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Bucs make M. Jones starter at right end

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By RICK STROUD

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 29, 2000

TAMPA -- Not long ago, Marcus Jones used to be the first player dashing out of the locker room following practice, a quick-change artist if their ever was one.

Now Jones is only in a rush to get to the quarterback, and his transformation from first-round bust to busting the starting lineup has been just as fast.

Monday, the Bucs named Jones the starting right defensive end over Steve White.

The move completes an amazing comeback story for Jones, who was left unprotected by Tampa Bay in the expansion draft before last season but couldn't get a nibble from the Cleveland Browns.

Jones becomes the third new starter on the Bucs defense that ranked third in the NFL a season ago. He joins linebacker Jamie Duncan and nosetackle Anthony McFarland.

"It feels really good because I've been working really hard for it. I mean, for a player, that's where you strive to be at. You strive to hear your name called on Sunday and stuff like that," Jones said. "But at the same time, I'm not taking anything away from Steve White. He's a great player, a great competitor. At any time, the roles could be reversed again. Steve is that type of player, you know."

The promotion of Jones gives the Bucs a defensive line composed of three No. 1 draft picks and a franchise player.

Jones was one of the Bucs first-round picks in 1996 (22nd overall); 1999 defensive player of the year Warren Sapp was 12th overall in 1995; and McFarland was 15th overall in '99. Left defensive end Chidi Ahanotu, a sixth-round pick in 1993 designated the team's franchise player a year ago, was productive enough to warrant a $30-million contract.

"Ideally, you hope you're right with those picks and they do pan out," coach Tony Dungy said. "And that's where your defense starts, up front. To have four guys like that and two very good backups, you feel good about your defense."

So good, in fact, that the Bucs felt comfortable releasing starter Brad Culpepper last week and benching White, who simply took over in the post-season by recording two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in playoff games against Washington and St. Louis.

"With a year experience for a lot of the other guys, we just think we're going to be faster, we're going to be more athletic," Dungy said. "We think our depth is better than the back-up guys who were playing their first time last year. I think, potentially, we can be better."

Actually, Jones' turnaround began last season, when playing at both right and left defensive end, he finished second on the team with seven sacks. Jones had an outstanding preseason, tying James Cannida for the most tackles among defensive linemen with eight while recording a half sack and forcing a fumble.

"It comes from doing everything right," Jones said. "I had to make a decision myself to start doing things right. (Earlier in my career) I didn't come to any of the (off-season) training camps, I didn't do anything right. From right now, the sky is the limit. What I've got to do from today is I've got to show Rod (Marinelli, the defensive line coach) the reason why he started me. I've got to prove to him that I deserve to start."

The Bucs nearly gave up on Jones, and with good reason. He struggled trying to play defensive tackle and was hampered by ankle injuries. But since having bone spurs removed from both ankles switching strictly to defensive end before last season, Jones' career took off.

"He came out of nowhere in camp a year ago and earned playing time last year," Marinelli said. "And that was impressive. He did it. He went out and lined up and earned time. And then when he got on the field, he produced last year..

"We've got three great (defensive) ends right now. I don't know anybody who's got three ends like we've got. It was a battle. He had a great camp and so did Steve. But right now, Marcus is really showing up. I feel real good. I'm still going to rotate them. And he'll flip over to the other side and back up Chidi."

What makes Jones so unique is that at 6 feet 6, 278 pounds, he is strong enough to outmuscle some of the NFL's best left tackles. And he is still quick enough to blow by the generally less athletic right tackles.

"He's very comfortable. He can flip stances very simply," Marinelli said. "It's very easy for him, so that makes it nice. And he's a different looking rusher from both sides.

"That right tackle is preparing for Chidi and Marcus. That left tackle is preparing for Marcus and Steve. They're different rushers and they all play hard."

Of course, had it not been for the Browns bypassing Jones and selecting quarterback Scott Milanovich in the expansion draft instead, Jones might be playing in Cleveland. Dungy admits that Jones and the Bucs were grateful for a second chance.

"It's the uniqueness of the game. You've got to be at the right place, at the right time," Dungy said. "A guy will sit and doesn't blossom. It happened a lot more in the past. Obviously, the John Unitas story. Cris Carter. You're on the waiver wire, Philadelphia lets you go and now you're going to the Hall of Fame. So it does happen. A lot of it is the individual player picking it up. But a lot of it is right situation, right place, right time.

"(Rod) is very, very unsung in a lot of parts. People that know the league and watch football all respect what he's done. I think the players would say that, we certainly would say that as a coaching staff. You've got to have those parts to mold, but you still have to do it. You can't say enough about what he's done and what Marcus has done."

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