ATLANTA — Dane Fletcher was an all-state linebacker at Bozeman High School in Montana and a talented catcher on the baseball team. But playing hockey as a goaltender was really his passion and focus from the time he was 4 years old.
"Hockey was my thing," Fletcher said. "I thought hockey was my ticket. I just got stressed out my senior year in high school. … I just put a lot of pressure on myself. I was playing at a high level through high school. It was just a lot. I was over it. So I fell back on football and luckily it worked out."
With starting middle linebacker Mason Foster out for at least two games with a separated shoulder, the Bucs' fallback plan at that position is Fletcher, who will be responsible tonight for directing the defense against the No. 1 offense in the NFL.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan leads the league with 679 passing yards and is tied for fourth in touchdown passes with four. He has explosive receiver Julio Jones (14 catches, 204 yards, TD) and a capable running game with Steven Jackson.
The Bucs defense has produced only one turnover and three sacks. The Bucs are 14th in the NFL in total defense and tied for 12th in points allowed with 19.5 per game.
Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is questionable with a broken hand. Combined with defensive end Adrian Clayborn and cornerback Mike Jenkins, who have been placed on injured reserve, Tampa Bay could be without four starters on defense.
Nose tackle Clinton McDonald could move to McCoy's under tackle position while Akeem Spence would get the start at nose. Either Da'Quan Bowers or William Gholston will start at left defensive end and the Bucs will need contributions from Scott Solomon, Jacquies Smith and Larry English on some passing downs.
"It's going to take guys coming into their role, from me to Da'Quan to Clint to Will to Scott," Spence said. "It's going to take a total effort on the defense. And our offense, they're going to get it rolling. We've got to scratch and claw, man. We're 0-2, got a division game coming up. It's a quick turnaround."
Perhaps no player will be more important on defense tonight than Fletcher, 28, a converted defensive end from Montana State who began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Patriots. Fletcher not only made an improbable position switch to linebacker, but he forged a pretty good career as a knockout special-teams player.
"He's a player that we went out to get, that kind of tells you," coach Lovie Smith said. ''We watched him on video; he has excellent speed, he's good in space and he's been a good special-teams player for us. As you look at our history, you talked about (Warren Sapp) a little while ago, as you look at our history, Shelton Quarles, Jeff Gooch, guys who have come in and had been special-teams players, before they moved into a permanent role at the linebacker position. This is a normal progression for a Tampa Bay linebacker for me and he's a smart guy."
At 6 feet 2, 240 pounds, Fletcher is bigger than some Bucs linebackers. And he has never been asked to handle the mental part of the game, quarterbacking the defense, getting the calls and lining up players.
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Explore all your options"When Dane got in the ball game (Sunday), he did some good things," defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. "It's tough when you're not getting as many reps in practice on some of the things you have to do in the game. But, for the most part, we were pleased with his work. With this week being a short week, he still won't get as many reps. But he'll be able to get some film study and prepare and I think he'll go out and play well."
Fletcher says he won't be overwhelmed by the moment.
"You know what? I'm past the whole moment thing," Fletcher said. "That happened my first year or two in the NFL. I get in there, and it's time to work, man. That's what we practice for, that's what we go to minicamp for. I've gotten plenty of reps throughout the process. If there's a falloff, that's on me, it's not the system."
Say this about Fletcher, he is a confident athlete. As a hockey player, with all the junior leagues, college and pro aspirations, he put too much pressure on himself until the game became a grind. Football has always been a sport he loved because he was able to run around and play free of expectations or self-inflicted pressure. He didn't excel at it until his senior year, when he earned a partial scholarship to Montana State.
"I'm a physical guy. I like to have fun out there," Fletcher said. "I like to fly to the ball in every situation and have fun with it. The more fun you're having on defense — it's the same on offense — but the more fun you're having on defense and everybody is getting to the ball, you treat it as a party and I like to party at the ball."
Times staff writer Matt Baker contributed to this report.