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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2007

Updated: 12/07/2007 12:22 am

TAMPA - Mario Williams knows the code of conduct for rookie defensive linemen in the National Football League.

First the draft, then the drift.

As the first overall pick in 2006, Williams learned some painful lessons in attempting to play up to his lofty draft status.

After the Texans chose him ahead of Reggie Bush and local favorite Vince Young, Williams struggled as injuries and position changes left Houston fans disappointed in his progress.

"My head was spinning last year with everything that was going on," said Williams, who will face Bucs left tackle Donald Penn on Sunday, having already set a franchise record with 8.5 sacks through 12 games. "Now, I'm just playing. I'm more comfortable with everything."

Gaines Adams knows the feeling.

The fourth selection in the 2007 draft is starting to emerge as a playmaker for Tampa Bay after a sluggish start. The speedy defensive end out of Clemson registered two sacks Nov. 18 at Atlanta, and Adams is coming off his best game as a pro.

In Sunday's 27-23 comeback victory at New Orleans, Adams was credited with seven tackles, a sack and a critical disruption on a flanker reverse.

"He was in the right place at the right time and he was aggressive," Bucs defensive line coach Larry Coyer said of Adams, who pushed Saints left tackle Jammal Brown into the backfield, contributing to Bush's errant pitch intended for Devery Henderson. "He made a difference on that play because Gaines plays hard on every snap."

Williams, only 22, is already making life miserable for offensive tackles and any skeptics that doubted his potential impact in the NFL.

After only one pro season, he finds himself acting as a role model for rookie defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, who was 19 in April when he became the youngest first-round draft pick in league history.

"It's just one of those things where guys have to find the way," said Williams, who trails only Kansas City's Jared Allen for most sacks among AFC defensive ends. "It's a learning experience. Through time and repetition, they'll be fine. The rookies that are in the NFL now, next year they are going to say the same thing - it's a totally different feeling now, once you've had a year under your belt."

Adams, 24, didn't make his first start until a month ago, but his steady improvement has been a factor during Tampa Bay's four-game winning streak.

"I can't say how Mario felt, but I felt kind of down and discouraged," Adams said of his backup role through October. "Being drafted where I was at, I wanted to come in and start off strong and do some good things to help this team. But you've got to realize this is the NFL, and in my position it's rare for guys to come in right away and be successful."

While Bush was helping New Orleans to the NFC Championship Game last season, Williams was hampered by plantar fasciitis, a painful heel injury that limited his practice time. The Texans moved him all over the defensive line and he finished with 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks and countless questions about whether the Texans had botched the No. 1 pick.

"Mario Williams is one of the better players in football," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said this week. "They took a lot of heat, I guess, for not taking somebody else, but at the end of the day they look pretty good if you ask me for taking the big guy, because he's one heck of a football player."

At 6-foot-6 and 293 pounds, Williams has an enormous wingspan. He announced his sophomore intentions in the 2007 opener with two sacks against the Chiefs.

The past three weeks have produced 4.5 sacks, and Williams was one of the few Houston defenders to play well at Tennessee last week with seven tackles and 2.5 sacks against Young.

"Mario Williams is a big, talented guy who responds to stimulus quicker than most guys I've ever seen at the position," Coyer said. "He's a different player this year and you see it in the physical nature of his play. Some rookie defensive linemen think they're going to come in here and dominate this league, but I'm here to tell you - ain't gonna happen."

With five sacks, Okoye hasn't appeared overmatched in his first season and Adams is starting to adjust to the speed of the pro game.

"You want to be successful right off the top, but you've got to learn the scheme," Adams said. "It's starting to come together. It's a different feeling for me right now and my mind-set has changed. When guys like Derrick Brooks are saying you're doing good, it makes you feel a whole lot better."

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be reached at (813) 259-7833 or ikaufman@tampatrib.com.

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