Adams to taste the real thing

The rookie and tryout minicamp the Bucs held last weekend was only a warm-up of what's to come for the new youngsters.

For first-round pick Gaines Adams and the rookie class, the real eye-opener will be Wednesday when full-squad offseason workouts resume. It'll be fast-paced and the rookies won't get much sympathy if they find themselves unable to keep up.

It should be particularly telling in the case of Adams, who figures to see a lot of snaps. Starting right defensive end Simeon Rice still hadn't been cleared to participate in last month's OTAs and could still be limited this week after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in November. If that's the case, expect to see Adams get a lot of work, which is certainly not a bad thing.

He will need all the reps he can get, because once the season starts it seems that, under current circumstances, Adams won't see nearly the same number of snaps in practice or games. He will at best be splitting reps with Rice, and if the veteran sackmaster can regain his form from a couple years ago, it's hard to justify taking him off the field much.

Of course, the Bucs knew this before they drafted Adams. But they do have a challenge on their hands in determining how and when to use him. It might be situationally, which, for a pass rusher, isn't the worst thing in the world (see Dewayne White).

The question is, can you, as a fan, accept the fact that a team's first-round pick may only be on the field from time to time? There's no wrong answer. Just wondering.

Comments

[Andy]

Is it just me or is anyone else think he was too undersized at this position? Are we looking at Eric Curry?

[Keith]

Andy, its just you. And no we are not looking at Eric Curry, we're looking at Gaines Adams!

[Bill]

I don't see how it matters WHO is posting sacks, as long as SOMEONE is posting sacks. Besides, why is it that Adams won't be on the field if Rice is on the field? Couldn't they be bookends? That sounds like a lot of heat to me. I hope it works out that way.

With the death of the forums comes the death of my visits to the SPTimes. Good luck.

[loise]

There is no reason Adams and Simeon can't be on the field at the same time on passing downs. If the defense is playing well, that should be about 2/3rds of the time.

[Carol]

For Andy who thinks Gaines is undersized-Gaines is 6'5 and 265 lbs and Simeon is 6'5 and 268 lbs. Hmmmm--nope doesn't seem to be undersized. Watch some film on him--he is a beast off the corner, long arms, lots of hustle, gives a long chase if needed--reminds many of Rice about 4 years ago.

[Fred Augat]

Guys like Rice do not come along that often and to have his eventual replacement enjoy the luxury of being groomed while rice is still here is excellent....I am also certain that monte and coyer will find creative ways to use them both.