Replacements shine *** DB

TAMPA, Fla. - When it became apparent first-round draft pick Malcolm Jenkins would make his first NFL start Sunday, New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams began preparing his young cornerback for the task at hand. Williams reminded Jenkins, the 14th pick in the draft this spring, it would be rookie cornerback against rookie quarterback when they faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Raymond James Stadium. The rookie quarterback was Josh Freeman, whom the Bucs took three picks after the Saints quickly snatched up Jenkins. In the first of what could be many meetings between the two, Jenkins came out on top in a 38-7 win over the Bucs. The former Ohio State All-American, who was making his first NFL start because starters Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter were out with injuries, came up with his first interception as a pro and chalked up a team-high seven tackles while breaking up two passes. "He did challenge me this week," Jenkins said of Williams. "It's all in fun to make sure that I was ready to play and everything. "He messes with me pretty much every week. so that's nothing new to me. But I played well, and I know he's pretty proud of me." However, Jenkins wasn't the only cornerback who came up big in a defensive effort that held Freeman and the Bucs to just 144 yards in the final 3% quarters after they had 75 yards on a 95-yard touchdown drive (20 yards came on penalties) on their opening possession. Reserve cornerback Leigh Torrence was pressed into service when Randall Gay, who started in place of Greer, had to leave the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Torrence, a four-year veteran, played in the nickel and dime packages while free safety Usama Young, a converted cornerback, was switched back to help out. Torrence finished with four tackles and shared a sack with strong safety Roman Harper even though he went out twice in the third quarter with what he said was a left shoulder stinger. He didn't return in the final period. "That's what we're here for," said Torrence, who helped hold Freeman to a 17-of-33 passing day for 126 yards and the Bucs to 100 net passing yards after sack yardage was subtracted. "When you make a roster, you have to give them depth. "I've been in those situations before, and I felt comfortable coming in. I knew the coaching staff had confidence in me being able to get the job done, so it's good to come out here and kind of show your worth and contribute." It was the second straight week the Saints had to go to a makeshift secondary because of injuries. "The next guy has to be ready to step up," Torrence said. "It really shows that the guys are really tuned in to what we've got going here. Everyone is ready to step up, so it's been good." Jenkins and the Saints defense rose up after the Bucs' first series ended with Freeman scrambling to his left and finding former LSU wide receiver Michael Clayton in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard TD. "Take out the first drive, and I think I played pretty well," Jenkins said. "There were a couple of things that I know I messed up on. But outside of that, I thought it was a pretty good performance." His interception and 14-yard return to the Bucs' 29 in the second quarter led to a John Carney field goal and a 10-7 lead for the Saints , who never trailed again. On the play, wide receiver Antonio Bryant ran an out route, but the pass went to the inside and Jenkins made an adjustment and made a diving grab. "Basically, we were playing zero (man-to-man) coverage," Jenkins said. "I kind of jumped the route, and he threw it right to me. He was under pressure and had to get rid of the ball quick. He threw it and I picked it off." Later in the second quarter, Jenkins got his hand on another pass intended for Bryant but couldn't reel it in. "I was mad I didn't catch that one," he said with a laugh. "As the game went on after the first drive, everything kind of settled down. After that, it was just about playing."