By JOEY JOHNSTON

Tribune Sports Writer

(c) Tampa Bay Times. Originally published Aug. 8, 1982.

Move over Dick Butkus, meet Hugh Green, linebacker for the ‘80s. Sleek of build at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Green is the prototype combination of power and speed needed to stop modern NFL offenses.

When Green was added to the Buccaneers’ lineup, defensive fervor multiplied. He played with sideline-to-sideline aggression and tackled like a torpedo. He could keep up with anyone — from Earl Campbell to Kellen Winslow.

“You’ve got to be mobile to play linebacker in the NFL with all the passing that goes on,’’ Green said. “You’ve got to almost be a defensive back and lineman rolled into one.’’

Green was all that and more during his rookie season. Initial concern was over Green’s pass-coverage skills, but now that’s one of his strengths. No one ever doubted Green’s ability to crush opposing runners.

Is Hugh Green perfect? It would seem so after listening to his coaches.

“Hugh is everything you want in a player,’’ Bucs linebacker coach Howard Tippett said. “He practices hard, listens to what you say and if he makes a mistake, he doesn’t alibi.’’

“You’re talking about a completely different type of player when you talk about Hugh Green,’’ said Jackie Sherrill, his college coach at Pittsburgh, but now at Texas A&M. “His strongest point? Everything. You name it. He does it all.’’

Green came along at the right time for the Bucs. His presence allowed Cecil Johnson to shift to inside linebacker. In a sense, he made the Bucs stronger at two positions.

“He just stepped right is and did the job, no questions asked,’’ Tippett said. “We expected him to do that. He had four dominating years in college and we never thought it would be any different here.

“We saw Hugh in a lot of difficult situations in the preseason and he always came through them. He showed us great quickness and great overall awareness. We had no doubts about starting him.’’

Green downplays talk of him being the Bucs’ defensive savior.

“I don’t think I had the most impact on the defense individually,’’ Green said. “Let’s just say the defense was apple pie and I helped to make it a little sweeter.’’

Green grinned. He grins a lot more, now that he has proven himself in the NFL.

“Learning everything was complicated at first,’’ Green said. “It was very different from college football. But I settled down in a hurry. I pretty much got an idea early that I could play in this league. Now I’m just more relaxed with the whole idea of playing pro football.’’

Bucs fans put Green at ease in the first preseason game of 1981. While he trotted onto the field during pregame introductions, the crowd began chanting, “HUUUGH … HUUUGH.’’ It became a tradition. Every time Green made a tackle, the chant would sound.

“I’m used to that,’’ Green said. “I got that all through my college career. The announcer used to say, ‘The tackle was made by …’ and the crowd would go, ‘HUUUGH.’

“It’s a good feeling to know people are rooting for you. I normally don’t pay too much attention to that kind of stuff. I’ve got other things to worry about.’’

Green has always had that workmanlike attitude. He’s not a rah-rah guy. He practices as hard as he plays.

“I like to compete,’’ Green said. “I like being the best. My ways of accomplishing that are practicing hard and playing hard.

“That’s the only way I know. When I grew up, I didn’t have any football heroes. A lot of people have direct involvement with the games that come on TV, but I hardly ever watched them. I have my own style and that’s to just go out and play hard.’’

Last season, Green’s style netted 151 unassisted tackles, most of any NFL rookie. The New York Giants’ Lawrence Taylor, hailed as Dr. Doom, had 113. Though a comparison between the two was continually drawn last season, Green avoids any talk of a possible rivalry.

“He’s a lot bigger than I am (6-3, 237) and there are some things I can do that he’ll never do,’’ Green said. “I don’t feel it’s fair to compare us.’’

But it’s inevitable. Taylor and Green brought vitality to their defenses. Both burst into stardom and appear destined for years of All-Pro status. When individual honors are brought up, though, Taylor wins hands down. Taylor was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl. Green was an alternate Pro Bowl selection.

Green is used to being snubbed for the elite individual honors. He was the center of the big Heisman Trophy push and eventually finished second to South Carolina running back George Rogers.

“I felt like I was the most legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate that year,’’ Green said. “Considering everything I had done during my four years, I didn’t think anyone else could win it.

“Now when somebody asks me if I think a defensive player will ever win the Heisman, I say no. The odds seem to be stacked against them.’’

Green was similarly disappointed when he didn’t make the Pro Bowl. Making it this year is his biggest individual goal.

“If I have the type of year I anticipate and I’m overlooked again, it will hurt me,’’ Green said. “That’s one of the biggest honors you can get and it’s something that will stay with you the rest of your life.’’

For right now, though, Green is just concerned with improving, learning some more and playing in the Super Bowl.

“That’s coming for us one day,’’ Green said. “I can feel it one, two or three years down the road. I figure if we keep working and progressing, all of those things will happen for us.’’