Porter not impressed by Bucs' secondary
ESPN.com news service
One day after his team got buried in Super Bowl XXXVII, Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter took some shots at the Bucs' defense.
The timing might be a little strange, considering the Bucs shut down Oakland's high-powered offense in an impressive 48-21 rout. Oakland scored most of its points after Tampa built a 31-point lead.
Porter had four receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Porter also injured his left knee during the game, and will have an MRI later this week.
Despite the Bucs' impressive play in the secondary -- safety Dexter Jackson was named MVP of the game -- Porter had some choice words for the Bucs' defensive backfield.
"I'm not going to sit here and say they're great. I'm not impressed. Their DBs ----," Porter told reporters on Monday. "Across the board, they're awful, but they apply enough pressure up front to where you can't expose them.
"Let me tell you, if Ronde Barber had to cover all day, he'd be living with his brother (Tiki)," Porter added.
Ronde Barber did have a strong postseason for the Bucs, including a game-sealing interception return for a touchdown in the NFC title game against the Eagles.
Porter said the Bucs' cornerbacks are ideal for their cover-2 system, where they aren't required to play much man-to-man.
"Man-to-man, they're not (great)," said Porter. "The only guy who can play man-to-man is Brian Kelly and he's only decent. They're a team that thrives off their pressure."
Ronde Barber, appearing Tuesday on The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio said Porter "is a loser, period."
Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon, under pressure much of the game, threw a Super Bowl-record five interceptions. Jackson picked off two in the first half. Nickel back Dwight Smith also had a pair of interceptions (both for touchdowns), and linebacker Derrick Brooks also scored on an interception return.
It was the pressure on Gannon that led to the picks, Porter says.
"It was astounding," Porter said. "Them boys got it going up front."
After the game, the Bucs compared themselves to the best defensive teams in history. Porter disagrees.
"Hell, no. Hell, no," he told reporters. "The Ravens' defense (in 2000), they were hell against the run. You can run on the Bucs. We just didn't. We didn't because that's not our structure this year. You couldn't run on the Ravens. ... But (against the Bucs), all you have to do is -- it's pretty easy to say now because the game is over -- run the ball."
ESPN.com news service
One day after his team got buried in Super Bowl XXXVII, Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter took some shots at the Bucs' defense.
The timing might be a little strange, considering the Bucs shut down Oakland's high-powered offense in an impressive 48-21 rout. Oakland scored most of its points after Tampa built a 31-point lead.
Porter had four receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Porter also injured his left knee during the game, and will have an MRI later this week.
Despite the Bucs' impressive play in the secondary -- safety Dexter Jackson was named MVP of the game -- Porter had some choice words for the Bucs' defensive backfield.
"I'm not going to sit here and say they're great. I'm not impressed. Their DBs ----," Porter told reporters on Monday. "Across the board, they're awful, but they apply enough pressure up front to where you can't expose them.
"Let me tell you, if Ronde Barber had to cover all day, he'd be living with his brother (Tiki)," Porter added.
Ronde Barber did have a strong postseason for the Bucs, including a game-sealing interception return for a touchdown in the NFC title game against the Eagles.
Porter said the Bucs' cornerbacks are ideal for their cover-2 system, where they aren't required to play much man-to-man.
"Man-to-man, they're not (great)," said Porter. "The only guy who can play man-to-man is Brian Kelly and he's only decent. They're a team that thrives off their pressure."
Ronde Barber, appearing Tuesday on The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio said Porter "is a loser, period."
Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon, under pressure much of the game, threw a Super Bowl-record five interceptions. Jackson picked off two in the first half. Nickel back Dwight Smith also had a pair of interceptions (both for touchdowns), and linebacker Derrick Brooks also scored on an interception return.
It was the pressure on Gannon that led to the picks, Porter says.
"It was astounding," Porter said. "Them boys got it going up front."
After the game, the Bucs compared themselves to the best defensive teams in history. Porter disagrees.
"Hell, no. Hell, no," he told reporters. "The Ravens' defense (in 2000), they were hell against the run. You can run on the Bucs. We just didn't. We didn't because that's not our structure this year. You couldn't run on the Ravens. ... But (against the Bucs), all you have to do is -- it's pretty easy to say now because the game is over -- run the ball."
