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Bucs Defense Gets Mixed Reviews

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 26, 2007

MIAMI - After almost a decade of dominance, Tampa Bay's defense has the uneasy look of a work in progress.

With coordinator Monte Kiffin alternating between cheers and winces, the Bucs continued their spotty defensive play in Saturday night's 31-28 win.

Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly remain as stalwarts, but the swagger that once defined the Buccaneers defense has disappeared since 2005 as Kiffin's unit rebuilds around free-agent linebacker Cato June and some promising rookies.

June provided an early spark by outmuscling running back Ronnie Brown for the ball in the left flat and returning a Trent Green pass for a 2-yard score on Miami's second snap from scrimmage.

When the Dolphins responded with a withering 18-play touchdown drive that took 9:13 off the clock, Bucs fans were reminded that dynamic playmakers like Warren Sapp, John Lynch, Simeon Rice and Shelton Quarles no longer headline the No. 1 unit.

Miami rolled up 14 first downs and 166 yards in the opening half, converting five of eight on third down as Tampa Bay blitzed extensively in an effort to generate an adequate pass rush.

'We obviously got a big turnover early on, which was a great way to start the ballgame, but we were pretty sloppy on defense,' Coach Jon Gruden said. 'Defensively, we have to play better.'

There were some defensive bright spots.

Brooks continues to play well in the preseason, stuffing fullback Cory Schlesinger for 1 yard on first down from Tampa Bay's 2-yard line before Green found David Martin behind Kalvin Pearson and Barrett Ruud for an easy scoring pass.

Jamie Winborn dropped Jesse Chatman for a 5-yard loss on a second-quarter blitz and Julian Jenkins forced a fumble later in the quarter to end a Miami drive at midfield as the Bucs took a 17-14 lead into the half.

The defense forced two incompletions to start the third quarter before rookie quarterback John Beck began shredding the second unit.

P.K. Sam, a second-year receiver from Florida State, caught a 51-yard scoring pass to put Miami back ahead 21-17. After the Bucs regained the lead, Beck burned Tampa Bay's blitz package and found Derek Hagan down the right sideline for a 31-yard touchdown.

When the defense was asked to protect a 31-28 advantage with 4:45 remaining, rookie linebacker Adam Hayward made a key third-down stop and Tampa Bay held twice to give fans reason to believe things will get better.

'We started fast on defense and that's important on the road,' Kelly said. 'Now, we've got to get off the field on third down. We've got a chance to make this defense right. Preseason is a dress rehearsal and we're out to write a new chapter in this book.'

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