Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Preview

(Courtesy of My Sportsbook) - Literally speaking, Jon Gruden is still the fair-haired boy in Tampa Bay. But after his teams have posted back-to-back lackluster seasons, the Gruden physical feature that Buccaneers fans can most relate to is his trademark scowl. Tampa supporters have been wearing that look of disdain as well, and if the Bucs continue to underachieve, most of those loyalists will invite the coach to stow those leading man looks on the next pirate ship out of town. After storming through 2002 at 12-4 and winning the Super Bowl during his rookie season in Tampa Bay, Gruden has gone 7-9 and 5-11 in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Last year, Gruden's least successful in seven as a head coach, started at 0-4 and ended in the franchise's worst mark since 1993, back when Craig Erickson was the starting quarterback and Reggie Cobb was doing the running.

The Buccaneer organization is determined that this season will be different, but salary cap problems prevented them from targeting any first-rate free agents. That means rookies like running back Cadillac Williams, linebacker Barrett Ruud, and tight end Alex Smith need to provide a spark immediately, while players like quarterback Brian Griese, wideout Michael Clayton, and an aging defense must continue to provide stability. In an NFC South that figures to be improved, Gruden and his charges will face an uphill battle. But the Bucs and their increasingly irritated fan base are hoping against hope that the head coach and his team can find some of the magic that was in such great supply around One Buccaneer Plaza just three short years ago. Below we take a capsule look at the 2005 edition of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

RB: The Buccaneers haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Warrick Dunn in 2000, and attempted to alleviate that problem by selecting Auburn's Carnell "Cadillac" Williams with the fifth pick of the 2005 draft. Williams is slightly undersized at just under 220 pounds, but his open-field ability and above-average hands are a good fit for the Tampa offense. The club is hoping Williams can be more reliable than was Michael Pittman (926 rushing yards, 41 receptions, 10 TD), who has struggled with disciplinary and fumbling issues during his three seasons in Tampa. Pittman, who should remain with the team as a backup, comes off a year in which he established career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns. The 33-year-old Charlie Garner (111 rushing yards, 9 receptions), who missed the final 13 games of 2004 with a knee injury, is a strong candidate to be released at the final cut. The younger Earnest Graham (73 rushing yards), who can also return kickoffs, is more likely to make the club. At fullback, Mike Alstott (230 rushing yards, 29 receptions, 2 TD) is 31 and slowing down but should continue to be the starter. Jameel Cook (7 receptions, 1 TD) started five games in place of Alstott last season, and will be back if he can hold off seventh-round draft choice Rick Razzano (Ole Miss).

WR/TE: Tampa started 2004 with a wideout tandem of Joey Galloway (33 receptions, 5 TD) and Tim Brown (24 receptions, 1 TD), two players that would scarcely register an impact over the course of the 16-game campaign. Emerging as the club's No. 1 receiving threat was rookie Michael Clayton (80 receptions, 7 TD), who is expected to be Griese's top target again. Galloway is also back, but must prove that he is over the groin injury that limited him to seven starts a year ago. Brown retired, Joe Jurevicius (27 receptions, 2 TD) was released, and Charles Lee (15 receptions) defected to the Cardinals, meaning depth behind Clayton and Galloway will come in the form of new faces. Former Giant Ike Hilliard (49 receptions with New York) will look to resurrect his career in Tampa, and will be at the head of a reserve group that includes unheralded Edell Shepherd, DeAndrew Rubin and 2005 draft choices Larry Brackins (5th Round, Pearl River CC), Paris Warren (7th Round, Utah) and J.R. Russell (7th Round, Louisville). Shepherd, who had four catches in 2003 before missing all of last season due to injury, is the only member of that group with an NFL reception. At tight end, the signing of former Jet Anthony Becht (13 receptions, 1 TD) and selection of Stanford's Alex Smith (3rd Round) helped hasten the retirement of veteran Ken Dilger (39 receptions, 3 TD). Will Heller (12 receptions), Dave Moore (3 receptions), and Nate Lawrie (1 reception) all had catches with Tampa last season, and are all vying to become the third tight end.

