Phillips replaced Lynch, now Brooks?

Jermaine Phillips already tackled the unenviable job of taking over from John Lynch. Incredibly, he now could be the man to replace Derrick Brooks.

The Bucs safety has been asked by coach Raheem Morris to attempt to make a position switch to weakside linebacker this off-season, a position manned the last 14 years by Brooks, the 11-time Pro Bowl player who was released Feb. 25.

"Oh man, it crossed mind,'' Phillips said. "When they asked me, I was like first Lynch, now Brooks. Who's going to be next?'

"But I look at it like this: nobody can ever replaced a John Lynch, nobody can ever replace a Derrick Brooks. What they've done for the game of football is unmatched. All I can do is go out there and play the(Will) linebacker position the best way I can. Hopefully, everybody will learn to love me the way they loved them.''

Phillips, who turns 30 later this month, signed a one-year contract that will pay him a base salary of $1.25-million in 2009.

There were several factors in the decision to move Phillips to linebacker. The Bucs are committed to playing third-year pro Sabby Piscitelli at strong safety. Geno Hayes tore the medial collateral ligament in his knee and may not be ready until May to compete at full speed, at the earliest. And the Bucs haven't had any success adding a linebacker through free agency.

"Two weeks ago, (Phillips) was still on the market. He wasn't even here,'' linebackers coach Joe Barry said. "I think it's been a bunch of things, with us not signing a guy, with us signing (Phillips) back, with a guy or two being banged up.

"But the bottom line with moving Jermaine is that Jermaine Phillips is a hell of a football player.

"He's a physical presence...There are guys who have the tag of being a physical presence in the secondary and a hitter and all that stuff. Jermaine Phillips is a load. He will knock you out.' Those are the reasons we felt comfortable even thinking about this.'

Because Phillips played in a lot of eight-man fronts at safety, walking down to 'the box', just four yards from the line of scrimmage, he is comfortable shedding blocks and playing in a confined space.

Comments

[oldtimer]

In a related move the Bucs are now planning to start Quincy Black at middle linebacker, opening an opportunity for former starter Barret Ruud to win a spot as the Bucks new place-kicker. Ruud's powerful legs and large back-side shoud provide the team with longer kick-offs and in turn, better field position.

[G. Michael Reynolds]

ROFL! Thats great.

[BucNasty]

"Because Phillips played in a lot of eight-man fronts at safety, walking down to 'the box', just four yards from the line of scrimmage, he is comfortable shedding blocks and playing in a confined space."

That's not necessarily a given. The point of an eight-man front is to outnumber (or at least match) the number of blockers. The question is can he shed consistently, can his body hold up to the abuse at 220 lbs, and is he going to put on weight for this experiment? The last could have a definite effect on his play if this is called off and switches back to safety.

[Brian]

This makes absolutely no sense. They cut Brooks AND June because they were going "bigger" in Bates defensive scheme. Now they are putting Phillips--who is smaller than either by a good 15 pounds--in a LB spot. The only reason they are doing this is because they have screwed up in FA and failed to sign another LB (obviusly Crowell is going somewhere else), and it saved money against Brooks/June cost.

I am amazed by how poor these two have done so far. With all the cap space we had and all our draft picks in place, we have barely accomplished anything other than overpaying for Winslow--a position that was NOT high need compared to the D' line and LB--and re-signing a few of our own players. Is there an award for playing a season with the most un-used cap space. ther msut be because EVERY decision seems to be driven by money issues, not putting the best team on the field. Bucs win most unused cap space award hands down!

[BucFandango]

And now Crowell replaces Flip at LB. The comedy continues, but this is a good signing.

[Blow]

wow...what genius!...YOU LOSERS SHOULD EASILY GO 6-10.

[conradbuff]

yeah 6-10 shouldnt be too much trouble. nice observation blow

[RC]

I hate to say it, but there's not alot out there in free agency worth spending on. I would agree releasing Brooks was dumb, won't find a better replacement. If the Bucs want to use that cap space, they will have to trade for good players. And even at that, the price may be too steep. I like the Winslow trade. I hope they can get Cutler. They lost on the guy from Tennesee(Haynesworth I think), I wouldn't garantee that much money either. The guy gets injured and your in cap hell. They have to build through draft or make a big trade. I'm not upset that they aren't waisting money on sub par free agents. I just wish they had connected on Cutler.

[conradbuff]

this article is wrong john howell replaced lynch