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As the OTAs were coming to a close, new head coach Raheem Morris couldn’t hide his excitement about his team and the progress being made.
"I'm not going to peak too early," he said Thursday. "I don't want to go too high on the emotional roller coaster. But seeing these guys come together right now has really got me jacked up. The plans for the future, seeing everything come together, seeing guys come in here and understand situational football, seeing guys start to get a clue is what I'm jacked up about."
Even though Morris is from the defensive side of the ball, he should be excited with the offensive pieces the Bucs have in place for 2009. With all the new toys, this should be a new look offense, one which should make life easier on the defense. These aren’t your dad’s Bucs. Ronde Barber is the only notable player remaining from the glory days of the Bucs defense and their Super Bowl run. Gone is the trio of Sapp, Brooks and Lynch, replaced by Adams, Ruud and Piscitelli—no slouches by any stretch. This is a new Bucs team from top to bottom and it’s one of the teams to play close attention to as the season approaches.
OFFENSE
 Quarterbacks: If anything remains the same about the new Buccaneers and the old, it’s their deep collection of quarterbacks. Holdovers from 2008 Luke McCown, Brian Griese and Josh Johnson are still on board, and Tampa signed Bryon Leftwich away from the defending Super Bowl Champ Steelers. Leftwich looked to be in line for a career revival, but he might not get the chance. In April’s draft, the Bucs used their first selection on former Kansas State QB Josh Freeman. New head coach Raheem Morris is familiar with Freeman from the one season they spent together at KSU. Look for Leftwich to carry the torch until it’s ready to be passed to the youngster.
Running Back: Gruden loved to pound the rock and under new offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, that shouldn’t change. Free agent Derrick Ward was signed to help keep Earnest Graham healthy and fresh. Both have carved out nice niches for themselves considering Ward was a 7th round pick and Graham was an undrafted free agent. Former number five overall pick Cadillac Williams will look to return this season while he rehabs from another torn patellar tendon. Although this recent injury isn’t as severe as the first, the injury questions will surround the Caddy yet again.
Wide Receivers: Chad Pennington won the 2008 Comeback Player of the Year Award but Antonio Bryant gave him a real run for his money. The always-talented and sometimes-troubled Bryant flashed the skills that made him a second-round pick (Dallas) in 2002. Michael Clayton was resigned as the Bucs hope he can reclaim some of the outstanding play he showed during his rookie season. A player to keep an eye on is Sammie Stroughter, a rookie from Oregon State. The 6’5 220lb. Maurice Stovall still continues to tease, but it’s only a matter of time before his disappearing act costs him a roster spot.
Tight Ends: The Bucs didn’t waste any time this off-season when it came to addressing the offense, trading for Kellen Winslow and making him the highest paid player at his position. Winslow and Jerramy Stevens are both solid talents, but also tend to forget they’re professionals who need to live up to a proper standard of behavior. It will be interesting to see how much they respond to a new head coach.
Offensive Line: It wasn’t too long ago that the Buccaneers’ biggest weakness was the offensive line. Now that the Kenyatta Walker experiment has ended, the line seems to be heading in the right direction. Davin Joseph, their first-round pick in 2006, has played well and the aggressive style of center Jeff Faine brings the right attitude for a run-first team like the Buccaneers. The left side of the line will feature Donald Penn, who signed a one year deal for $2.792 million this past April. Left guard and 2007 second-round pick Aaron Sears was named the starter in Week 1 of 2008 and never looked back, earning a place on the 2007 NFL All-Rookie team. Jeremy Trueblood holds down the right tackle position.
DEPTH CHART
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FS |
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SS |
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CB |
TANARD JACKSON |
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SABBY PISCITELLI |
CB |
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PHILLIP BUCHANON |
WILL ALLEN |
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SLB |
MLB |
WLB |
C.J. BYRD |
RONDE BARBER |
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AQIB TALIB |
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QUINCY BLACK |
BARRETT RUUD |
ANGELO CROWELL |
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ELBERT MACK |
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ADAM HAYWARD |
GENO HAYES |
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E.J. BIGGERS |
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K |
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MATT MCCOY |
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MARSHALL MCDUFFIE |
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MIKE NUGENT |
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LDE |
LNT |
RNT |
RDE |
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DEANGELO WILLINGHAM |
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P |
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KEVIN CARTER |
CHRIS HOVAN |
JOVAN HAYE |
GAINES ADAMS |
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EVAN MCCOLLOUGH |
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JOSH BIDWELL |
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GREG WHITE |
GREG PETERSON |
RYAN SIMS |
JIMMY WILKERSON |
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COACH |
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KYLE MOORE |
ROY MILLER |
RASHAAD DUNCAN |
JARRIETT BUIE |
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RAHEEM MORRIS |
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WR |
LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
TE |
WR |
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MAURICE STOVALL |
DONALD PENN |
AARON SEARS |
JEFF FAINE |
DAVIN JOSEPH |
JERMEY TRUEBLOOD |
KELLEN WINSLOW |
ANTONIO BRYANT |
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SAMMIE STROUGHTER |
ANTHONY DAVIS |
MAURICE MILLER |
SEAN MAHAN |
JEREMY ZUTTAH |
JAMES LEE |
ALEX SMITH |
MICHAEL CLAYTON |
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ANDRE DOUGLAS |
MARC DILE |
ROB BRUGGEMAN |
DEMAR DOTSON |
XAVIER FULTON |
JOHN GILMORE |
AMARRI JACKSON |
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FB |
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QB |
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RB |
BEN TROUPE |
PAT CARTER |
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B.J. ASKEW |
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BYRON LEFTWICH |
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DERRICK WARD |
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BYRON STOVER |
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LUKE MCCOWN |
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EARNEST GRAHAM |
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JOSH JOHNSON |
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MICHAEL BENNETT |
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BRIAN GRIESE |
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CADDILAC WILLIAMS |
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JOSH FREEMAN |
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JOSH VAUGHAN |
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KAREEM HUGGINS |
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DEFENSE
 Defensive Line: Long gone are the days of Simeon Rice, Greg Spires, Warren Sapp and the 2002 Super Bowl line. Many thought this position would be the addressed early in the draft, but the front office had other plans. Gaines Adams should excel under new coordinator Jim Bates. Teaming as the other defensive end are Jimmy Wilkerson and rookie Kyle Moore, who should help provide a fresh push off the edge. The interior of the line will be manned by Ryan Sims and Chris Hovan. This unit is going to have to live up to some pretty lofty expectations.