OL: The projected 2005 starting group on the offensive line was in flux during the first weeks of training camp, as a number of would-be regulars were nursing injuries. The biggest problem was at left tackle, where projected starter Derrick Deese was slowed by a foot injury, and his potential replacement, former reserve Anthony Davis, went out indefinitely with a deep left thigh bruise. Those hurts opened the door for the return of Todd Steussie, who was a major disappointment in five starts at right tackle a year ago and had been released during the offseason. At left guard, both Matt Stinchcomb (sore back) and fourth-round draft choice from Wisconsin Dan Buenning (calf) were slowed in camp, but both should be 100 percent by the time the games count. At right guard, the status of Jeb Terry (torn left knee ligament) is in question, meaning rookie Jonathan Clinkscale (Wisconsin) or second-year man Phil Bogle could get a shot. Right tackle Kenyatta Walker, who started 11 games a year ago, will have to hold off rookie Chris Colmer (3rd Round, N.C. State). Center John Wade's spot is secure, and backup center Sean Mahan can also play guard. Wade comes off a knee injury that limited him to eight games a year ago, and Mahan was bothered by a sprained right elbow in training camp.

DL: One year after Warren Sapp took his act to the west coast, another starting defensive tackle, Chartric Darby (49 tackles), defected to Seattle. Darby's former spot is likely to be filled by former Viking Chris Hovan (20 tackles, 1.5 sacks), who was run out of Minnesota after five inconsistent seasons. Starting at the other interior slot is Anthony McFarland (11 tackles, 3 sacks), who missed the final eight games of last season with a triceps injury. Ellis Wyms (11 tackles) will add depth if he can return from a shoulder injury that limited him to six games a year ago, and Damian Gregory (3 tackles) and rookie Anthony Bryant (6th Round, Alabama) should be in the mix there as well. At end, the Bucs are set with Simeon Rice (40 tackles, 12 sacks) and Greg Spires (60 tackles, 8 sacks), both of whom are feared pass rushers. Dewayne White (30 tackles, 6 sacks) is the top reserve at end, and Josh Savage (1 tackle) should stick around for depth as well.

LB: You won't find an NFL linebacking corps with more experience than that of the Bucs, as weakside LB Derrick Brooks (137 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT), middle backer Shelton Quarles (104 tackles, 3.5 sacks), and strong side man Jeff Gooch (30 tackles) have combined for 266 career starts. That said, Tampa would like to get younger at the position, meaning players like rookie Barrett Ruud (2nd Round, Nebraska), second-year pro Marquis Cooper (9 tackles) and fourth- year player Ryan Nece (11 tackles, 1 INT) could get a chance sooner rather than later. Ruud is seen as the heir apparent to Quarles in the middle while Nece, the son of Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, can play either of the outside slots.

DB: Tampa Bay led the league in passing defense last season, and a secondary that played consistently well was due much of the credit. Cornerbacks Ronde Barber (98 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 INT) and Brian Kelly (58 tackles, 4 INT) are back to re-assume their roles, with Torrie Cox (13 tackles, 1 INT) and former Jaguar and Falcon Juran Bolden (21 tackles with Jacksonville) providing depth there. The safety situation is somewhat less certain, after strong safety Dwight Smith (83 tackles, 3 INT) departed to the Saints in the offseason. Jermaine Phillips (43 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) will move from free safety to strong safety to replace Smith, and Tampa Super Bowl hero Dexter Jackson (16 tackles) is the leading candidate to serve in Phillps' former role. The club used a fifth-round draft choice on Oklahoma's Donte Nicholson, who could figure into the safety mix along with holdover Will Allen (12 tackles, 1 INT).

SPECIAL TEAMS: After cutting Martin Gramatica (11-19 FG, 21-22 XP) 11 games into last season and not inviting his replacement, Jay Taylor (4-5 FG, 11-11 XP) to return, the Bucs will focus on either Matt Bryant (3-4 FG, 12-12 XP with the Colts and Dolphins) or Todd France to solve their place-kicking troubles. Josh Bidwell (42.3 avg.) has a firm grasp on the punting job. Torrie Cox (26.2 avg.), who handled most of the team's kickoff returns last season, could take over punt returns as well in 2005.

PROGNOSIS: The Bucs didn't pack it in after starting 0-4 last year, rebounding to win five of their next eight and injecting themselves briefly into the playoff hunt before falling apart again in the final month. If Tampa can tap into the good things it found during that middle stretch of 2004, and avoid the mind-boggling turnovers, stagnant running game, and shaky run-stopping that were its downfall last year, they have a chance to win eight or nine games and play a role in the wild card race. Much of their offensive progress will hinge on whether Williams is the real deal at running back, while an aging defense must stay healthy and find a way to play at a high level every week. Tampa Bay is not in the class of Atlanta or Carolina in the NFC South, but at the very least, won't be an easy out in 2005.

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