Tampa Tribune columnist Martin Fennelly explored Sabby Piscitelli’s role recently and how he’s under huge pressure to perform having been gift-wrapped the starting job as Bucs strong safety.

“Now you’ve just got to go do it again for the full season,” Bucs coach Raheem Morris said.

“He’s getting a golden opportunity to go out there and be the man,” Bucs defensive tackle Chris Hovan said. “What does Sabby want to do with it?”

Heck, it seems the whole Bucs organization is giving Piscitelli the starting job, confirming what Joe gleaned from Piscitelli’s recent interview on Oregon sports radio.

Joe likes Piscitelli but believes he is desperately in need of competition at the position.

Raheem The Dream said he wants competition at every position. So surely, a third year safety who has played limited minutes and has hardly shown Pro Bowl game can’t just be handed the strong safety job. Can he?

Piscitelli’s performance is very quickly becoming a major key to the Bucs’ success on defense in 2009. With a Jermaine Phillips return to the secondary seemingly, and mysteriously, off the table, Piscitelli absolutely has to get it done.