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Something to Prove

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 30, 2007

Updated: 12/29/2007 11:56 pm

AMPA - It will end today the way it began in August - with one eye focused on the turn in the schedule that lies just ahead, with reserves playing as much, if not more, than regulars.

Perhaps it's fitting. The entire 2007 Bucs season has been as much about the players at the bottom of the depth chart as the players at the top of it. This, too, is their game. And they can't wait to play it.

"It's a big game for me, a huge game for me," said rookie linebacker Quincy Black, who until last week had gone more than three months without getting a regular snap on defense.

"This is a chance for me to prove to my teammates that I deserve to be on this team. We've been playing pretty good defenses around here and I want to uphold that standard."

They talk a lot about standards inside the Bucs locker room. They also talk a lot about playing like you're a starter even when you're not. That's another one of Black's objectives.

A backup to starting strongside linebacker Cato June, Black says he wants to leave the Bucs feeling confident that should June ever go down, he can fill in adequately.

Running back Michael Bennett is looking to prove virtually the same thing. A former starter with Minnesota, he's confident he can fill a more regular role here, but he has to prove it. That's what today is all about.

"I really just want to show the coaches my ability," said Bennett, who came to the Bucs in a trade with Kansas City on Oct. 16. "I want to show them they can be confident in me and my play-making ability."

It's hard to believe the Bucs aren't already confident in Bennett's abilities. Since he came to the Bucs he has played sparingly, but he has played exceedingly well in those sparse moments.

He has run the ball 25 times for 148 yards (a 5.9-yard average) and one touchdown. He also has three catches for 26 yards.

Rivalry Is Another Element

The problem is that Bennett's knowledge of Coach Jon Gruden's playbook is still not at the level Gruden would like. Today offers Bennett a chance to prove to Gruden he knows the playbook better than Gruden thinks.

It's also a chance to get involved in the Bucs-Panthers rivalry, and next to Bennett no one seems more excited about that than rookie defensive tackle Greg Peterson.

Peterson grew up watching the Panthers and hoping he'd one day play for them. As this year's draft drew near he thought his dream would come true. Then, just as quickly as it sprouted up, the Panthers' interest in Peterson died.

"They were talking to me and then on draft day they never called," Peterson said. "They passed me up and that really kind of hurt a little bit. So this is going to be something of an emotional game for me. I mean, I love playing against Carolina, so it's a big game for me for a lot of reasons, so I'm very excited."

As excited as Peterson is about getting a chance to play some regular snaps again, it's hard to imagine him being more excited than four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter will be.

Trotter has quietly sat through one of the most difficult seasons of his 10-year career - and we do mean sat. He has been inactive for all but two games.

"It's been tough," Trotter said. "I was telling someone the other day, this is the first time I haven't dressed since my rookie season. So this game means everything to me.

"Any time I can get on the field, it's my reputation on the line. I want to go out and set a standard for myself in the NFL, and any time I get an opportunity to go out there and make some plays, I want to do it."

Trotter got an opportunity last week and took pretty good advantage of it, finishing the game with four tackles. There was even a play on special teams on which he flew over the pile on kick coverage.

"One of our guys was like, 'What are you doing, man?' I was like, 'Listen, man, you sit on the sidelines for 15 weeks and see what you do.' I was trying to take out anybody."

'Better Buckle Up'

Trotter, who started 126 of the 141 games he played in before coming to the Bucs just before the start of the season, said he has 15 weeks of pent-up anger to unleash today.

"I'm looking forward to every minute of this game," he said. "My thinking is, whoever's out there better buckle up."

Bone up is what rookie linebacker Adam Hayward has been doing. He has received very limited playing time on defense this season and he believes this is his chance to prove he has been paying attention.

"It's like a final exam," he said. "It really does feel that way, because this is a chance to prove yourself. It's a little more pressure, but if you study and do what you need to do, you'll be OK."

Hayward will have to lean on his studies because he didn't get a lot of extra practice reps this week. The bulk of those still went to the regulars, who already are looking ahead to their first-round playoff matchup with the Giants.

"I've had to do a lot more of the work on my own, in my off time," Hayward said. "But whatever they give me in terms of reps, I just have to make sure I go out there and make them count.

"I mean, if something were to happen to Derrick Brooks, the coaches have to be able to trust me enough to know that I can go in there and keep it going and that nothing changes except the name."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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