in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing just 15.1 points per game, trailing only the Pittsburgh Steelers (14.5). And the Bucs are fifth overall in total defense, yielding 284.4 yards per game. Those are huge improvements over last season, when the Bucs were 17th overall in the NFL (329.4 yards per game) and 21st in scoring (22.1 points per game).

"Everybody kept thinking with this defense, we'll line up and it'll be as good as it was in '02 and '03," Kiffin said. "Well, a lot of those guys weren't here anymore, like John Lynch and Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice and Anthony McFarland, and all those guys were in their heyday when they were really humming. So it's been a long process. We've replaced a lot of people, because year after year, we kept losing guys. It took awhile to get it replaced."

And Kiffin replaced a few coaches, firing defensive backs coach Greg Burns and defensive line coach Jethro Franklin and replacing them with Raheem Morris and Larry Coyer.

Now, a look at how the new Bucs defense was built.

Defensive line The reconstruction actually began last season, the trade of Anthony McFarland to the Colts a signal that big money wasn't going to be paid to players who didn't produce big numbers. McFarland's departure provided playing time for Jovan Haye, who won the job over Ellis Wyms and others in training camp.

The Bucs then used eight of their 10 draft picks on defense, including the fourth overall choice on Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams.

That led to the controversial release of Simeon Rice, who failed a physical in training camp. For the first half of the year, Adams looked a lot like former first-round flop Eric Curry. But since an injury to Greg Spires gave him a chance to start, Adams has had 2 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble in the past two games. "Gaines' ability is starting to show through," defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said.

Meanwhile, Rice has bounced from the Broncos to Colts and just recorded his first sack of the year Thursday night.

"It does start up front, it really does," said Kiffin, whose defense hadjust 25 sacks in '06. "I've been around some good defenses, the days with the Vikings and we had Keith Mallard and Chris Doleman and Henry Thomas and Johnny Randle. I see these guys up front, and I have a pretty good feel for guys when they're going to be special."

And the Bucs got lucky with Greg White. The Arena Football League's defensive player of the year was invited to camp at the urging of Orlando Predators coach Jay Gruden, coach Jon's brother, and now leads the team with 4 1/2 sacks.

 

  

Key players lost

Anthony McFarland - Traded to the Colts for a second-round pick in '07.

Simeon Rice - Failed physical and released by the Bucs in July. Signed with the Denver Broncos before the start of the season then released Nov. 9 and claimed by the Colts.

Ellis Wyms - Released by the Bucs after six seasons Sept. 1. Signed by the Seattle Seahawks before the start of the season.

Gaines Adams - First defensive player taken in the NFL draft. Has 3 1/2 sacks this season.

The replacements

Jovan Haye - Signed by the Bucs on Oct. 25, 2006, and played in nine games with 25 tackles. This year, Haye leads all defensive linemen with 47 tackles, including 4 sacks.

Greg White - Had two sacks and two forced fumbles vs. Atlanta.

Kevin Carter - 13-year veteran was acquired as a free agent from Miami. Plays both end positions and inside at defensive tackle. Has 31 tackles and two sacks this season.

 

  

Linebackers

 

  

It was time. Shelton Quarles had a great career. But somebody had to tell him, at 36, he would be doing more harm to his body than good for the defense if he continued playing.

Plus defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin knew Barrett Ruud, the team's second-round pick in '05, was ready. Ruud has exceeded expectations and for much of the year has led the NFL in tackles.

And Kiffin wanted to add more speed to the defense, and general manager Bruce Allen was able to land Colts free agent Cato June. Although probably better suited at weakside linebacker in the Tampa 2 scheme, June accepted his role at the strong side, which meant coming off the field on passing downs.

June made his biggest impression on the Bucs when he flew to Indianapolis to receive his Super Bowl ring in a lavish ceremony one night but was at an offseason practice the next morning. "That impressed a lot of players," Kiffin said.

Derrick Brooks, who has one year left on his contract, is playing better, too. His leadership, of course, is invaluable. "How it all came together? That's just personalities that meshed," Brooks said.

 

  

Key player lost

Shelton Quarles - Former Pro Bowl linebacker retired after a series of knee injuries and now works for the team's pro personnel department.

 

  

The replacements

Barrett Ruud - Had to wait his turn and has made the most it. Leads the team with 83 tackles and has two interceptions.

Cato June - Replaced Ryan Nece at strongside linebacker. Fourth on the club with 49 tackles despite not playing in nickel situations. Has one forced fumble and an interception.

 

  

Defensive backs

 

  

Looking to eventually replace both safeties, the Bucs drafted Sabby Piscitelli in the second round out of Oregon State and Tanard Jackson in the fourth from Syracuse. Piscitelli suffered a season-ending foot injury. Jackson, whom the Bucs coaching staff converted from corner at the Senior Bowl, used his chance to take the free safety job from Will Allen and has developed into a bone-crushing run stopper.

And remember, rookies almost never start for Monte Kiffin.

"It's hard to do in this defense," Kiffin said. "I never said they couldn't. You just want to be sure you don't put somebody in there that doesn't know what he's doing and makes a lot of mistakes, especially back there. ... He has even exceeded our expectations."

Competition brought out the best in Jermaine Phillips, who has arguably become the team's most valuable player on defense this season. He leads the Bucs with three interceptions and is third in tackles. Meanwhile, cornerback Phillip Buchanon rediscovered the talent that made him a first-round pick of the Raiders.

 

  

Key player lost

Juran Bolden - Former Bucs nickel corner plays for the Winnepeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.

The replacements

 

Phillip Buchanon - Claimed off waivers late last season from the Houston Texans. Forced into the starting lineup with injury to Brian Kelly. Leads all defensive backs with 42 tackles and has two interceptions.

Tanard Jackson - Leads the Bucs with 11 passes defended, with one forced fumble and two interceptions.

[Last modified November 24, 2007, 18:30:47]

[an error occurred while processing this directive]