Dwight Smith looking to sign extension in TB

[Big Zip]

Team Should Continue Locking Up Young Core

Published: Nov 28, 2004

The Bucs' hierarchy has never passed on a chance to bemoan the previous one's efforts on draft day.

In particular, the new regime has questioned the old regime's selection of offensive players, pointing out that draftees such as Jacquez Green, Reidel Anthony and Marquise Walker were among a regular influx of busts.

The criticism almost always stops there. It seldom, if ever, slips into a critique of the decisions the old regime made in choosing defensive players, nor should it.

No one can say the Bucs didn't hit the bull's-eye when they drafted current Bucs Derrick Brooks, Anthony McFarland, Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly, and it seems the new hierarchy believes a few other recent defensive draftees have similar promise.

Last spring, for example, the Bucs signed defensive tackle Ellis Wyms to a six-year, $20 million deal. Three weeks ago, they signed safety Jermaine Phillips to a four-year, $9 million contract extension.

Neither player is earning his new paycheck right now. Both have been lost to what could be season-ending injuries - Wyms to a shoulder injury and Phillips to a broken forearm.

But that doesn't mean the Bucs made a poor decision in re-signing them to new deals. One of the smartest things a team can do is recognize its young core players and sign them to long-term, salary-cap- friendly deals.

The Bucs did that in signing Wyms and Phillips. Wyms' cap figure won't reach the $3 million plateau until the 2006 season, and Phillips won't count that much toward the cap until 2008.

If the Bucs are smart, they'll continue to sign the players that figure to make up the future core of their team, and they'll start with safety Dwight Smith.

Smith still is a little raw, but he can play safety or corner, and that will enhance his value should he hit the free-agent market this summer.

Not only that, but special- teams coach Richard Bisaccia will tell you Smith is probably the Bucs' best cover man on kicks and punts. He's a player, Bisaccia said, who can play inside or outside and who seldom misses a tackle or assignment.

And it's not like re-signing Smith is something the Bucs haven't already considered. They were attempting to negotiate a new deal for Smith last summer, but the talks broke down just before the start of training camp.

Smith was surprised and upset when he heard that Phillips had been given a new deal. It's not that Smith doesn't consider Phillips worthy of the extension. He just considers himself equally worthy and as one of the many defensive draftees the Bucs have hit on in recent years, he definitely is. A LOOK AHEAD: The Bucs suffered a major loss when C John Wade went down for the season with a dislocated knee in the game against Kansas City three weeks ago. There is an upside to that situation, though.

With Wade out, the Bucs have been forced to give second-year pro Sean Mahan a good, long look. As a result, they should know by season's end whether Mahan is fit to play center in the NFL.

But Wade's was not the only injury that has allowed the Bucs an opportunity to look at some players they otherwise might not have.

The loss of Wyms and fellow under tackle McFarland is giving the Bucs a chance to learn whether defensive end Dewayne White can make an impact at tackle.

Likewise, it's giving fellow tackle Jon Bradley a chance to prove what he can do. And because of the injury to Phillips, John Howell is getting a more extensive look at safety and Torrie Cox is getting some reps with the defense.

Leaning on reserves is not what you want to do when you're fighting for a playoff berth, but the experience these players are getting is invaluable.

When the season is over the Bucs will have a chance to evaluate how these players performed under meaningful game conditions, not just practices or exhibitions.