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Ex-Buc Douglas Relishing Chance

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 5, 2009

MIAMI - Marques Douglas originally believed he would impact the Bucs this season.

Douglas signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent last year with hopes of becoming a force at defensive end. The eight-year veteran was expected to push Gaines Adams, Greg White and Kevin Carter for playing time this season, and considering he had 19 career sacks in 88 games played prior to joining the Bucs, Douglas' expectations seemed realistic.

It never happened.

Douglas was traded to Baltimore before the season for a late-round draft choice in 2009, plus a conditional 2010 draft selection. After playing in a 3-4 system in San Francisco, Tampa Bay did not believe he fit into its 4-3 system, but his playmaking ability was evident during the Ravens' 27-9 victory Sunday.

"I never doubted myself. When I was down there Tampa, they never gave me a chance," Douglas said. "If there is one thing I don't do, it's play politics. If it's your thing to play politics and play games, I'm not all about that.

"These coaches here love their hard, smash-mouth kind of football and the NFC is not like that. I'm not taking anything away from those guys, but that's what I am. Hard, smash-mouth type of player."

Douglas crashed into Dolphins RB Patrick Cobbs and stripped the ball from him in the third quarter. Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs recovered the ball on Miami's 19-yard line.

Four plays later, Ravens RB Le'Ron McClain scored on an 8-yard run, giving Baltimore a commanding 20-3 advantage.

Douglas knew he might not have the opportunity to make that play in Tampa, but is happy in Baltimore.

"I know how to play the run. I know how to play my fundamentals," Douglas said. "For some reason, Bucs coach Jon Gruden felt like I didn't fit the mold. No disrespect to them, it didn't work for them and it worked for the Ravens. We finished with the No. 2 defense in the NFL and I don't know where they finished. At the same time, I'm just happy to be here and winning."

NOWHERE TO RUN

Miami RBs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams were a strong combo during the regular season, but became a weak mixture on Sunday.

Brown rushed 12 times for 19 yards, while Williams added four carries for 17 yards during the Dolphins' loss. Miami's run game was limited to 52 yards on 21 carries, its second-poorest ground performance this year behind 17 attempts for 49 yards against the Jets in Week 1.

"To be honest with you, they set the edge pretty good on defense and we just couldn't get our shoulders square as we were running on the perimeter and that hurts you," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. "We knew we had to get a handle on those guys, specifically the linebacker level. We had a couple of run-throughs early on that caused us to get into some 2nd-and-12s, maybe those type of situations. You can't be behind the chains with this team. You got to be out front."

PLAYOFF BITS

Miami's five turnovers is tied for the third highest in the team's playoff history and most since the Dolphins committed seven during a 62-7 loss against Jacksonville on Jan. 15, 2000. ... Chad Pennington's four interceptions were a Miami postseason record.

Anwar S. Richardson

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