Football Diner 2008 Team Reviews / Previews
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by Mark Lyne-Austen
21/7/2008
 
Overview
 
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers surprised quite a few pundits last season, bouncing up from last in the NFC South following the 2006 season to top that division and play the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants close in the playoffs. They managed that despite their main star on offense, Carnell Williams, going down with a season ending knee injury in week 3. Tampa has prided itself on strong D over the last decade and that unit will need to perform exceptionally again if Tampa are to retain their top spot in the South.
 
Quarterbacks
 
QB controversy still resides in Tampa. The free agent signing of former San Francisco, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia Quarterback Jeff Garcia invigorated what has pretty much never been a good passing game for the franchise. Garcia managed the game well for the Bucs despite a relatively weak receiving corps and crucially threw only 4 interceptions all season. However, Garcia is 37 and not the long term answer at the position. Often injured Chris Simms showed real promise but may never be the player he could have been, and clearly not for the Bucs as he has asked for release. Luke McCown and Brian Griese are also on the roster as well as the rights to Jake Plummer but surely none are the answer at any point in Tampa Bay. While the tentatively un-retired Brett Favre has been suggested for the Bucs, there are no signs that will happen at the moment so Garcia remains the only option for Tampa to win now with his nous, ability to improvise and make space in and around the pocket, and care with the ball.
Grade: C+
 
Running Backs
 
Tampa Bay looked set to have RB locked up as a position of real strength under Carnell “Cadillac” Williams. The 2006 rookie sensation was really the sole brightspot of that difficult campaign for the Bucs but a serious injury early last season ruled Williams out of 2007 and possibly even the start of the 2008 campaign. Last year, power back Earnest Graham emerged from nowhere to show toughness and good hands but the Bucs clearly have worries as they welcomed back former star Warrick Dunn from Atlanta and the much travelled speedster Michael Bennett to their ranks. With though more likely without Cadillac Williams, the running game will be a feature of Tampa's cautious offensive gameplan but with the genuine depth the team now has cover for injury. The team will have to do without iconic goal line back Mike Alstott who has retired.
Grade: B-
 
Receivers
 
Receiving in Tampa has been about Joey Galloway for too long. Receivers are not supposed to still be good at the age of 36 but the veteran topped 1,000 yards in 2007 and looks set to still be the Bucs No 1 wideout for 2008. Michael Clayton is yet really to fulfil the first round potential the Buccaneers saw in 2004. Second rounder this year Dexter Jackson is fast though will have to go some to make the impact that his Super Bowl XXXVII namesake had on the franchise. Jackson may not have caught a lot of balls at Appalachian State but with a thin receiving lineup that boasts the drugs-tainted Antonio Bryant as the major free agent splash this off-season, Jackson may have more opportunity to make a name for himself. Tight End Jerramy Stevens might be useful if he can make it onto the field despite his drugs difficulties while former Tennessee Titan Ben Troupe should push starter Alex Smith hard.
Grade: D+
 
Offensive Line
 
Offensive Line has not been a position of strength in Tampa Bay. Starting Left Tackle Luke Petitgout is coming off a torn ACL and has had a series of injuries over recent years. On the other side, Jerramy Trueblood should continue his development into his third year in the NFL but is not yet the impact player opponents fear. Free agent Center Jeff Faine is a former first rounder and comes into the Line to replace 10 year veteran John Wade who has in turn signed for the Oakland Raiders. Still, this is a Line that will look for Jeff Garcia's movement behind them and the churning running game as it is not one of the more dominating forces in the league.
Grade: C-
 
Defensive Line
 
Defensive Line is crucial to the Tampa Bay gameplan. The offseason loss of Greg Spires to Oakland has been offset quite comfortably by the singing of former San Francisco and Baltimore Defensive End Marques Douglas. Douglas is a strong force against the run and complements 2006 4th overall selection Gaines Adams who is a significant pass rushing threat. Through the middle Jovan Haye played well last year though rotation and depth could be tested. The starting D-Line is a strength for Tampa and one that must perform well to bring pressure for a team that does not blitz frequently.
Grade: A-
 
Linebackers
 
Tampa Bay's Linebackers are anchored by the all-action Barrett Ruud who was excellent in his third year during 2007. The intelligent Ruud looks to be a superb fit for the Tampa defensive scheme and racked up 114 tackles last campaign. Outside him, Cato June will return following a transition year in 2007. June was heralded in the similar Indianapolis Colts defense but is nowhere near the player fellow Outside Linebacker Derrick Brooks is. Entering his 14th season in the league, Brooks has been a monster for the Buccaneers and a key figure in franchise history. Brooks remains in great shape and in a team chock full of veterans should still be pushing to be the very best of the Buccaneers again in 2008.
Grade: B+
 
Secondary
 
The Tampa Bay secondary is persistently under-rated because it features a unit who rarely find themselves covering man-to-man. Ronde Barber has long been the most obvious example but the 11 year veteran is old for a Corner Back at 33. With the departure of Brian Kelly in the off-season, the team signed the highly rated Aqib Talib 20th overall in this year's draft. The feisty All-American should be Barber's heir though successful rookie Defensive Backs are extremely rare especially in the more complex zone schemes that the Bucs run. This season Barber and Philip Buchanan will need to shoulder a significant amount of the burden. At Safety, the dependable Jermaine Phillips and second year player Tanard Jackson should be better together as the last line of the No 2 ranked Defense in 2007.
Grade B-
 
Special Teams
 
The Tampa Bay return teams have often been more solid than spectacular. Rookie Dexter Jackson is being lined up to be the return threat the Bucs have never had though until he sees time on the field, the return game will remain a weakness. Kicker Matt Bryant is accurate and veteran Punter Josh Bidwell has only had 2 boots blocked in his career but this is not yet a unit that will worry NFL teams.
Grade D+
 
Coaching
 
Head Coach Jon Gruden badly needed a successful season in 2007 and he got it. The firey workaholic has repeatedly had to cope with serious injuries to the team and the impact of the salary cap. To look outside of Gruden though would be a mistake as the policy of looking to veteran free agents carries with it high risks on both those fronts. Still, Gruden is a motivational feature for the Bucs and the 3 year extension he signed this offseason has helped to solidify his position.
The Buccaneers are boosted in the coaching department by the outstanding Monte Kiffin at Defensive Coordinator. Possibly the greatest coach in the NFL never to be a head coach, Kiffin's Cover 2 defense was back near its best in 2007. Kiffin is not to be underestimated and is probably the shrewdest defensive mind in the NFL
Grade A-
 
Outlook
 
Tampa Bay scraped a 9-7 record last year and a playoff place at the head of the weak NFC South. The division will not be as limited in 2008 and the Bucs will have a real fight on their hands especially against the New Orleans Saints. The NFC South is still a winnable division for the Buccaneers and their wily veterans should be able to keep them in the hunt. Having prepared for Cadillac Williams not being ready to start the 2008 season, the Bucs will depend again on their defense while the offense focuses on not making mistakes. Defensive depth is not great so injuries on that side might be more impactful but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be pushing for top position in the NFC South again come the end of 2008.