TAMPA — Shortly after Tony Dungy arrived as the Bucs head coach in the 1990s, he was able to make suitable comparisons to members of the Steel Curtain defense he played with in Pittsburgh with some of his young stars.
Derrick Brooks could become the next Jack Ham. Warren Sapp could rush the passer like Joe Greene. John Lynch had the speed, physicality and instincts to match Donnie Shell.
“When I talked to Derrick (Brooks) and I talked to Warren (Sapp) that first week I was here, I told them, ‘If you guys do what I think you can do, you should be multiple All Pros, you should be Hall of Famers because you have the skill sets and this defense is set for you,’” Dungy said.