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Stevens Says He's Set To Make Impact

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2007

TAMPA - Every week it seems the call goes out to someone new. This week's recipient could be Jerramy Stevens.

With fellow TE Alex Smith nursing a sore ankle, Stevens may be the next Buccaneer asked to take on an increased role. Despite all the adversity he has faced this season, Stevens says he's ready.

'I feel like I can contribute,' Stevens said. 'The more I get on the field, the better feel I have for everything.'

Stevens is lucky to be on the field at all. He recently was convicted in an extreme DUI case following an arrest in March in Arizona, and he might be in jail if not for an appeal filed by his attorney.

But with a final ruling in his DUI case not likely to come until after the season, Stevens has had a chance to concentrate completely on football. He appears to have made good use of the time.

He made his first start last week, lining up opposite Smith in a double-tight-end set against Tennessee. And while he didn't do anything other than block all day, his role could change dramatically this week.

With Smith injured, the Bucs finally might try out the pass-catching skills that made Stevens such an attractive target during the free-agency signing period.

'We're obviously going to have to lean on him,' Coach Jon Gruden said. 'He's a guy that can run and catch, and he's got a chance here to take advantage of his playing time and make a statement for himself.'

Stevens used to make his statements for the Seattle Seahawks. He spent his first five years with that organization and it has taken him some time to get accustomed to his new surroundings and Gruden's offense.

After more than six months, though, Stevens says he thinks he's finally at the point where he's ready to make an impact. And he is eager for the opportunity that likely awaits him Sunday in Detroit.

'As the weeks have gone on, I've been getting into more and more plays,' he said. 'But the chance to get in there and stay in there is really exciting for me. I'm looking forward to it.'

POSITION CHANGE: Die-hard Bucs fans remember Jon Bradley. Though his role was limited, he did appear in 26 games for Tampa Bay as a defensive tackle and special teams contributor from 2004-06.

Bradley is still in the league. In fact, he's playing for one of his old bosses, Rod Marinelli, the former Bucs defensive line coach who took over as head coach of the Lions in 2006. But Bradley isn't playing defensive tackle anymore. He's now playing on the other side of the ball as a fullback. From the looks of things, he's doing a pretty good job.

In his first game of the season he helped pave the way for Lions backs to gain 108 rushing yards. In his second he helped blaze a trail through which the Lions gained 415 total yards.

Two weeks later, against Chicago, Bradley recorded his first carry, taking the ball up the middle for a 3-yard gain and a first down during a fourth-quarter touchdown drive.

Bradley's second rush of the season gained a first down for the Lions as well, so it stands to reason that some of his old buddies may be introduced to him in a new way this weekend.

'I'm going to talk a lot of smack to him when I see him,' DE Greg Spires said.

BUCS BITS: A feature on Bucs QB Jeff Garcia will be part of ESPN's 'Sunday NFL Countdown' and 'Monday Night Countdown' shows this week. ... Lions WRs Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson stand 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-5, respectively. Gruden said they create matchup problems for just about anyone. 'They have rare size,' Gruden said. 'They have tight-end bodies ... and freak athletic ability. They'd create matchup problems in the NBA.' ... The Bucs have allowed opponents to convert 21 of 32 third-down tries the past two weeks. 'That's an area we have to clean up and get better at,' Gruden said. ... DE Gaines Adams (chest strain) returned to practice Friday. TE Alex Smith (ankle) did not practice and is questionable for Sunday's game. Gruden suggested strongly that RB Michael Pittman (ankle), DE Patrick Chukwurah (shoulder) and CB Brian Kelly (groin) will not play.

Roy Cummings

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