By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

DETROIT - There they were, dressing side by side in the locker room, exchanging smiles and handshakes.

Clifton Smith and Aqib Talib, two rookies who have played significant roles in Tampa Bay's 8-3 start, combined Sunday for another key play as the Bucs rallied past winless Detroit 38-20.

Signed as an undrafted free agent in May, Smith continued his stellar work on special teams with 232 return yards.

With the lethargic Bucs trailing 17-0 late in the opening quarter, Smith took Jason Hanson's kickoff and raced 49 yards, setting up Warrick Dunn's 13-yard touchdown run and triggering a dynamic comeback.

In the third quarter, with the Bucs nursing a 21-17 advantage, Smith returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown as Talib applied the finishing touch by getting in the way of the final Detroit defender.

"I was just blocking my man, and if you do that for a second, 'Peanut' [Smith] is going to take care of the rest," Talib said after Smith became the first Buc to score on a punt return since Joey Galloway raced 59 yards against New Orleans in 2004 . "Like the KC game, he came up big for us."

Smith fumbled for the fourth straight game, but he continued his knack for sparking comebacks on the road.

Three weeks ago in Kansas City, Smith's 97-yard kickoff return, the longest in franchise history, helped Tampa Bay rally from a 24-3 deficit.

"The kickoff return today was big because we needed something to get us going," Smith said. "On the punt return, as soon as I caught the ball my mentality is to go north and south. I have great confidence in my teammates - they do a great job of keeping everybody off of me."

When Smith burst up the middle into open space, he encountered punter Nick Harris, standing flat-footed and overmatched at midfield.

"There's no way I'll get hit by a punter ever again," Smith said with a grin.

One quick move left Harris grasping at air before Talib took care of the rest.

After Detroit closed within 35-20 later in the third quarter, Smith fumbled the ensuing kickoff when hit by former Buc Kalvin Pearson, but teammate Jameel Cook fell on the ball at the Tampa Bay 17.

"Ball security is killing me slowly but surely," said Smith, the former Fresno State standout who is averaging 18 yards per punt return and 30 yards per kickoff return.

Special teams coach Rich Bisaccia is starting to expect big returns weekly out of Smith, who is also flashing solid skills while covering kicks.

"Give a lot of credit to our personnel department for getting him here," Bisaccia said. "Clifton Smith has a unique ability to stick his foot in the ground and change directions. He's working on the fumble problems, but he's a conscientious kid who loves Football."

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be reached at (813) 259-7833.

Photo credit: Tribune photo by CLIFF MCBRIDE

Photo: Bucs rookie Clifton Smith races past Lions punter Nick Harris en route to a 70-yard punt return for a score during the third quarter, extending Tampa Bay's lead to 28-17. Smith had 232 return yards.

Photo credit: Tribune photo by CLIFF MCBRDIE

Photo: Smith is mobbed by teammates and coaches after his punt return for a touchdown gave the Bucs an 11-point advantage.

Photo: Aqib Talib

Rookie paved way on punt return Rookie paved way on punt return

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