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2007 Team Report: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Quarterbacks

Starter: Jeff Garcia
Backup(s): Luke McCown, Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski

Starting QB: Jeff Garcia enjoyed a resurgence in his career last season with Philadelphia and parlayed that performance to a nice contract with the Buccaneers. Garcia has plenty of starting experience and good awareness in the pocket. He is very athletic and can buy time when his protection breaks down. He can throw well on the run and is a very capable scrambler. His slight build hinders him in a few ways. He sometimes struggles to find passing lines, and his deep passes can lack accuracy. Finally, his style of play creates a lot of contact, which casts doubt on his durability. Either way, Garcia is entrenched as the Bucs starter and will attempt to play the role that Rich Gannon did so successfully for Gruden in Oakland.

Backup QB: Jon Gruden never met a QB he didn't like, although it appears the QB roster is being to crystallize after an intense preseason. Luke McCown got most of the snaps with the 2nd team and looks like the winner of the training camp duel among the myriad backups. Chris Simms, the guy most expected to win that battle, has struggled but made the team as the Bucs decided to keep 4 QBs. Chris Simms lost an internal organ last season. However, even before his Week 3 splenectomy, the 2006 season had been a disaster for him with only one passing TD versus seven INTs. Bruce Gradkowski, a sixth-round pick last year, surprisingly saw extensive playing time in his rookie season starting 11 games. He has a nice arm with a quick release and is capable of making plays with his feet as well. As with most rookies, he struggled with consistency last season and isn't yet ready to be an every-week starting QB.

Running Backs

Starter: Cadillac Williams
Backup(s): Michael Pittman, Earnest Graham
Fullback(s): B.J. Askew

Starting RB: Cadillac Williams has tons of speed and is excellent in the open field. One year ago, Williams was a borderline first-round draft pick in 12-team leagues after winning a host of Rookie of the Year awards. Not so this year after an ordinary, injury-plagued season where he recorded pedestrian numbers. Williams suffered a back injury early in the preseason that popped up again during the early part of the regular season. He later missed the last three games of the season with a foot injury. Because of his struggles a season ago, Cadillac is likely going to be available beyond the first few rounds in many fantasy leagues. While he remains a considerable risk, it's one with a nice upside.

Backup RBs: Michael Pittman will have a big role in the Bucs offense, including playing a little fullback, catching passes on 3rd down and sharing the workload at the goal line potentially. Pittman, at 32 years old, remains in excellent shape and has embraced his role as a veteran contributor, no longer with designs on being the lead back. Earnest Graham runs with the third string, after showing a strong, physical running style this preseason.

Fullback: Mike Alstott will miss the season (and possibly end his career) because of a recurring neck injury. That leaves B.J. Askew, a more traditional blocking back, as the team's primary fullback.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Joey Galloway, Maurice Stovall
Backups: Ike Hilliard, David Boston, Michael Clayton

Starting WRs: Joey Galloway turns 36 this season, but it would be unwise to write him off purely based on age. He is the one consistent factor in the Buccaneers' offense and has shown plenty of speed and quickness over the last two years in Tampa Bay. He has the ability to go get most balls but allows too many passes to get into his body. He is also prone to making some very inopportune drops. The starter opposite Galloway is by no means set in stone, but it's 2nd year Maurice Stovall that sits atop the Bucs official depth chart currently. Stovall is huge (6'5", 222 pounds) and uses his size well getting off the line of scrimmage. Regardless of whether he holds down the starting job, Stovall will be a factor this year particularly in close to the end zone.

Backup WRs: David Boston was an elite WR - a long time ago; and not many took the Bucs interest in him seriously a few months ago. Perhaps we should have as Boston has looked great in camp and currently runs 3rd behind starters Stovall and Galloway. Boston's gain has clearly been Michael Clayton's loss. Clayton has been a massive frustration for fantasy owners since stellar rookie season. Injuries have played their part, but that doesn't tell the whole story. His work ethic has been found wanting, and it's difficult to be confident about his prospects this season. Rather than go for a youth movement, the Bucs are going with a veteran approach; opting to retain Ike Hilliard instead of a number of younger wideouts.

Tight Ends

Starters: Alex Smith
Backups: Jerramy Stevens, Anthony Becht

Alex Smith has had a nice start to his career catching 41 and 35 passes in his first two seasons, respectively. His stats suffered last season with inconsistent QB play and a generally poor offense. He is a solid receiver and has enough body control to adjust to poorly thrown balls. With improvement expected all around, Smith is in a good position to develop further and possibly blossom into a borderline fantasy starter. However, he needs to become a better blocker so that he could spend more time on the field rather than being pulled in certain situations. Jerramy Stevens and Anthony Becht are very good reserve TEs but for different reasons. Stevens excels as a receiver when his head is on straight. His off-field transgressions and on-field concentration lapses have kept him from fulfilling what is generally considered excellent potential. If he can stay straight and make the final roster, Stevens could eat into Smith's production this year. Becht is a great blocker both in running situations and as a pass-protector.

Place Kicker

Matt Bryant : The Bucs did not keep Bryant very busy last year, providing him with the fewest kicker scoring opportunities in the league. He hit 17 of 22 (77.3%) field goals and added 22 PATs. He was perfect on his field goal attempts under 40 yards, and his one missed PAT was blocked. His long field goal of the year was a game winner as time expired. It was from 62 yards, twelve yards farther than his prior career long, and one yard shy of the NFL record. Bryant played in a full 16 game season for the first time since his rookie year.CAMP UPDATE: As noted, Matt Bryant had the fewest kicking scoring opportunities in the NFL last year. In the preseason game at Jacksonville, he had no field goal attempts and made one PAT.

