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Denver WRs Worry Bucs

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2008

TAMPA - Denver receiver Brandon Marshall might not be a household name, but he has taken up residence in the minds of Tampa Bay's secondary.

"He is definitely a big-time receiver. He's having a breakout year," Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib said. "Not saying he didn't do anything last year, but he's really showing a lot this year."

Marshall has shown many observers why he is arguably the NFL's best receiver.

He is the league's leading receiver with 31 receptions for 398 yards and three touchdowns, ahead of stars such as Arizona's Anquan Boldin (27 receptions for 366 yards and five TDs), Dallas' Terrell Owens (17 receptions for 264 yards and five TDs) and Cincinnati's Chad Johnson (11 receptions, 116 yards and one TD).

Marshall had 24 catches through his first two games, the second-highest total in NFL history behind Andre Rison's 26 receptions for 316 yards and four TDs in 1994. He also had 18 catches for 166 yards and one touchdown during a 39-38 victory against San Diego.

Now, Tampa Bay's defensive backs must find a way to prevent Marshall from having another career performance when the Bucs play at Denver on Sunday.

"If he's not the best receiver I've seen, he's one of the best. He's unbelievable," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "He can beat you after the catch. He can beat you period. He's a great player."

Marshall not only makes big plays, but he is a large receiver at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds.

"The amazing thing about him is his size," Bucs cornerback Phillip Buchanon said. "He has good size, and he brings some physicalness to the game. Whenever you have a 6-4 guy who is catching a lot and they are making sure he gets the ball, that is something to deal with.

"I've seen him break a lot of tackles. We've got to wrap him up, finish strong, play hard and hopefully everybody else on defense - defensive line, linebacker and safeties - rallies."

Tampa Bay's biggest challenge is making sure it does not assign too many players to Marshall.

The Bucs are considering having the rookie Talib (6-1, 205) cover Marshall to match size and speed together, but Denver has another major threat.

Broncos rookie Eddie Royal is Marshall's fast-rising colleague with 27 receptions for 298 yards and two touchdowns this season. He had nine receptions for 104 yards last week against Kansas City, helping make Denver the NFL's top-ranked offense.

"You think you cannot get better than Greg Jennings and Donald Driver for Green Bay, and hey, you do," Bucs defensive backs coach Raheem Morris said. "Now here comes Marshall, Royal and Brandon Stokley, three good wideouts. It's always fun. It's always a challenge. You've got to love it.

"You've got to embrace it. Marshall is emerging in this league and becoming one of the best. Eddie is getting his feet wet. Stokley is an old, crafty veteran who has been doing it for years. I love it, man. Bring it on. If you don't want to face that kind of people every week, then go coach somewhere else."

Defending Marshall might have been an easier task for last year's secondary.

Tampa Bay was the NFL's top-ranked pass defense in 2007, but now ranks 21st, giving up an average of 216.5 passing yards a game.

The secondary also has given up big plays to Jennings (48-yard touchdown), Chicago's Brandon Lloyd (six receptions for 124 yards and one touchdown) and New Orleans running back Reggie Bush (eight receptions for 112 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown).

"The major problem in our breakdown is communication," Buchanon said. "Right now, our communication has not been real good. As long as we communicate and get everybody on the same page, I think we'll be fine this week because pretty much on all the big plays, there was supposed to be a certain technique we were supposed to play and we really didn't communicate."

Tampa Bay's defensive backs will focus on improving their communication.

However, the secondary will also have Marshall on its mind.

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampatrib.com

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