Phillips to LB? He'll give it a try

SS Jermaine Phillips is one of the hardest-hitting safeties around. We might soon find out whether his fierce playing style will make him a good linebacker.

Phillips told the team's website he will give weak-side linebacker a try this offseason, a move that would be a dramatic shift from playing in the secondary.

It's not uncommon for players to change positions in the NFL, but those changes are typically made within the same unit. This move would be much more involved. But Phillips says he's game.

"I'd never played linebacker before, and I told them I'll never know how effective I'm going to be at the position or how fun it will be for me unless I try it," Phillips told buccaneers.com. "So, I told them I was willing to give it a try and we'll see how it goes. I know there's a lot more hitting up there and I like to hit, so let's work out and see what happens."

Phillips said coach Raheem Morris approached him with the idea. Perhaps it's a recognition of the team's lack of depth and experience at linebacker after the release of Derrick Brooks and Cato June last month. The Bucs are negotiating with Buffalo free agent Angelo Crowell, but they haven't addressed the position thus far in free agency.

In the story, linebackers coach Joe Barry expressed confidence about Phillips' chances for success in the move.

"In his career here, he has played so frequently in the box, as a man defender, a zone defender, a blitzer," Barry said. "You can go over the tape from his years here and find numerous examples of him blowing up fullbacks and using his hands and taking on guards and shedding off linemen and making tackles.

"When you move a defensive back to linebacker, people can be a little leery about the physical aspect of it, the physical part of the game, and that's what Jermaine is. Jermaine's a hitter. He's a physical presence on the field. That's the first thing you have to answer when you move a safety to linebacker: 'Can he physically hold up? Can he physically do it?' Just from his style of play, I say, yes."

My take on this is that it's just an experiment and not something that's set in stone. But it sure can't hurt to try.

Comments

[ref813]

If they move Phillips to LB, someone better teach Sabby to play S. Allen showed some promise when he first saw action, but I don't think he's done much since. Why don't they just get Crowell and let the LBs fight it out? It's hard to imagine a guy who never played LB beating out the rest of the crowd. That crowd has minimal experience at the pro level, so who knows? It won't be a good sign if he does. Sign Weaver and see what he can do at LB while you're at it.

[Krutch]

I really don't think he'll be a LB at the beginning of the season. Raheem is just toying with the idea in case we don't get the depth we need at LB. Flip would need to add a good 15-20 lbs to consistently keep up with the larger guys in the box. Would be fun to see him blitz a lot more though.

[D Block]

Ok hopefully this is all Smoke & Mirrors! Phillips & TJ form one of the best Safety tandems in the league. Moving Phillips to weakside is a big mistake to me it voids the strength of the D in my opinion. If this was a nickel or dime package they where talikng about it would be great. It would have phillips at lb while moving sabby to ss that would be a fast unit. But as far as starting the game with that unit it would be a small unit! Not physical, and if this is the plan we are in trouble. That would mean they don't believe in there young lb's corps. That would mean we have a big problem

[BucFandango]

Just in: After this meeting with Phillips to discuss the switch to linebacker, he was handed his new Contract to sign. He reached down to sign it, slipped, and broke his arm again...

[D Block]

I'm all for shaking up things when they are broken but the safety tandem was fine. It was the best part of the D why screw with it if it's not broken? Address the issue with a lb that! U know 6'2 - 6'4 240-260 lbs not a 6ft 210 lb safety. The bucs don't pay me to watch them play, we pay to watch them. I'm a buc fan i am also a Notre Dame & Knicks fan but i don't watch them play anymore because i don't like the product. I'm not the only fan that does this no one supports bad products.

[D Block]

I'm not jumping ship or anything but this idea alone is very disturbing to me. Lb's take on Rb's, D lineman take on O lineman, Safeties take on Te's, CB's take on WR's there is a reason for that it's called football 1 on 1. All of those guys are similar vs each other but there is always just a little more involved. Lb's occasionaly take on lineman do you really want to see phillips taking on Gross from carolina? or any other lineman? He isn't big enough and it would take away from his playmaking ability.

[D Block]

Bucfandango have you ever played organized sports?

[skp]

D Block, i like the idea of sporting phillips at LB in Nickel or Dime packages, with the better coverage safety - piscitelli - up top. that's a pretty athletic personnel group there

[oldtimer]

Ha Ha Ha Ha!

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !

[jwalk]

D block, according to the full article on buccaneers.com, Phillips is 6'2" and closer to 230, Brooks is 6'0" and hovered right around the 220 to 230 mark most of his career. So, there are definitely some questions, but I don't think size is one of them. I think it's pretty smart of the coaching staff. If you've got three guys that perform well for the two safety spots, why not figure out a way to get all three of them on the field at the same time?

