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Pass rush is a major concern

Posted Aug 5, 2009 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Aug 5, 2009 at 02:27 PM

By IRA KAUFMAN
TAMPA—Where’s the heat?

That’s a funny question to ask in the cauldron of a Tampa Bay summer, but uncertainty surrounding the pass rush is one of the major story lines of Buc training camp.

The Bucs didn’t rush the passer with much success in 2008 and they are counting on Gaines Adams to lead the way at right DE. The other end, Jimmy Wilkerson, has never been a full-time starter and DTs Chris Hovan and Ryan Sims are run-pluggers hardly known for collapsing the pocket.

New defensive coordinator Jim Bates, fiery and crafty, will need to be at his creative best this fall. Look for the Bucs to blitz more, and from more angles, than you’re used to seeing in Monte Kiffin’s scheme.

The days of Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice are long gone. The Bucs can no longer rely on the front four to supply enough of a rush to drop seven defenders into coverage.

With Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Donovan McNabb and Tom Brady all facing the Bucs within the first seven weeks, it won’t take long to gauge the effectiveness of Tampa Bay’s pass rush.