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Bucs DT
Warren Sapp
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Editor's note: The following article is just one part of PFW’s third annual
defensive package. To read the other articles in the package, see the print edition of Pro
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Seahawks CB Shawn Springs has reached the point in his career where he can completely
shut down opposing wide receivers in man-on-man coverage like a healthy Deion Sanders.
There is a glut of rising, young talent at cornerback in the NFL with Springs, Charles
Woodson, Champ Bailey, Sam Madison, etc., and right now Springs is the best of the bunch.
Springs has the desired arrogance to believe that he can stop anybody. Yet he is not a
prima donna who is in love with the view in the mirror and content to live off his press
clippings. Oh, sure, he’ll speak boldly about his abilities, but Springs is hungry.
Hungry to be the best in the business. Hungry for team success. If I am going to build a
defense around someone, I want that player to be a superstar who is not satisfied with
past achievements. Springs is the best corner around right now, and I think he’s
going to get quite a bit better.
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I want a force along the defensive line to be the cornerstone of my defense. I also
want someone with a lot of confidence, a player who isn’t afraid to speak up when
it’s time to rally the troops. That’s why Buccaneers DT Warren Sapp is the
player I want to build around. I’m not talking about the sloppy, overweight Sapp of
1998. I’m talking about the dominant Sapp we saw in ’97 and in ’99 before
he broke his hand. Sapp has learned from his disappointing campaign last year. It made him
hungry again, and I suspect he won’t suffer a relapse. He is a force on the field, a
player who can be a disruption on every play. And he is also capable of getting into the
head of an opponent.
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The question concerns the future, but I chose to look to the past to find the answer.
In determining the player I’d want to build my defense around, I sought out the most
dominating defensive figure of the last 10 years, then picked his progeny. You could make
a case for either Reggie White or Bruce Smith as the defensive star of the decade, but I
believe Deion Sanders has been a more influential player. (For proof, count up the rings.
White and Smith have one between them; Sanders has a pair.) The player who has the most
Deion-like effect on the game today, besides Sanders himself, is Raiders CB Charles
Woodson. Woodson is a true shut-down corner who can single-handedly take out the
opponent’s top receiver, enabling his defensive teammates to blitz or roll the pass
coverage to the opposite side of the field. When he gets his hands on the ball, Woodson is
a legitimate threat to take it to the house. In short, he’s a difference-maker.
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There are a number of players who could more than appropriately fill the bill. But I
give the nod to Dolphins MLB Zach Thomas, who has become a — perhaps even the
— premier "Mike" in the league. Thomas can dominate. His instincts and feel
for the game are incredible, and he’s one of the surest tacklers in the league. Watch
an NFL game in its entirety and count how many missed tackles you see. But make sure
you’re not watching a Miami game, because you’re bound to see very few by the
Dolphins. Thomas overcomes his lack of size with sound technique and great intensity.
He’s a solid on-field general and is perfect to build a defense around —
literally. Of course, I would need two stud defensive tackles to keep blockers off Thomas,
but that’s my philosophy anyway. I believe in building a defense from the middle out,
and Thomas is a middle ’backer who needs to be accounted for on every play.
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The impact positions on defense are defensive end and cornerback, so the search for a
cornerstone player must start there. Three young cornerbacks — Shawn Springs, Charles
Woodson and Champ Bailey — merit consideration, but I opted to select a defensive end
because there is a scarcity of young, impact players there. Because we’re looking for
someone to build around, Bruce Smith can’t be considered. I thought about taking
Michael Strahan or Michael McCrary, dangerous pass rushers who do a good job against the
run as well, but I decided to go with someone younger. I was very tempted to choose rookie
Jevon Kearse. His eye-popping athleticism and potential intrigue me. But since I get only
one player, I wanted someone a little more proven. So I gave the nod to the Rams’
Kevin Carter, who hasn’t gotten a lot of hype but can do everything you want an end
to do. He doesn’t have a huge mean streak, but I’d rather take a good citizen
with a great work ethic as my first player and choose a junkyard dog as my second.
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I love the way LBs Kevin Hardy and Ray Lewis attack opposing offenses and rack up
tackles with their athleticism. However, if I had to choose one defensive player to build
a team around, it would be an easy choice. Tampa Bay DT Warren Sapp is the kind of
football player you have to be aware of at all times. He’s young, he doesn’t
mind playing hurt, he’s got a motor like few others in the NFL and he is practically
unblockable one-on-one. Dominant defensive tackles are such a valuable commodity in pro
football because the good ones who garner respect from the opposition make life that much
easier for their teammates. Sapp is the perfect example. He clogs, he pursues and he takes
on blockers as few can. And in the process, he makes it easier for defensive ends to get
to the quarterback, for linebackers to make a tackle in the gap and for cornerbacks to
stick with receivers. Sapp is the most disruptive force in the game today, and that’s
why I’d love to build around him.
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