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Bryant Has Strategy For Onside Kicks

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2007

TAMPA - Matt Bryant walked up to the kicking tee and called an audible.

The Bucs had already recovered an onside kick that led to a field goal and a 23-16 deficit with 64 seconds remaining at Detroit.

'I hit that ball as hard as I could, and the idea is to make it a pinball,' said Bryant, whose first onside kick Sunday was fired into the middle of a Detroit scrum, ricocheting off former Buc Jon Bradley before Torrie Cox recovered for Tampa Bay on the Buccaneer 40 at the two-minute warning.

The second time around, Bryant changed the plan of attack, floating the ball toward the right sideline as Cox raced down in dogged pursuit. Lions TE Casey FitzSimmons barely beat Cox to the ball, and Detroit ran out the clock.

'We practice onside kicks at least twice a week,' said LB Ryan Nece. 'Before Sunday, I think only one team in the NFL had recovered an onside kick all season. I think there were three of 'em on Sunday.'

Bryant said he has the discretion to choose from among several onside choices.

'It's almost the same idea behind a wishbone offense,' he said. 'You approach it like you have a triple option, depending on how the other team lines up. On the second kick, they gave us a different look than the first one and Torrie ended up being only a few steps away. On the line-drive kick, Jon came up to me after the game and said, 'You had to find me, Matt, didn't you?''

INJURY UPDATE: Bucs coach Jon Gruden said TE Alex Smith (ankle), WR Michael Clayton (ankle) and CB Brian Kelly (groin) did not practice Wednesday. Clayton, who was hurt on the second play from scrimmage against the Lions, may be sidelined for an extended period.

Tampa Bay placed WR Mark Jones on injured reserve with a torn patellar tendon. Veteran WR Ike Hilliard is likely to replace Jones on punt returns while Cox is expected to return kickoffs.

GO WITH THE FLOW: Nece may have lost his starting job, but he hasn't lost his desire.

Nece has maintained his passion and work ethic, even though free agent Cato June has replaced him at the strongside linebacker spot this season. Teammates and coaches can't help but notice Nece's unwavering commitment to the organization.

'He's a true professional and a heck of a football player,' Gruden said. 'When he's needed, he'll respond.'

Nece has started 35 games for the Bucs since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2002.

'Ryan Nece has battled every year and defied all odds,' said 10-time Pro Bowl LB Derrick Brooks. 'He carries himself as the ultimate pro and he's an example I use a lot in terms of professionalism.'

Nece, 28, said it's all part of the job description.

'I understand this is a business,' said Nece, who has registered seven tackles on special teams. 'I have a role here and our coaches and players do a good job of encouraging me. Our three linebackers are playing well. My hat goes off to Derrick, Cato and Barrett Ruud because they might be the best three-man combo in the league right now.'

BUC BITS: The Bucs waived RB Zack Crockett and signed WR Derrick Hamilton and T Dennis Roland to the practice squad. Tampa Bay also promoted WR Chad Lucas from the practice squad to the active roster and signed FB Byron Storer to the 53-man roster. ...The Jaguars head to Tampa Sunday for the first of three consecutive road games, marking them as the only team in the league in 2007 to play away from home for three successive weeks. ... Jacksonville's Fred Taylor, eighth in NFL history with an average of 83.8 rushing yards per game, needs 35 yards against the Bucs to reach the 10,000-yard plateau for his glittering 10-year career. Among the top 48 rushers in league history, the ex-Gator standout is the only player who has never made a Pro Bowl.

Ira Kaufman

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