[aj]

That doesn't exactly sound like they are confident in the young linebackers. I thought they said they needed bigger linebackers for Bates system? There have been big safeties shift down to linebacker before, but why not stay with June or DB if you are going to stay undersized?

A little part of me died when I read that drivel on buccaneers.com. Reminded me why I don't go there.

[Clint]

Nothing like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. Jesus Cutler is the only savior for this season.

[ref813]

Sabby isn't the better coverage safety for starters. He messed up while trying to assist the CBs more than any other S. If he were as good as Phillips, I would be wishing Phillips the best at LB.
D Block, I thought LBs in this league were generally bigger, too. I was going to make this point until I looked around the league. Most of the greats both present and past were 240, at most. Many are in the lower 230s. Phillips could get that big. I don't like the idea of messing up one of the best units, either, but if the Ss would be better off without Phillips than the LBs would be without him, then I say let him go to LB. If they had bothered to add one CB or a LB, we probably wouldn't be having this discussion. If we got Rolle, Barber might be able to play S. In the end, it's not a great situation if your S is beating out career LBs. This is what happens when you release 2 starters and add no players on D.

[Matt H]

If Phillips' bones can't hold up to 75 smash mouth tackles a season without breaking, how exactly is putting him in a new role requiring 120+ going to help?

They might as well just put him on IR now.

[Dave]

Every time I try to find a reason to be less negative about the direction of this team, some bull skit like this happens. This just cements the idea in my mind that team Mor-o-Nik is either:

A) Clueless
B) Struggling to build a roster because Darth Glazer has a giant pad lock on his piggy bank
C) Both A & B

[Dave]

I'm picking "C"

[mm]

reports are Coach Morris is in Gainesville at Florida's Pro day.

Can someone let him know that there are no defensive players from UF in this year's draft.

[D Block]

Phillips best seasons where when he was around 215 lbs! That's all i have to say about that. Why bulk up a safety and possibly take away from his explosiveness. If you are going to do that just sign Roy Williams from Dallas and move him to LB he walks around near 230 lbs. But remember the Bates system has used larger LB's in the past. I agree with some of you some of the better LB's in the league are around 235 lbs, but those who lay the wood are around 240 & up! That's what i thought the bucs where trying to do. When another team is worried about getting hit they tend to slow up or tippy toe through open holes or drop balls thrown at them because they are concentrating on the impact. I would rather have a feared defense one that delivers the big blows from every position. I don't need Cb's that knock people out they just need to cover but everyone else can knock out opponents.

[Valrico Rick]

Actually, you guys missed the point, again. What a surprise! Phillips' ability to function as the weakside linebacker means that if they find themselves in a nickel against a run formation they are less vulnerable. The defense can shift into a standard 4-3 from a nickel without changing players. Have you noticed a problem stopping the run? A lot of times it's the wrong defensive players on the field. But go ahead and rip the new coach, call the Glazers cheap, and all of your usual dribble and farts! Honeslty, I think you guys just like to talk big and bash, you don't know jack about football!

[D Block]

It's one good thing about going to Floridas pro day most of us probably don't want to here it but here it is. Harvin could add or set up 7 more points a game. I really wouldn't be upset if we added Harvin in this years draft it would give this team the most potent offense it has ever had that wouldn't be a bad thing. The Defense needs to be addressed but at this point the D wouldn't be able to stop Harvin if he played somewhere else either. I'm not sure what this team is going to do at this point especially if the don't sign Crowell or make a move on a young defensive player.

[D Block]

Let me clear that up a little bit i like the Defenses chances with a standard line up.

[D Block]

Here is the potential starting line up for next yr as of now.

DE G Adams
DT C Hovan
DT R Simms/D Moore
DE J Wilkerson
LB A Hayward
LB B Ruud
LB G Hayes
CB A Talib
FS T Jackson
SS J Phillips
CB E Mack

I don't have Black as an option because he is the back up MLB behind Ruud as of now. He could be an option at weak side. I'm not upset with this line up because it would keep the safeties fresh and gives us a good chance if we don't pick up Crowell or another potential starter

[D Block]

Ok Phillips is 6'2 230 lbs but i like him at SS. If he can make the transition Morris looks like a genius but if not? Can Phillips tackle yes can he cover a TE yes most backs out of the backfield yes. He would definetely be more atheletic then Brooks or June was last yr also. But more then that we would now be depending on Sabby starting with only Allen backing up both safeties. If it works it works if it doesn't we will all complain and Phillips will suffer

[oldtimer]

In a related move, Gaines Adams will attempt to lose 15 lbs. and become the third wide receiver working mostly out of the slot position. Adams is a former 1st round draft pick at defensive end but his inabilty to retain water has lead to a slimer profile and a new opportunity within the Buccaneers organization.

