Getting to know Jimmy Wilkerson For one reason or another, some NFL players just don’t seem to blossom right away. Whether it’s due to scheme, snap totals or simply a need for a change in scenery, it often takes a bit of a shakeup for even a talented player to live up to his potential. Count Jimmy Wilkerson in that category. Originally a sixth-round pick of the Chiefs in the 2003 NFL Draft, Wilkerson spent the first five years of his career in Kansas City. He saw action in at least 12 games every season he spent in Kansas City, including two years where he played in all 16 games. However, Wilkerson served mainly as a reserve, starting just five games in five years and recording all of one sack (which was actually two half-sacks secured three seasons apart). Then came the shakeup. Wilkerson signed with the Bucs as a free agent prior to the 2008 season and in just one season posted five sacks while seeing action in all 16 games, albeit with only one start. Quintupling his sack total – a fluke? Far from it, as Wilkerson has proved in 2009. Now a starter, Wilkerson has opened all 13 games in 2009 (12 at left end, one at right end) and recorded six more sacks, pushing his total to 11 since coming to Tampa. He has quickly emerged as one of the team’s most consistently productive defensive players, and he definitely qualifies as one of the steals of the 2008 free agency class. Wilkerson has always been a hardworking player, and a versatile one at that. He has played both inside and outside positions along the defensive front throughout his career, as well as on special teams. But what was it about coming to Tampa that resulted in such a major uptick in production? The answer, according to Wilkerson, is simple: he just needed to be given a chance. You had one sack in your five seasons in Kansas City and you have 11 in less than two years in Tampa. Obviously, that’s all about getting an opportunity to play, but did you ever wonder during those five seasons if your opportunity would come? “Yeah, I did. I wondered if it was going to be my last year playing football. There was just a lot of frustration being in Kansas City, but I got the opportunity here in Tampa, and it paid off.” Did you believe all along that you were capable of taking advantage of that opportunity, as you have now? “Yeah, I always believed that. Any time when an opportunity is set before me, I’m always going to go at it 100 percent.” Of course, there’s more to playing defensive line than getting sacks, and your coaches the last two years have praised your all-out approach to all aspects of your position. Is it important to you to be a well-rounded defender and not just a guy that tries to fly around the edge and get the quarterback? “It is, because if you are one-dimensional, then you can’t really help the team as much as you want to. If you’re just a pass-rusher, that just lets a lot of people know that you really can’t play the run. Or, if you can play the run well but you’re not a good pass-rusher, then you’re going to be taken out on third down. So I try to be an all-around defensive line player so I can be out there on the field.” Now that you have had an unbroken, week-to-week stretch to develop your game, what have you found to be your biggest strengths? What have you worked the most on to improve? “My biggest strength is of course controlling the run and stopping them from getting to the edge. Things that I can continue to work on are my pass rush, bringing more moves to the table, counter moves and just my footwork overall.” It’s been a tough year for the Bucs in most categories, including defense. Still, the defense has shown improvement in the last three weeks, giving up three of its four lowest yardage totals of the year. Is that a function of the new direction the defense has taken under Raheem Morris’ play-calling? What are the main differences and why has it suited this team better? “Going back to the Tampa Two really helped us out a lot because it’s what we’re used to playing. I think we have a lot of our strengths playing that defense.” Speaking of this year being a tough one, how has that affected you. Have you attempted to be a leader on this team to some of the younger guys, making sure everyone kept fighting despite the record? “I’m trying to be a leader on the team and stay positive. Even though we’re having the record that we have, I’m just trying to stay positive with everything we do.” It’s often said that there is a really fine line in the NFL between good and bad teams. How close is this team to winning on a consistent basis? How confident are you that next season will be more successful? “I’m very confident. I know a lot of people throw this around that we’re a young team, and we are, but I think that we have a lot to learn and a long way to go. If we can end out this season on a positive note, we can be pretty good next season.” Seeing how your career has taken off since you came to Tampa and really got a chance to play, do you feel like you’ve “arrived” now as a player, or is there another level for you to get to? “There’s definitely another level. I’m never satisfied with my performance. Every year I try to up my performance over what I did the year before.” Coach Morris has talked about finishing this season strong and building some momentum for the offseason and 2010. How important is that, and do you think it can actually happen? “It’s very important. That’s what I want to do is try to finish this season out strong, because if you finish out strong it gives you something to look