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Adams' Task? Take On Seahawks' Jones

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2007

SEATTLE - Gaines Adams declares himself ready for Seattle's 6-foot-5, 325-pound ballerina.

Tampa Bay's rookie defensive end is eager to face Walter Jones in Sunday's season opener, knowing he probably won't face a left tackle more light on his feet during Adams' entire NFL career.

'If you're a fan and want to watch a pretty good subplot to this game, that's a pretty good one to watch,' Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. 'Walter is the best lineman I've ever had. It's quite comforting to know that your left tackle, which is a premium position in this league, is Walter Jones.'

Jones was named to his seventh Pro Bowl last season, starting all 16 games despite a rash of nagging injuries. Now he's coming off surgery to his left shoulder that sidelined him for most of the summer.

Wednesday, Jones competed in full pads for the first time since Seattle's Aug. 12 exhibition opener.

'The thing about it, you can see how good this team can be and you want to be a part of that,' said Jones, the former Florida State standout who turned 33 in January. 'Hopefully, things go the way they're supposed to go and we are in the hunt at the end.'

One of Jones' tattoos reads, 'Only God can judge me,' but fellow NFL players are quick to put his accomplishments in perspective.

'Walter Jones is one of the few players in this league that you can apply the word 'great,'' Bucs defensive lineman Kevin Carter said. 'He's athletic, strong, smart and he knows that offense so well.'

Besides protecting Matt Hasselbeck's blind side, Jones usually provides a key block in springing running back Shaun Alexander, the league MVP in 2005 before a broken foot limited him to 10 games and 896 rushing yards last year.

'There was a while when not everyone knew about Walter Jones,' Hasselbeck said. 'He's the best, what more can I say? I feel very fortunate to have him as a teammate.'

Jones played only one season in Tallahassee after transferring from Holmes (Miss.) Community College. After the Rams tabbed Orlando Pace with the first overall selection in 1997, the Seahawks traded up six spots with the Bucs to draft Jones with the sixth pick.

Tampa Bay slid back to No. 12 and chose FSU teammate Warrick Dunn.

'Obviously, I think Walter's the best I've ever seen,' said Seattle president and general manager Tim Ruskell, who served as Tampa Bay's director of college scouting when Jones entered the league. 'I loved him at FSU. He looked like a can't-miss prospect and he didn't miss. When he's gone, we'll miss him terribly. To be that big a man and that good an athlete ... that's as good as gold.'

Bucs second-year offensive tackle Jeremy Trueblood considers Jones a role model.

'I remember reading a Sports Illustrated article about him and the more I watched him, the more I was amazed,' Trueblood said. 'He's so quick and so powerful, a rare combination for an offensive lineman. He never seems to get beat.'

Adams will be out to establish his credentials as a pro Sunday at noisy Qwest Field, knowing Jones usually doesn't get much blocking help. Tampa Bay's first-round pick is quick, he's agile and he's motivated, but No. 71 has seen it all during a decade of excellence.

'Walter Jones,' said Bucs coach Jon Gruden, 'blocks out the sun.'

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