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Smith moving ahead, but he won't forget

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2009

TAMPA - Buccaneers Pro Bowl kick returner Clifton Smith said Wednesday he has a daily reminder of the vicious hit he suffered Oct. 18 that gave him a concussion.

Smith was injured when Panthers S Dante Wesley inflicted a violent blow while Smith was attempting to field a punt. The NFL suspended Wesley for a game, and Smith missed the next game against New England in London.

"I feel perfectly fine - I'm back to normal," said Smith, who is expected to play Sunday at home against Green Bay. "Nothing has been bothering me at all. I think it was the right decision to hold me out. I still had some headaches going on. I watch the video of the play all the time. There was a big picture in the paper the next day of me lying on the ground. I posted that up on my bedroom wall so I never forget it."

Smith is averaging 8.8 yards per punt return, and he has returned 17 kickoffs for a 27.9 average. He is hoping to spark the winless Bucs past the heavily favored Packers and prove he is fully recovered from the jarring collision with Wesley that prompted both teams to charge onto the field.

"Everybody blacks out once in a while playing this game," Smith said. "You feel just like Byron Leftwich said, you leave the earth for a minute. It's definitely an experience that you never forget and you hope it never happens again. You've got to move forward from there and continue to play this game."

Getting to Rodgers

Tampa Bay's defensive line understands its upcoming challenge.

Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers is the NFL's top-rated quarterback, over Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning and New Orleans QB Drew Brees. Rodgers has completed 147 of 225 passes for 1,989 yards, 14 TDs and two interceptions (110.4 passer rating), and Tampa Bay's defense knows it has to apply pressure in order to be successful.

"They have really good wide receivers, and we've got to apply the same pressure we did with Tom Brady," Bucs DE Stylez G. White said. "Try to apply as much pressure as we can. First and foremost, we've got to stop the run."

"We can't let them come in here and think they can run the ball. We're going to have to stand up, and once we get them into that passing situation we've got to make them pay."

The Bucs have struggled to make quarterbacks pay this season.

Tampa Bay has only 11 sacks this season, tied for 29th in the league. However, Green Bay has allowed 31, which is worst in the NFL.

Just for kicks

It is hard to determine new K Connor Barth's biggest asset - his expectations or his leg.

Barth signed Tuesday, and he participated in his first practice Wednesday. The former Kansas City and Miami kicker said he is eager to prove his leg strength Sunday against Green Bay.

"I feel comfortable that I can hit every time from 53 yards or in, but if we've got to go out to 60, I could probably put it through," Barth said.

Injuries

CB Aqib Talib (ankle) and LG Jeremy Zuttah (shoulder) were limited in practice, while WRs Antonio Bryant (knee) and Michael Clayton (wrist) fully participated.

Ira Kaufman, Anwar S. Richardson

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