After being picked by the Houston Oilers Monday in the eighth round of the NFL draft, former Huskie all-purpose defensive back Brett Tucker must prepare himself for one big transition.

That’s okay, though, because the Oilers are adjusting too, to a new head coach—run-and-shoot disciple and former Chicago Bears’ coach Jack Pardee—and so to a new philosophy.

“There’s nothing I feel I can’t learn,” Tucker said.

“He’s not only a smart player, he’s a smart guy,” said Oiler scout Glenn Cumbee, who said under Pardee, the Oilers, who played a risky 3-4 bump-and-run defense under former coach Jerry Glanville, will field a 4-3 defense with a zone coverage, a system Tucker is more suited to.

Tucker finds himself in an enviable position as Houston’s two safety positions are open. Under Plan B, the Oilers protected just one of their four 1989 safeties. Besides returnee Bubba McDowell, and two Plan B signees, including New York Giant veteran Terry Kinard, Tucker will compete with Bo Orlando, a 1989 developmental player from Michigan and any free agents the Oilers sign.

Cumbee, who evaluated Tucker at Huskie Stadium on a wintry day in March, said Tucker will “take precedence over any free agents,” and will only need to win a backup job to make the team.

Tucker continues the improbable journey from the Sycamore high school gridiron, to a Huskie walk-on, then scholarship earner and 1988 Associated Press honorable-mention All-America. Still, he was slightly disappointed that he wasn’t picked higher, probably due to the anonymity of playing in DeKalb and a late-season knee injury which kept him out of the final two games and a post-season all-star bowl. Now, though, the knee is as healthy as Tucker’s confidence.

“I can compete with any of the guys (defensive backs) that went higher, including the Bears’ pick, (University of Southern California safety Mark Carrier, No.6 overall),” Tucker said.

Being picked low has its advantages, though, said Tucker, because the team’s expectations will be directly related to the depth of his selection.

“There’s no pressure on me,” Tucker said. “The only pressure is to be in the best shape I can be in. I think they’ll be very surprised.”

Cumbee said Tucker’s performance in the March workout was impressive and that, unlike some athletes, Tucker looked good with extra gear on.

“Once he puts the pads on, he elevates himself to another level,” Cumbee said.

Gary Evans, the Huskie secondary coach, said with the emphasis on passing in the NFL, Tucker will have to improve his one-on-one coverage and Cumbee said he will have to adjust from college-level option packages to the NFL’s power running strategies. Stripped to the core, though, defense equals impact and Evans said Tucker can collide with the best of them.

“The way he hits, I’d want him to get to the ball as often as possible,” Cumbee said.

In the next few weeks, Tucker will be in Houston’s Operation Headstart—an orientation program including what Cumbee called “a spring practice without pads”—then training camp in July.