Bucs' Jackson making up for lost time

It has been easy to doubt Bucs safety Tanard Jackson.

Pro scouts were not sure if the former Syracuse cornerback was good enough to play in the NFL. He weighed 172 pounds. Tampa Bay gambled on him in the fourth round in 2007 and expected Jackson to be a project.

Bucs coach Raheem Morris, who was the defensive backs coach then, expected Jackson to play special teams and possibly nickelback as a rookie.

All Jackson did was become the first Bucs rookie to start on defense since end Regan Upshaw in 1996. He also is the only Bucs player to start 32 consecutive games to start a career.

Jackson's latest feat could overshadow his other accomplishments if everything goes his way when Tampa Bay (1-8) hosts New Orleans (9-0) on Sunday.

"I love playing this team," Jackson said. "As good as they are this year, they're on a roll, unbeaten. We're having a down year, but I love playing this team.

"You can make plays on some balls because you know they are going to throw 25 to 50 times a game. We just have to do our jobs, and I think we're up for it."

Jackson, 24, has rebounded beyond expectations after being suspended for the first four games of this season for violating the NFL's substance of abuse policy. Since Jackson's return, he has been in the zone.

Jackson has three interceptions, two touchdowns, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery, three passes defensed and 36 tackles in five games. He has gotten a turnover in each of Tampa Bay's past four games.

The three interceptions came in consecutive games, against Carolina, New England and Green Bay, making Jackson the first Bucs player to intercept a pass in three straight games since Derrick Brooks in 2002. Jackson then recovered a fumble in Tampa Bay's loss to Miami on Sunday.

"He has really good ball skills," Bucs defensive coordinator Jim Bates said. "When he does get near the ball, he has an excellent burst of anticipation. He reads real well, as far as in the scheme of things. He's continuing every week to get better and better.

"There's still some room for improvement. He's young in his career. He can have an outstanding career."

One reason for Jackson's success is the preparation he did during his suspension.

Jackson spent several weeks at Syracuse working out, but more importantly, he started studying film to become a better player.

"Now he's just out there having fun," Morris said. "He's happy to be out there around his teammates, obviously.

"He's having fun playing the game he loves to play. He knows he made some mistakes and he looks like he's trying to fight those demons and let that all be behind him."

Just like the doubters he has been proving wrong.

"Things have been going my way," Jackson said. "I've been able to make some good reads on the ball as far as reading the quarterback's eyes. Fumble recovery, that's just everybody out there making a play and me having the opportunity to be around the ball.

"My approach is a little different now that I've been away for those four weeks. Just being able to get back what I wanted - being back in football, and back with my teammates."

Reporter Anwar Richardson can be reached at