NFC

Sporting News, The, June 11, 2001

San Francisco

STREETS TALK: Tai Streets isn't replacing Jerry Rice, but he made the legendary receiver expendable. The 49ers say it doesn't make financial sense to keep four quality receivers, so Rice became the odd man out. Streets will see a vast increase in playing time and might challenge underachiever J.J. Stokes for a starting job. Streets showed flashes in limited action last year. He was the team's biggest deep threat and has more speed than Rice and Stokes.... The 49ers are crowded at safety, a reversal from last year when injuries forced a cornerback to convert and start. The projected starters are Lance Schulters and John Keith, but only because Keith is more of a hard-hitting run-stopper than veteran Zack Bronson, who excels as a "center fielder" in coverage. At times, all three might be on the field.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS ANALYSIS: It's hard to analyze this spot because the players have been in a total of four games with the team. The team revamped the position, signing free agent Derek Smith, who started for four years with the Redskins, and drafting Vanderbilt's Jamie Winborn in the second round. Second-year "redshirt" Jeff Ulbrich figures to see plenty of action. Winborn could make an early impact. He'll take on fullbacks mostly while roving and trying to make tackles. The 49ers think they found a gem in Smith. They like his combination of youth and experience. He brings depth to a slim position. Another rookie, Alex Lincoln, was drafted from Auburn in the sixth round. He should back up Winborn. --Mike Triplett

Tampa Bay

SMART MOVE: WR Reidel Anthony's decision to take a $350,000 pay cut benefits him in two ways. First, it most likely saves him from being released this summer. Second, it proved further that Anthony's attitude has improved immensely since he fell out of favor with the team and lost his spot as the No. 1 receiver midway through the 1999 season. Back then, Anthony was arriving late to practices, running sloppy routes and showing virtually no willingness to make big plays in traffic. All that has changed. Anthony has been one of the team's hardest workers over the last 18 months, and he appears to have accepted his role as the No. 3 receiver.... Anthony's pay cut aside, the team is still just $400,000 under the cap. That means a veteran or two may still be cut.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS ANALYSIS: The Bucs will go with a platoon in the middle. Jamie Duncan, who was groomed to replace Hardy Nickerson and did an admirable job in his first season in that capacity last year, will start. He'll likely will get the majority of the snaps in the early going, but the continued progress of second-year pro Nate Webster could force the team to alter that plan. Webster came on strong midway through last season and was getting into about 15 plays a game by the end of the year. Duncan and Webster are cut from the same mold. Both are small, very fast, very instinctive and pursue the ball very well. Rookie Byron Thweatt is small, too, but he has good speed and range, and he gets in on a lot of tackles. He could be a player in this league if he could learn to fend off blockers a bit better. --Roy Cummings