The defense scores .... again The Tampa Tribune, published 30 September 2002 The job of a Bucs defender is to run and chase and make things happen. All day, all the time. That's why it's odd that the biggest defensive play a Bucs defender made Sunday in a 35-7 victory against the Bengals was by a player whose job was to stand around and wait. ``I was the plugger,'' linebacker Shelton Quarles said of his role on the play that resulted in him intercepting quarterback Akili Smith and returning the ball 25 yards for a touchdown. ``I just sit there and wait for something to happen. Luckily, [Smith] threw the ball right to me.'' Quarles' return for the Bucs marked the first time in their history that a defender has returned an interception for a touchdown three games in succession. This was one of the few times this year, though, that the offense outscored the defense. With quarterback Brad Johnson throwing three touchdown passes and fullback Mike Alstott rumbling in for another, the Bucs didn't need their defense to carry them Sunday. Just as there was in 1999, there is a feeling the defense could carry the Bucs quite far. ``I think we're getting close,'' Quarles said when asked if the defense was beginning to play as it did in 1999. ``We're stopping the run and turning people into passing teams and that's what it's all about. That's what you've got to do.'' Though a lot of the credit for that goes to the front four and a solid secondary and linebacker Derrick Brooks (interception returns for TDs in previous two games), Quarles deserves his share, too. He clearly has made a quick and successful transition into the middle after spending the past several years serving in a platoon with Al Singleton at strongside linebacker. The transition, though, is not complete. ``It's an ongoing process,'' Quarles said. ``It's going to take a couple years I think before I'm completely comfortable there.'' The Bucs are trying to expedite the process by playing Quarles almost exclusively. Where they used to use Nate Webster in a platoon, the Bucs are leaving almost all of the plays to Quarles. ``This way, I have a better chance to get a feel for the game and to get into the flow of it,'' Quarles said. ``It's a lot better than sitting on the sidelines. When you're doing that, getting in on every other play, it's hard.'' There's at least one player who wishes Quarles was still spending more time on the sidelines. His name is Akili Smith.