| Imagine how Simeon Rice would look on the
Buccaneers’ defensive line? Now imagine you’re a quarterback facing Simeon
Rice on the Buccaneers’ defensive line.
Scary image, huh?
That image could become reality in the near future. With Tampa Bay’s trade of LB
Jeff Gooch to St. Louis for a fifth-round pick, the team created an opening under the
salary cap that might be large enough to fit Rice, a former first-round pick of the
Cardinals who’s now an unrestricted free agent.
The Bucs’ front line would then consist of four former No. 1 picks, including DE
Marcus Jones and DTs Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland. It might be the scariest group of
pass rushers ever assembled, but it begs the eternal question: Can they stop the run as
well?
Pressuring and sacking quarterbacks is nothing new to the Buccaneers. Last season they
finished sixth in the league in sack percentage. But their run defense was a bit suspect,
allowing 103.0 yards per game. Some of that can be blamed on the loss of Hardy Nickerson,
but new MLB Jamie Duncan is no slouch. He’ll return next season to man the middle
again.
The reason the Bucs’ run defense would come into question next season is Rice. Few
will find fault with his pass-rushing ability, but many will with his run defense, and the
last thing the Bucs need is a one-dimensional end to further damage their play against the
run.
Granted, Rice hasn’t been signed yet, but if he does join forces, the concern will
be raised. In fact, it may put more pressure on the linebackers, the unsung heroes of
defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin’s system.
An NFL personnel staffer once told me, what helps the Bucs do what they do on defense
is their linebackers. "You can have a bitch of a line. If you don’t get some
help from your ’backers, you’re in trouble," he said. "All you need to
do is turn that tackle, (and) there’s a hole up there. But your linebackers have
gotta help you, boy. They’re part of it. When they start talking about front four,
take the linebackers out of there, and you’ll see how good they are."
With the Bucs playing so aggressively up front, the onus is on the linebackers to join
the play quickly and bring the ballcarrier down should he break through to the second
level of defense. That’s why the Bucs have such speed at the position. Derrick Brooks
and Shelton Quarles are quick to the ball, and they wrap up well. If Rice continues his
subpar run defense in Tampa, both outside ‘backers will have to cover for him.
That’s the price you pay when you play the type of scheme the Bucs do. But the
rewards that often come with it are quite large, and that makes the risks more tolerable.
On the other side of the Bucs’ ball, kudos to new offensive coordinator Clyde
Christensen for "getting it." Before attending the Scouting Combine in
Indianapolis, Christensen visited with WR Keyshawn Johnson in Los Angeles to discuss the
types of plays the Jets used to get Johnson the ball.
Wonder if former coordinator Les Steckel thought of that.
By going out of his way to meet Johnson, Christensen showed great dedication to his
trade and a willingness to go the extra mile for his team — and his players. Johnson
must have been quite appreciative of Christensen’s efforts, and that will only make
for a happier Johnson during the season.
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