TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have shuffled their nickelbacks in practice this week.
"We haven't been pleased with the production we've gotten from the nickel position," coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday. "That's why we're looking at some different options in there."
Sterling Moore spent the first couple weeks of training camp working at cornerback. But Moore has moved to nickelback this week. Leonard Johnson, last year's nickelback, continues to work at the position. Isaiah Frey, who had been working as a nickelback in camp, has been moved to cornerback.
Moore played nickelback for Dallas last season before signing with the Bucs as a free agent in the offseason. Smith said Moore has the tools to succeed at what the coach considers a key position.
"Through my time, the nickel position has had an opportunity," Smith said. "It's at the center of the action a lot of the time, so you need a playmaker. I know we need a playmaker at every position. But that position, we ask him to do a lot. He's part linebacker at times, part safety, part defensive back. So you need to have a skill set that's pretty unique. He has that. With his corner background, he'll hit you. He made plays today. You're going to get chances in there. You have to be able to make [plays] when you get an opportunity."
