One Buc is starting to look like a free-agent steal

Bucs S Conte stands out in secondary By Ira Kaufman | Tribune Staff Published: October 22, 2015 at 08:41 PMTAMPA — Amid the smoldering ruins of Tampa Bay’s secondary stands Chris Conte, a low-level signing who is starting to look like a free-agent steal.Through five games, the 26-year-old safety has provided several highlight-reel moments for a Buccaneers defensive backfield that has struggled to make critical stops.The Bucs (2-3) have yielded 12 touchdowns through the air while opposing quarterbacks posted a glittering 106.4 passer rating.Conte, who signed a one-year deal for $1.5 million as an unrestricted free agent from Chicago, is providing stability at a key position as the Bucs prepare for Sunday’s matchup at Washington. He tops Tampa Bay with 23 solo tackles and has also made an impact with two forced fumbles and an interception.“As long as he’s healthy, he’s one of the better safeties in our league,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Thursday. “He’s a smart guy, he can match up on tight ends, backs out of the backfield. He can even go out and cover a third or fourth receiver at times. And he can tackle. He’s played very, very well. We’ve just got to keep him on the field and he’ll continue to get better.”In his fifth pro season, Conte has overcome a flurry of injuries since starring at California. He’s dealt with concussions, a dislocated shoulder, ankle sprains and a sore back while making 56 starts.On the first day of training camp with his new teammates, Conte suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for more than three weeks at One Buc Place.He’s on the injury list this week with an ankle injury sustained against Jacksonville, but has fully participated in practice and is expected to play against the Redskins.“There’s a lot of things I can do better,’’ Conte said. “I’m looking to put back-to-back good games together and build some momentum. We’ve got to have a game where we dominate on defense. We have the talent to do it if we believe in ourselves and keep on working.’’Conte played his first two NFL seasons under current Bucs coach Lovie Smith in Chicago, where he earned a starting job by the sixth game of his rookie year. His stint with the Bears was occasionally rocky, but when Conte hit free agency this spring, Smith was eager to resume the relationship.“Chris Conte is a good football player and Chris will tell you that he’s played a couple of games that he really played well — and there’s a few that he can play better,’’ Smith said. “There’s a lot better football that Chris will play going forward, like our team.”If Smith needed any prodding heading into free agency, he had cornerback Alterraun Verner whispering in his ear to sign Conte.“Me and Chris grew up together in Los Angeles,’’ said Verner, who went on to attend UCLA. “We’ve known each other since high school and I lobbied for him to come here from Chicago. He’s definitely playing good football for us, and I’m not surprised in the least.Conte’s mother, Anne, went to UCLA and it was no surprise that Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, a former Bruin, emerged as Conte’s favorite player. But instead of heading to UCLA, Conte decided to travel north to Berkeley, long a hotbed of student activism.“I felt like every class I took there was preaching socialism,’’ Conte said. “Almost all my classes had a strong liberal slant. I’m not necessarily that way, but it was a good way to see both sides of things. It was quite an experience — people walking around naked, people living in trees. But it’s a cool place to go to college and find yourself, make your own values and get your morals down.’’Coming off a bye week, Conte is one of only three NFL players — joining Arizona safety Tony Jefferson and Giants linebacker Uani Unga — with at least 20 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception.“Chris seems to be around the ball,’’ Smith said. “I think he can play the run well. He’s not afraid to come up and hit, he has range. I just think all the skill sets you’re looking for at safety, for all we ask him to do, we feel like Chris can do that. What has hurt him in the past has been injuries. So if he can beat that injury bug a little bit, he’ll just keep doing that.”