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2nd-Year Players Making Key Contributions

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 6, 2008

TAMPA - Tampa Bay's biggest victory might not be the one it could achieve Sunday at New Orleans. It might be the number of second-year players who contributed as rookies.

The Bucs drafted 10 players in 2007, and while only a few were expected to land jobs in Tampa Bay, each remained. Not only did Tampa Bay defensive end Gaines Adams, guard Arron Sears and safety Tanard Jackson emerge as starters last season, but also eight played in at least one game.

A year later, eight are still with the team.

It will take time to assess last year's draft class. But as the 2008 season begins, it could emerge as one of the best, top to bottom, in team history.

"We're proud of that class. They have arrived," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "Gaines Adams, and certainly we're thrilled with Tanard Jackson.

"This is when second-year players show the most improvement. Hopefully, we'll see them. I'm excited to find out."

Adams is the player Tampa Bay expects to have the biggest second-year leap.

He entered the NFL as an undersized defensive end who failed to live up to expectations for half of 2007. As Adams learned, he grew into a player who led NFL rookies with six sacks. Adams also started in eight games and finished with 55 tackles.

"I know I had a lot of expectations. I had a key role in this defense," Adams said. "I started off slow, but as the season went on, things started to get better. I can see a change with the coaches right now. I get to see more smiles. It just feels good to know the coaches are behind you."

While Adams took time before he emerged, Sears and Jackson hit the ground running.

Sears was a second-round pick, and although an ankle sprain slowed him during training camp, he started 16 games last season. His production enabled running back Earnest Graham to rush for nearly 1,000 yards and quarterback Jeff Garcia to make the Pro Bowl.

Jackson was viewed as an undersized player, and most teams were unsure if he would play cornerback or safety in the NFL. The Bucs gambled on Jackson in the fourth round and not only did he start every game, but become known as a hard-hitting safety.

"Gaines Adams was an early first-round pick and you hope when you draft a guy that early that he's going to be a Pro Bowl-caliber player," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "Sears was a guy that I thought at one point in time was going to be a first-round pick. You got a kid who has versatility and was an excellent player at Tennessee in the best conference in college football.

"I liked Tanard just because I thought he had the versatility to play inside, or a corner spot in the Cover 2, and I thought he was a tough kid who could help you on special teams. In terms of just getting contributors, and hitting on Jackson, Adams and Sears, that's a solid draft."

While Tampa Bay was able to find instant starters, it also found solid backups.

Tampa Bay's Sabby Piscitelli, Quincy Black and Adam Hayward each became key contributors on special teams. Piscitelli performed well before a season-ending injury, but Black played in 15 games and Hayward in 12. Defensive lineman Greg Peterson played in 10.

"There is a lot to be said about a draft class when all of them make the 53 man roster, but it's a different thing to me is if they are among the 46 guys who are dressing," said Mark Dominik, Tampa Bay's director of pro personnel. "There is a big difference there if a guy is contributing for you on Sunday in their first or second year."

As for the rest of the class, running back Kenneth Darby and cornerback Marcus Hamilton spent most of 2007 on the practice squad and offensive tackle Chris Denman was on injured reserve. This year, only Darby and Denman are no longer with the team.

Although Tampa Bay's scouting department performed well in 2007, Kiper said all teams should have the Bucs' success.

"In this day and age, most of your draft choices should make your football team," Kiper said. "The draft used to be 17 rounds and then it was 12 rounds and now it's only seven rounds, so you're not bringing in a lot of players.

"Of your seven draft choices, I want all seven of my guys to make my football team, and several undrafted free agents because you'd like to have 10 young players making your football team every year. The kids who normally would have been your eighth or ninth picks are now your undrafted free agents. A couple of those kids should be able to help your football team."

The Bucs' second-year guys are not only helping their team, but also becoming cornerstone players.

"Just to know we have guys who were able to play their first year is a great honor," Adams said. "For those guys who played last year, including myself, we've got to step it up now."

BUCS' CLASS OF 2007

Gaines Adams

Position: DE

Drafted: First round (4th overall)

2007 Highlights: Started eight games and led NFL rookies with six sacks.

Arron Sears

Position: G

Drafted: Second round (35th overall)

2007 Highlights: Started 16 games and contributed to an offense that scored 334 points (fourth-highest in team history).

Sabby Piscitelli

Position: S

Drafted: Second round (64th overall)

2007 Highlights: Played three games on special teams before being placed on injured reserve.

Quincy Black

Position: LB

Drafted: Third round (68th overall)

2007 Highlights: Had 17 tackles and one forced fumble on special teams.

Tanard Jackson

Position: S

Drafted: Fourth round (106th overall)

2007 Highlights: Started every game in the NFL's No. 1 secondary.

Greg Peterson

Position: DT

Drafted: Fifth round (141st overall)

2007 Highlights: Appeared in 10 games and had 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and a pass defended.

Adam Hayward

Position: LB

Drafted: Sixth round (182 overall)

2007 Highlights: Appeared in 12 games and had 11 special-teams tackles.

Chris Denman

Position: T

Drafted: Seventh round (214th overall)

2007 Highlights: Was on injured reserve with a hand injury.

Marcus Hamilton

Position: CB

Drafted: Seventh round (245th overall)

2007 Highlights: Spent entire season on Tampa Bay's practice squad.

Kenneth Darby

Position: RB

Drafted: Seventh round (246th overall)

2007 Highlights: Mostly on practice squad, but played in last year's regular-season finale.

Anwar S. Richardson

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

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