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Bryant: Problem Easily Corrected

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Jon Gruden watches the action at the Monday afternoon session.

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 12, 2008

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Bucs PK Matt Bryant was putting together a pretty good camp until the Bucs took on the Dolphins in their preseason opener Saturday.

All of sudden, after making 31 of his 33 field-goal tries during training camp, Bryant found the uprights hard to split.

Though he eventually found his range and made a 32-yarder in the fourth quarter, Bryant started the night by missing a 36-yard try in the second quarter and a 52-yard attempt in the third.

Both of Bryant's misses sailed right of their target. Even the kicks Bryant made veered to the right.

After watching the game film, Bryant realized he wasn't following through with his kicks, so he hopes the problem is easily corrected.

"It was a matter of leg angle, which is no big deal," Bryant said. "It's just that the first time it happened, it happened in a game. That's what makes it tough."

Bryant said he was 5-for-5 from 50 yards or more during camp drills and that he'll spend this week correcting his mechanics.

"It's actually good to have something to look to correct," said Bryant, who often spends his days fighting the boredom that comes with being on the field for only a few practice periods. "It's good to stay hungry."

Garcia's Return Means Less Work For Simms

One player who probably wasn't all that happy to see Jeff Garcia return to practice was fellow QB Chris Simms.

It's not that Simms and Garcia don't get along; it's just that while Garcia was out, Simms was getting a lot of 11-on-11 work that he normally wouldn't have gotten had Garcia been around.

With Garcia back, Simms' 11-on-11 reps almost certainly will drop. There is also a chance' Simms in-game performance will drop, because those 11-on-11 practice reps are invaluable, particularly for a player like Simms.

"That 11-on-11 work is what I need more than anything," Simms said. "That's what I've really missed being gone. The fact I got those reps last week made a huge difference in how I played on Saturday."

Simms completed eight of 10 throws for 60 yards against the Dolphins in his first game back after spending all of last year recovering from spleen removal surgery.

"I mean, in 7-on-7, everything is always perfect," Simms said. "In 7-on-7 you can think about your mechanics and getting everything right, because there's no rush or anything.

"But in 11-on-11, when you've got linemen in your face and bodies flying all around you, that's when you sometimes have to improvise and make an awkward throw or something, and that's the kind of work I really need."

Boss Impressed With Wilkerson's Debut

The Bucs liked what they saw of DL Jimmy Wilkerson in offseason workouts this spring. They liked even more what they saw of him Saturday against Miami.

Turning in a game that figures to aid him greatly in his attempt to earn a spot in the defensive-line rotation, Wilkerson batted down a pass, recorded a sack and had a tackle for a loss in about two quarters worth of action.

Wilkerson, a free agent signee who can play end or tackle, also had a quarterback hit and another solo tackle in a Tampa Bay debut that left his bosses impressed.

"You never really know about a guy until the pads go on, so that was good to see," Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "Anytime you can get to the quarterback, we like that."

Bucs D Gets E for Excellent Effort

OK, so it's only the preseason. That doesn't mean you have to play like it's the preseason. That's the message Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin tried to get across to his charges prior to taking on the Dolphins. From listening to Kiffin on Monday, you get the feeling they heard him.

"I really liked the way we hustled in that game," Kiffin said. "We talked about hitting and 'Flip' S Jermaine Phillips goes out there on one of the first plays and sets the tone a big hit on the sideline. That's what I wanted to see.

"I know you have to evaluate players, but I'm more concerned with our intensity than the individual. A lot of times in the preseason you just kick back and play as if it's not that important, but you can't approach it that way. So I was really pleased with the way our guys came flying out of the gate."

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