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Given chance, Hamilton plays brilliant QB

By PETE YOUNG

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 14, 2001

[Times photo: Jim Damaske] Joe Hamilton celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to Aaron Stecker.

Playing time has been scarce for Bucs quarterback Joe Hamilton since his sterling career at Georgia Tech ended in 1999.

Mired at fourth string on the depth chart, Hamilton demonstrated Monday against the Dolphins -- as he did last preseason -- that when he gets the chance, he produces.

Hamilton, playing the fourth quarter, led the Bucs to the go-ahead touchdown with 1:09 remaining on a 6-yard pass to Aaron Stecker. Hamilton also had an earlier sure touchdown pass dropped by Khori Ivy.

"It's satisfying, though it's tough because we didn't pull it out tonight," said Hamilton, who completed six of 11 passes for 68 yards and no interceptions. "It's difficult (to play sporadically). I'd be lying if I said (otherwise)."

BETTER VIEW: Wide receiver Frank Murphy and fullback Jameel Cook got a glimpse of the world from the top of the depth chart Monday as both earned starts thanks to a rash of hamstring injuries.

Murphy started at wide receiver for Jacquez Green, whose hamstring injury kept him out of uniform. In his second year out of Kansas State, Murphy spent virtually all of last season on the practice squad. He impressed the Bucs staff in the offseason and early in training camp and earned the starting nod over Reidel Anthony.

Cook, the rookie sixth-round pick out of Illinois, earned the start at fullback against the Dolphins in place of Mike Alstott, who is out with an injured hamstring.

For Miami, former Buc Autry Denson started at running back. He caught a 49-yard swing pass on the opening drive but fumbled away a handoff in the second quarter.

REMEMBER ME?: Anthony has been slowed most of training camp by an ankle sprain, but he had one of Monday's highlights, a 24-yard second-quarter reception on the right sideline, moments after which he was nearly decapitated by Miami safety Trent Gamble. The Dolphins challenged the ruling, but replays confirmed Anthony held on to the ball and kept his feet in bounds.

SAND BOX: The Raymond James Stadium turf clearly wasn't ready for the start of the preseason. It was sparse and sandy, with the players kicking up clouds of dust with every step.

UN-RETIRED: Bucs reserve offensive tackle George Hegamin left camp last week for undisclosed reasons, reportedly because he was contemplating retirement after seven seasons. He returned to the team before Monday's game and played in the second half.

"They threw me out there fresh off the street," Hegamin said. "I had to do what I had to do. I had to thank coach (Tony Dungy) for allowing me to do this, to come back like this on a family matter. I'm really thankful for that."

[Times photo: Carrie Pratt] The Bucs are honoring the memory of former coach John McKay this season by wearing a decal with his initials, JHM, on their helmets.

GOOD MEMORIES: The Buccaneers are honoring the memory of former coach John McKay this season by wearing a decal with his initials, JHM, on their helmets. McKay, the father of Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay, died of kidney failure June 10 at age 77.

The "H" stands for Harvey. McKay was the Bucs' first coach, from 1976 to 1984.

RUST PROOF: After missing the first 10 days of training camp in a contract dispute, Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks started Monday's game and made the tackle on the first play from scrimmage.

INJURY REPORT: Rookie guard Russ Hochstein sustained a broken foot, rookie safety John Howell a left hip strain and rookie defensive tackle Mike Mackenzie a left ankle sprain.

IS THIS THE YEAR?: The Buccaneers have never returned a kickoff for a touchdown, but if they are this season, rookie Dwight Smith is a likely candidate.

Smith, a third-round draft pick at cornerback from Akron, returned punts and kicks Monday. On a 32-yard kickoff return on the final play of the first quarter, Smith busted several tackle attempts.

In the third quarter, rookie free agent wide receiver Robert Kilow (Arkansas State) had a 41-yard punt return.

FAST HANDS: Bucs backup linebacker Jeff Gooch forced two fumbles in the first half, both of which Tampa Bay recovered.

"I was just trying to hustle out there," Gooch said.

Practice schedule

• TODAY: Off.
• WEDNESDAY: 11-11:45 a.m., 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• THURSDAY: 8:30-10:40 a.m., 3:30-5:30 p.m.
• FRIDAY: 8:30-10 a.m.

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