[BucFandango]

D Block, I am a Nerd, but like Bill Gates said, "Be nice to Nerds, because you might find yourself working for one someday". However, the answer is yes. I was captain of the Chess team. LOL and I like Flip a lot and I'm really glad they kept him. Any other questions big Fella?

[D Block]

Here is the potential starting line up for next yr as of now with Phillips at weakside and other changes

DE G Adams
DT G Peterson/C Hovan
DT D Moore/R Simms
DE J Wilkerson
LB J Phillips
LB B Ruud
LB Q Black
CB A Talib
FS T Jackson
SS S Piscitelli
CB E Mack

I don't know if this is as bad as i first thought. It's just that i thought they where trying to get bigger. It looks like they are getting faster. Peterson & Moore are both bigger then last years startind DT's they are both 6'4 but it doesn't mean much right now. Can Bates make it work i hope so he has done well in this league.

[D Block]

Bucfandango as you know i don't throw jabs at people on blogs lol. I asked because your comment wasn't that of an athelete. Fellow atheletes try not to take pop shots at injured atheletes their are too many variables when players get hurt that's all. I think you will agree Phillips is a tough safety & good player. Forearm brakes don't happen often but can happen do to the helmet to arm contact.

[D Block]

Oh yeah i don't believe in Nerds i just believe some people are just stupid Lmao. I personally messed up my last yr of HS due to my junior yr i missed over 30 days of school dropping my GPA forcing me to JUCO but i passed test and other things effortlessly lol.

[ref813]

I see your point, Rick, but that's not what the articles say. They make it sound as though he will be trying out to be a full-time LB. It would be great if he got some practice for scenarios you mention, but I wouldn't be bashing everyone because of the way the articles were written. They may really be considering letting him play LB full-time. If so, you're missing the point. Some people just like to whine about the coach, etc. You're right about that. I think you used to do a good bit of it when Gruden was in charge. I could be wrong. That was a while back on a different site.

[Opinion Master]

why not leave Phillips at safety, and bring in Roy Williams, another hard hitting safety to play LB?

OR as I'm sure was mentioned, SIGN A LINEBACKER!?!

[Go Long]

Valrico Rick - Very true - because you have shown this thread for along time how little you know about professional football. But we'll save that for another day. Can you really say this is a good move? Moving a safety to Will to replace Brooks?! Huh? How about the ACTUAL LINEBACKERS they have on the roster to play it?! - you know - the guys who have actually PLAYED THAT POSITION all through college and now in the pro ranks. You have ingested so much kool-aid it's amazing. Didn't they say when they cut 55 that they wanted to see that "the young players can do...it's their time, etc, etc" So then explain this? At least you are consistently ignorant.

[Go Long]

ref - it's true - Val Rick led the charge against Gruden and I just think it was pathetic. I think the Bucs took a huge step backwards with the HC and GM changes and people with agendas seem to give the benefit of the doubt now with BLINDERS ON. I HATE hypocrites and these guys come on here and cheerlead. When the fact is - if this was Gruden moving Phillips to LB these same guys like Val Rick would be KILLING them! Hypocrites! Get ready for 4-12 - how many times do I need to say it?

[Go Long]

D Block - in all fairness, it is obvious to question durability when he had two breaks in the same season AND has had Prior breaks in previous seasons. History tends to repeat (and has in this case). I hope he stays healthy....but plans must be made by the men in charge in case.

[Grs]

bargain basement... Gayzers running the El Cheapo Depot once again! These guys can give AIG a lesson or 2 on how to swindle people's money I tell ya!

[BucFandango]

Buccaneers.com is reporting that Crowell is now a Buc. Excellent!!!

[Grs]

Until every fan on here calls out the Gayzer family for what they really are, they will not change their ways. Why would they?

[BucFandango]

Does anyone know Crowell's height & weight?

[jerseybuc]

Raheem likes Sabby, he has been praising the kid for two years now. Belicheck has used hybrid defenses for years, 2 lineman, 5 lineman etc.. I think Bucs will find a way to get Flip on the field, but it may not be necessarily as a Will, we may just use some creative packages that employ 3 safeties, and not only in passing downs...as long as they address the D line in the first round I think the D will be better than most people think.

[Go Long]

FINALLY - now we know where the Glasers have been spending all of that money!!!! On Brian Glaser's WATER BILL!

[conradbuff]

i think bringing in roy williams to play lb wouldnt be a bad idea his coverage against wrs isnt great but against tes would be good and hes better than any other lb available in FA

[ref813]

Crowell is 6'1" 243, if I remember correctly.