Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign Buffalo Bills free agent cornerback Ashton Youboty
By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, August 16, 2011
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Ashton Youboty had one interception in five seasons with the Bills, where he mostly played cornerback in nickel packages. The former Ohio State standout shared the Big Ten lead in interceptions in 2004 with four.
TAMPA ? CB Ashton Youboty was on the Bucs' radar when he came out of Ohio State in 2006, but he didn't find his way onto the team's roster until Monday.
Tampa Bay signed the free agent to a two-year contract with the hope he could add depth and increase the competition in the secondary, where Aqib Talib and Myron Lewis are missing with hamstring injuries.
Youboty spent five seasons with the Bills, who made him a third-round draft pick. His role has been mostly at nickel back, but the Bucs aren't wedded to anything. Youboty is expected to play Thursday against the Patriots.
"The sooner the better," he said Monday, after joining the Bucs for afternoon practice. "I already have a grasp of the base concept. I'll pick up the nickel (position) as time goes by and see what happens."
Youboty, 27, said Buffalo's scheme under defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was very similar, so he's familiar with many of the concepts. He likely will step in and create competition with players such as Lewis, Elbert Mack and seventh-round pick Anthony Gaitor.
Because Youboty's deal contains no guaranteed money, the Bucs aren't under any financial pressure to keep him on the final roster. That probably made the deal very appealing to the Bucs, who were surprised he wasn't already on another roster.
"When a talented guy like Youboty doesn't get picked up, we're going to make room for him and get him on the squad," said defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake, who scouted Youboty before the 2006 draft.
Youboty has played in 43 games, including 13 last season. Whether he can duplicate that in Tampa Bay is up to him.
"We'll just get those guys out there and let them compete," coach Raheem Morris said. "Right now, there's an opportunity to see some other people. We always talk about long-term thinking. ? You never know what's going to happen."