Gaines Adams has been taking a beating on the radio talk shows and even in some print mediums, but Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Jim Bates doesn't think the public flogging is justified.
Bates said a review of the tape from the Bucs' 34-21 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday showed that Adams had a little bit better game than anyone has been willing to give him credit for.
"You got to look at the tape and [while] it wasn't consistent, there were a couple of times when Gaines had a tremendous rush,'' Bates said after the team workout Wednesday at One Buc Place.
"I mean, he made a couple of moves on the edge there against Flozelle Adams and was right at the quarterback's mouth, but when you throw on five-step [drops] and on timing routes, sometimes the ball comes out quick.''
The Bucs recorded just one sack - that on a blitz by Ronde Barber - during the Dallas game, and that's not acceptable, Bates said. He believes, though, that a shortage of third-down opportunities contributed to the low sack total.
"It was a weird game,'' Bates said. "When you have those big plays against like we had you don't get those third downs where you can get your pass rush in a rhythm and get it going.
"We were [seven]-for-10 on third down (stops), which is a positive. Any time you can hold them to 30 percent in football, we'll take that anytime. But we didn't get them in those third-and-8s and third-and-9s.''
Bucs coach Raheem Morris agreed, saying the play of the defensive line wasn't as bad as some are suggesting. No matter the reason, though, he wasn't happy with the sack figures.
"We just didn't have the two-sack game,'' he said. "Whether it's Gaines Adams or Jimmy [Wilkerson] ... or (Stylez) White, we need somebody to step up right now. When it comes to those passing downs, somebody has to step up.''
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