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Remaining healthy key to secondary
By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published June 8, 2006
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TAMPA - Jermaine Phillips hears the buzz about the Bucs needing another safety.
He understands.
It's not a knock on Phillips or Will Allen , a third-year pro expected to join Phillips as a starter in the secondary this season. But if the past is an indication, it's unlikely two such physical players will both remain healthy.
And there's not much experience on the depth chart.
"The name of the game these days is depth," said Phillips, a fifth-year pro. "We know we have quality. If they feel we need another safety, that's what they feel. But I'm ready to roll with the guys we've got."
The Bucs expressed interest in free agent cornerback Charles Woodson , possibly with an eye toward converting him to safety, but the veteran signed with the Packers. Also, there has been talk the Bucs might bring back Dwight Smith in a trade with the Saints.
But for now, it's Phillips and Allen, backed up by second-year players Kalvin Pearson and Donte Nicholson . The only other safeties on the swollen offseason roster are Steve Cargile , who spent one season on the Cowboys practice squad, and rookie Jahmile Addae , an undrafted free agent from West Virginia.
Dexter Jackson , who started 11 games in 2005, signed as a free agent with the Bengals.
Coach Jon Gruden recently said Phillips and Allen are players who have stood out during offseason workouts.
"The two safeties, Phillips and Allen, look good to me," Gruden said. "They're covering grass."
As a rookie, Phillips played in all 16 regular-season games and three playoff games, mostly as a special teams contributor when the Bucs won the Super Bowl. Since replacing John Lynch , who was released after the 2003 season, Phillips has struggled to remain healthy an entire season.
Phillips has missed 12 games over the past three seasons because of injury, including two in 2003 and seven in 2004 when he fractured his right forearm twice. Like last season, he plans to wear a small brace to protect his arm during games.
"The way I look at it, prevention is better than cure," he said. "If we can prevent it from happening, we don't have to worry about curing it and we can move forward from there.
"That's my word for this year: survival, staying healthy and playing 16 regular-season games. I can't tell you what the key is. My style of play is so physical, reckless abandon, but I'm not going to change the way I play."
By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published June 8, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAMPA - Jermaine Phillips hears the buzz about the Bucs needing another safety.
He understands.
It's not a knock on Phillips or Will Allen , a third-year pro expected to join Phillips as a starter in the secondary this season. But if the past is an indication, it's unlikely two such physical players will both remain healthy.
And there's not much experience on the depth chart.
"The name of the game these days is depth," said Phillips, a fifth-year pro. "We know we have quality. If they feel we need another safety, that's what they feel. But I'm ready to roll with the guys we've got."
The Bucs expressed interest in free agent cornerback Charles Woodson , possibly with an eye toward converting him to safety, but the veteran signed with the Packers. Also, there has been talk the Bucs might bring back Dwight Smith in a trade with the Saints.
But for now, it's Phillips and Allen, backed up by second-year players Kalvin Pearson and Donte Nicholson . The only other safeties on the swollen offseason roster are Steve Cargile , who spent one season on the Cowboys practice squad, and rookie Jahmile Addae , an undrafted free agent from West Virginia.
Dexter Jackson , who started 11 games in 2005, signed as a free agent with the Bengals.
Coach Jon Gruden recently said Phillips and Allen are players who have stood out during offseason workouts.
"The two safeties, Phillips and Allen, look good to me," Gruden said. "They're covering grass."
As a rookie, Phillips played in all 16 regular-season games and three playoff games, mostly as a special teams contributor when the Bucs won the Super Bowl. Since replacing John Lynch , who was released after the 2003 season, Phillips has struggled to remain healthy an entire season.
Phillips has missed 12 games over the past three seasons because of injury, including two in 2003 and seven in 2004 when he fractured his right forearm twice. Like last season, he plans to wear a small brace to protect his arm during games.
"The way I look at it, prevention is better than cure," he said. "If we can prevent it from happening, we don't have to worry about curing it and we can move forward from there.
"That's my word for this year: survival, staying healthy and playing 16 regular-season games. I can't tell you what the key is. My style of play is so physical, reckless abandon, but I'm not going to change the way I play."
