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Bucs Can Always Count On Ike To Come Through

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 21, 2008

TAMPA - Bucs defensive backs coach Raheem Mooris loves when the team practices third down. Because here comes his man, like always, ready to go to work: Ike.

"You got to love Ike," Morris said with his usual broad grin.

Bucs receiver Ike Hilliard hears his pal Rah yelling during practice, yelling to his D-backs that Ike has no burst, that he can't get open.

"He's not going vertical, sit underneath," Morris will shout.

Ike always smiles.

Then he finds a seam, his spot, and the ball is in his hands - and it's not leaving them.

"He can't wait to find me after a catch," Morris said. "He flips the ball to me or throws it at me."

"Hell, yes," Hilliard said. He smiled.

It's Ike Hilliard's 12th season as a pro's pro, his fourth with the Bucs.

Ike is Old Reliable, even though he isn't that old.

"People say I'm old, I'm slow," Hilliard said. "It seems I've been around forever, but I'm only 32."

You got to love Ike.

He Always Finds A Way

The Bucs play the Bears today. Receivers are scattered everywhere. Joey Galloway appears to be broken again. Newcomer Antonio Bryant seems to have as many drops as catches. Maurice Stovall has yet to truly arrive. Michael Clayton is nearly out of chances. And there's a new speed guy, rookie Dexter Jackson.

Meanwhile, there's Ike.

He hasn't played much this year, except on third down.

Third-down Ike.

Bucs safety Jermaine Phillips corrects you.

"First-down Ike."

Ike Hilliard led the Bucs in receptions last year with 62 for 722 yards. He's leading again, with 10 grabs across the first two games, including one for a touchdown and one for his 500th career catch. Nine of Ike's 10 catches this season have gone for a first down, and 89 of his 141 Bucs catches (63 percent) have moved the chains.

"When it's a money down, you can count on Ike," Morris said.

"He's been part of two division-title teams here, but for some reason, people don't think he's as good as I do," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "... Last year, Ike was really the only receiver who went wire-to-wire for us. He plays hurt. He plays split end, flanker, in the slot, he returns punts. You'd like a hundred Ike Hilliards."

Hilliard won't dust on up about his lack of playing time.

"I don't believe the squeaky wheel gets the grease."

He speaks softly. He downplays his Florida and professional careers. That's Ike. He competes every day. That's Ike, too. He has undergone eight surgeries during his NFL career. He's heavier and slower than when he came into the league, but Ike still finds a way. He takes meticulous notes during meetings. He always knows where to go, and his quarterbacks know it. He's their security blanket.

"I would hope it's comforting for my coaches, teammates and quarterbacks to know that at the end of the day I'll get there," Hilliard said. "That this guy, he might not be the fastest, biggest or strongest, but we can count on him being there to give us a chance to make a play."

The Game He Loves

He wants to play four or five more seasons. After that, he wants to coach.

"I'd like to get a bunch of kids who nobody thinks are any good and score 50 a game," Hilliard said.

He'd take something from many of the men who've coached him, like the techniques taught by Bucs wide receivers coach Richard Mann, and Steve Spurrier's ability to play through his players and have his players play through him, and Gruden's drive and attention to detail. And he'd like to be like Raheem Morris, such a great coach, such a tower of fun.

"I'd love to have Rah's personality," Hilliard said. He smiled. "That would be hard for me to do."

You know he'd find a way.

You got to love Ike.

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