Linebacker: It breaks my heart that I get to write about the Buccaneers defense but don’t get to mention the recently released Derrick Brooks as part of that unit. With Brooks’ departure, Barrett Ruud is now the clear leader of the group. Ruud has led the Bucs in tackles the past two seasons and looks to be the foundation of a young defensive corps. Former Buffalo Bill Angelo Crowall isn’t penciled in yet as a starter, but should find himself right in the mix with Quincy Black on the strong side. Jermaine Phillips, who many are familiar with as the strong safety, is now taking his snaps as the Buccaneers’ weakside linebacker. Second-year linebacker Geno Hayes will look to earn more playing time.
Secondary: Then there was one. Ronde Barber is the last man standing from the famed defense which included John Lynch, Derrick Brooks, and Warren Sapp. Barber, now in his 12th season, was tied with last season’s number one pick Aqib Tilib for the team lead in interceptions (4). With former starter Jermain Phillips moving to the weakside linebacker position, Sabby Piscitelli is the team’s new strong saftey. In addition to some solid playmaking skills, Piscitelli brings one of the best names in football to the position. Free safety Tanard Jackson, the converted corner from Syracuse, had a disappointing 2008 and needs to prove himself all over again this season. Second-year man Elbert Mack will try to lock down the nickel position, but look for the Bucs to search the waiver wire over the summer to add some much-needed depth.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Matt Bryant earned my respect forever by hitting three field goals a day after his son’s funeral. Bryant lacks the distance on his kicks and the Buccaneers brought in Mike Nugent for kickoffs. Punter Josh Bidwell isn’t a game changer, but he’s not a liability by any means. Clifton Smith had two return touchdowns in 2008 after taking over for Dexter Jackson and maybe, just maybe, the Buccaneers have finally found a consistent return man.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS OFF-SEASON TRACKER
Acquired
QB Byron Leftwich
RB Derrick Ward
TE Kellen Winslow
LB Angelo Crowell
LB Niko Koutouvides
K Mike Nugent
Drafted
QB Josh Freeman, Kansas
WR Sammie Stroughter, Oregon State
OT Xavier Fulton, Illinois
DE Kyle Moore, USC
DT Roy Miller, Texas
CB EJ Biggers, Michigan
Undrafted Free Agents
RB Josh Vaughan,, Richmond
WR Amarri Jackson, South Florida
WR Pat Carter, Louisville
OT Andre Douglas, Temple
OT Demar Dotson,, Southern Miss
OG Maurice Miller, Mississippi
OC Rob Bruggeman, Iowa
OL Marc Dile, South Florida
DE Jarriett Buie, South Florida
DT Rashaad Duncan, Pittsburgh
CB DeAngelo Willingham, Tennessee
CB Marshall McDuffie, Florida International
CB Evan McCollough, James Madison
S C.J. Byrd, Georgia
Re-signed
QB Luke McCown: Potential UFA; $7.5M/2 yrs, $2.5M SB
FB Byron Storer: ERFA; terms unknown
WR Antonio Bryant: FFA; $9.884M/1 yr
WR Michael Clayton: UFA; $24M/5 yrs, $10.5M guaranteed
WR Cortez Hankton: UFA; terms unknown
TE Jerramy Stevens: UFA; terms unknown
OT Donald Penn: RFA; $2.792M/1 yr
DT Ryan Sims: Potential UFA; 4 yrs, terms unknown
CB Jermaine Phillips: UFA; terms unknown
S Will Allen: UFA; $1.83M/1 yr
Departures
QB Jeff Garcia: UFA Raiders; terms unknown
RB Warrick Dunn (released)
WR Joey Galloway (released)
WR Ike Hilliard (released)
TE Alex Smith (traded Patriots)
DT Jovan Haye: UFA Titans; $16M/4 yrs, guarantees unknown
LB Cato June (released)
LB Derrick Brooks (released)
CB Phillip Buchanon: UFA Lions; $8.5M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown
Unsigned
DE Kevin Carter
LB Patrick Chukwurah
PROJECTION
The Buccaneers were on the verge of making the playoffs until the lowly Oakland Raiders came to Tampa in week 17 and ran them out of their own stadium. Playing in the NFC South along with Carolina, New Orleans, and Altanta it might be a hard to imagine the Bucs making a playoff push this season. There are a lot of new faces and how this team gels remains a huge question. Will Raheem Morris be able to duplicate the success of Tony Sparano and Mike Smith last season? Realistically, a 6-10 record should be the goal for this Tampa Bay ball club.
Photo Credit: College Press Box (Kansas St.), Long Photography
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