Picking, grinning
Adams’ trio of interceptions huge boost for defense
TAMPA — Inside the Buccaneers’ locker room following their 24-17 victory Sunday over Carolina, coach Dirk Koetter presented safety Andrew Adams with three game balls, one for each of his three interceptions Sunday.
“It’s huge,” Adams said Monday about the postgame celebration. “It being my first year in Tampa, the team has really embraced me. It’s been like family. It’s just great and the team camaraderie is huge. I love it.”
Adams became just the fourth Bucs player to make three interceptions in a game, and the first since 2009. That’s not bad for a player who didn’t have a job when this season began before signing with the Bucs in late September. Adams’ role has grown on a secondary hit by injuries, and he played a seasonhigh 32 snaps against the Panthers. All five players who started the season in the secondary were on injured reserve or inactive by the time safety Justin Evans left Sunday’s game at halftime.
Adams entered the contest with just one career interception in 38 NFL games but said his performance wasn’t a surprise.
“I prepare and expect to play big every game,” Adams said. “This was a very big game. But as a professional, that’s what you prepare for.”
The Bucs continued to use Adams in a variety of spots. On Sunday, he played mostly at free safety but also lined up closer to the line of scrimmage in a quasi-linebacker role in a six-defensive-backs package and once in coverage in the slot.
“It’s fun,” he said. “I like being around the line [of scrimmage] and being active. … That kind of helps,” Adams said. “At the beginning of the game, I wasn’t playing safety, so being on the side when it’s not third down and not on the field, I can see really everything that they’re doing, so it kind of gave me a different perspective.”
As for those three game balls, Adams said he’ll have them painted and has a place to display them in his new home in Atlanta.
“I’ve find a nice spot for those to go in the man cave,” he said.
Adams had worked out for five teams after being cut Sept. 1 by the Giants. He had been a starting safety in the league, but every trip ended the same.
“It’s very nerve-wracking,’’ Adams said. “You know you’re a good football player and don’t know why you’re watching football games on Sunday and why you’re not playing. It’s a little demoralizing but you can’t let it get to you.
“So I think that was the hardest part, to keep your head locked in and keep grinding. Just praying every day and knowing it’s going to come.”
Adams joined the Bucs in Week 3 after safety Chris Conte was stiffed-armed to the I.R. list by Pittsburgh tight end Vance McDonald. On Sunday, Adams was the leader of a rag-tag band of pickups that included Javien Elliott and Devonte Harris.
Brent Grimes, Carlton Davis and M.J. Stewart all were inactive with injuries, meaning the Bucs were down to their fifth, sixth and seventh cornerbacks. When Evans reinjured his foot, they were playing their third, fourth and fifth safeties.
“All those guys who came in were role players but stars today,” Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said. “The D was fantastic today. Four turnovers, four interceptions, four sacks.”
It was the 5-7 Bucs’ second win in a row. The turning point came with Carolina trailing 10-7 and driving at the Tampa Bay 25.
FSU alum Elliott jumped a sideline route to D.J. Moore, intercepted the pass and somehow maintained his footing to race 50 yards. That set up Jameis Winston’s 13-yard TD pass to Chris Godwin with 13 seconds left in the half.
“I thought he was going to go down right after the catch,” Koetter said of Elliott, who was cut just six weeks ago. “I told him at halftime that was a hell of a job just staying up. Then if he had any speed, he would’ve scored.”
Koetter related how Elliott left the team in October to be with his family in Panama City after Hurricane Michael tore through the Florida Panhandle. The Bucs released him shortly after that because they needed a roster spot, Koetter said, but re-signed him to the practice squad by the end of the week.
“And here he is with the interception today,” Koetter said. “That’s perseverance by him.”
Perseverance is the story of the Bucs’ revitalized defense that until last week had not had a turnover since Sept. 24. Under Mark Duffner, serving his seventh game as defensive coordinator, the defensive line has come alive. The Bucs notched their third straight game with four sacks.
Two of Adams’ interceptions were passes that fluttered after Newton was whacked by Jason PierrePaul and Gerald McCoy. By handing the Panthers (6-6) their fourth straight loss, the Bucs avenged a 42-28 loss at Carolina on Nov. 4.