Free safety makes limited time pay

Dexter Jackson fills in for injured Damien Robinson by making two interceptions.

By ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 5, 2000

TAMPA -- The last time the Bucs played the Redskins, safety Dexter Jackson was standing on the sideline in street clothes.

But after Friday night, it's going to be a little harder for the Bucs coaches to keep Jackson off the field. Filling in for injured starter Damien Robinson at free safety, the second-year pro helped the defense create four turnovers with two interceptions.

"I always try to envision things in my mind, because if it's in your mind you can accomplish it and go out on the field and do it," said Jackson, who was inspired because his sister, Toni McCray, a major in the Air Force, flew in from Germany to see him play.

"Once I had one (interception), I said let's get two. Tonight was my night. I'm thankful for that. I thank Jeff George."

Jackson has shifted between safety and cornerback during his short tenure with the Bucs, but his best moves in the secondary were against George, the Redskins' backup quarterback, and Washington receiver Irving Fryar.

Jackson's first interception came when George was looking to hit Fryar down the right sideline. Jackson made a nifty cut in front of the pass, then got both feet down before going out of bounds at the Bucs 41-yard line.

The second interception came at the end of the half. A scrambling George again was looking for Fryar from about the Bucs 26-yard line, but Jackson stepped in front of him in the end zone.

For Jackson, it was his best game as a Buccaneer. Through the 1999 season, he played almost exclusively on special teams and finished fifth on the club with 17 tackles. But, for the divisional playoff between Washington and Tampa Bay, Jackson was inactive because of a numbers crunch.

He returned to play in the NFC Championship Game against St. Louis, but whether he returns to the starting lineup this season remains to be seen.

"My job is to go out and play football and perform every night," Jackson said. "That's their decision to put who they want on the field. I think I showed them what I can do; it's just up to them to keep putting me in the game."

Jackson was initially pegged to get work at cornerback this preseason. At 6 feet, 196 pounds, he gives Tampa Bay a different dimension at corner because of his size, and his limited playing time in '99 was at corner. He played free safety at Florida State, but often had to match up against receivers in the Seminoles' scheme.

If the cornerback experiment had worked, Jackson's primary competition for the fourth spot behind Donnie Abraham, Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly would have been Floyd Young.

Now it appears Jackson is primary competition for Robinson at free safety. Robinson went down with a strained hamstring on the first day of training camp practice (July 24) and was scheduled to be out two and four weeks.

Coach Tony Dungy has a policy of starters not losing their job because of injury, and Robinson did enough in '99 to keep the starting spot. He finished fourth on the team in tackles with 95 and came up with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

"We don't have a safety problem," secondary coach Herman Edwards said. "He's competing at the position. He's had a heck of a night, done a great job, but Damien right now is the starting free safety."

The staff, however, also puts a premium on turnovers and recognizes Jackson's athleticism.

"Obviously, there's going to be a place for him on the football field," Edwards said. "What you like is when players are getting better. Dexter has gotten better. He's competing for the job, no doubt about it. He made some big plays tonight, but he's got a long way to go.

"Our whole deal is we want to find out the players who make plays, and get the players that can make plays on the field, whether it's first down, second down or third down."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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