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Bucs' Adams In A Rush To Learn From Bates

Tribune file photo by JAY CONNER (2008)

In his two years with the Bucs, Gaines Adams has 12.5 sacks, including 6.5 in 16 starts last year.

By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 1, 2009

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TAMPA - Defensive end Gaines Adams has been something of a disappointment since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a first-round draft choice three years ago.

In his two years with the Bucs, Adams has compiled just 12.5 sacks, including 6.5 in 16 starts last year.

The Bucs obviously are hoping for a breakout season from Adams this year, and with new coordinator Jim Bates running the defense, they may get it.

Bates has a pretty good history of turning so-so pass rushers into dominant pass rushers, dating to his arrival in Miami in 2000.

Jason Taylor was a lot like Adams then, having recorded 16.5 sacks over three seasons. His career changed dramatically once Bates arrived.

During his first year under Bates, Taylor raised his sack total from a paltry 2.5 in 1999 to 14.5 in 2000.

Teammate Trace Armstrong had a similar breakthrough.

Armstrong raised his sack total from 7.5 in 1999 to 16.5 in 2000, and he wasn't the last pass rusher to make a huge jump under Bates.

Elvis Dumervil, a fourth-round pick of the Broncos in 2006, played well as a rookie, recording 8.5 sacks. He dominated during his first year under Bates, however, notching 12.5 before slipping to five sacks a year later, after Bates was let go.

Bates says the techniques he teaches ends and the way in which he tries to exploit the personnel his ends face are the reasons they usually perform better under him.

From listening to Adams, it sound as if Bates is already teaching him some of those unique tricks.

"He has pulled me to the side and been teaching me some things here and there,'' Adams said. "I still have a lot more time to go, but he wanted to get the details down now so we can get going.''

Adams may need to get going. Another year like the last two could leave him looking like a bust, which is something neither the Bucs nor the former fourth overall draft selection want.

"I want to be one of those guys with 10 or more sacks and so I'm listening to Coach Bates,'' he said. "I'm still young and hopefully he can take me to where I want to be.''

He's obviously taken others there in the past.

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