Kick and Punt Returners

Kick Returners: Michael Pittman; Phillip Buchanon; Torrie Cox; Earnest Graham

RB Michael Pittman stepped into the lead kickoff returner role last year (39 returns, 22.2 avg.). The Bucs are hoping to demote him to backup, and that WR Mark Jones will emerge as a return specialist handling both kickoff and punt returns this year. He is stronger on punt returns, so he'll need to improve on kickoff returns. CB Torrie Cox led the Bucs in kickoff returns in 2004 and the first part of 2005. Last year he was the primary backup (18 returns, 21.5 avg.). H e will miss the first four games this year for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. RB Earnest Graham (1 return, 13 yards) is also available as a backup. RB Cadillac Williams and WR David Boston also practiced on kickoff returns during mini-camp. CAMP UPDATE: the team released WR Chad Owens, leaving Mark Jones as the favorite for the return specialist role. CB Philip Buchanon, the contingency plan on returns, will miss some time while his hand and wrist are in a cast.

Punt Returners: Phillip Buchanon; Ike Hilliard; Joey Galloway; Ronde Barber

After leading the NY Giants in punt returns in 2004, WR Mark Jones joined the Bucs in 2005 and handled every one of their punts (51 returns, 9.6 avg., 18 fair catches). He started last year in that role (20 returns, 7.8 avg.), but a hamstring injury cut his season short. WR Ike Hilliard handled most of the punt returns after Jones got hurt last year (24 returns, 6.8 avg.). CB Phillip Buchanon (6 returns, 2.7 avg.) is a decent backup. Another possible backup is WR Joey Galloway (2 returns, 1.5 avg.), although his numbers have declined in recent years. CB Ronde Barber averaged 3.5 yards on two returns last year.

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: LT Luke Petitgout, LG Arron Sears [R], C John Wade, RG Davin Joseph, RT Jeremy Trueblood
Key Backups: Dan Buenning, Jeb Terry, Matt Lehr, Anthony Davis, Donald Penn, Jon Clinkscale

It seems like every year the Bucs are revamping their offensive line and 2007 is no different. Luke Petitgout was brought in for leadership and to stabilize the left side of the line. He'll start at left tackle. Rookie Aaron Sears, if healthy, will start at left guard. At center, John Wade offers some veteran stability. On the right side, the Bucs are set for years to come. Jeremy Trueblood started 13 games at tackle last year and did very well as a rookie. Davin Joseph had a strong rookie campaign in 2006 and has the size, ability and toughness to be one of the best guards in the NFL.

Team Defense

The Buccaneer defense finally lost its mojo in 2006. After years of top five finishes in overall defense, Tampa Bay fell to the middle ranks of the NFL in total yards and points allowed and into the bottom five in both sacks and takeaways. Injuries to Simeon Rice, Shelton Quarles and Brian Kelly didn't help, nor did the trade of Booger MacFarland who was the best run stuffer the Bucs had along the interior defensive line. But 2006 looks to be the season where the veteran Buc defense began to show its age. Tampa Bay, with a bevy of draft picks for the first time since adding HC Jon Gruden in a deal with Oakland, aggressively addressed defensive needs in the 2007 draft. The Bucs selected Gaines Adams with the fourth overall pick, who resembles Simeon Rice in many ways. Sabby Piscitelli and Tanard Jackson bring youth and versatility to the secondary. Tampa Bay further addressed the defense by signing veterans Cato June and Kevin Carter. It may take a few weeks for this defense to come together as a unit, but there is potential for the Bucs to regain some relevance as a fantasy team defense again in 2007. They could be one of many attractive matchup options by mid-season.

Defensive Line

Starters: DE Gaines Adams [R], LDE Greg Spires, NT Chris Hovan, DT Kevin Carter
Backups: DE Patrick Chukwurah, DT Ryan Sims, DT Greg Peterson

Starting DL: Simeon Rice was released after failing the team's physical, meaning 2nd overall pick Gaines Adams will have every opportunity to earn a starting job in camp. Adams is signed on-time, and now must prove himself worthy of replacing one of the league's best pass rushers in Rice. Adams is an undersized edge rusher in the usual Tampa-2 mold (Rice, Dwight Freeney) who can also make plays in pursuit against the run. The strong side end will likely be Greg Spires again this year. Spires is a solid role player with some pass rush skill. Free agent acquisition Kevin Carter may also see some time at left end. Chris Hovan, tough and undersized, was a stable force at NT for the second straight season.

Backup DL: Patrick Chukwurah was signed as a free agent and will also provide some situational pass rush. New defensive line coach and former Denver defensive coordinator Larry Coyer used Chukwurah effectively in that role last season with the Broncos. Ryan Sims was acquired in trade from Kansas City shortly after the draft and will probably serve as depth behind Chris Hovan. Fourth round draft pick Greg Peterson is expected to push for playing time as well.

Linebackers

Starters: WLB Derrick Brooks, MLB Barrett Ruud, SLB Cato June
Backups: LB Ryan Nece, LB Quincy Black

Starting LBs: Derrick Brooks, who will always be the gold standard WLB in the Tampa-2 defensive scheme, has finally started to see his elite skills erode. His speed and range have decreased, allowing blockers to get their hands on him and ballcarriers to beat him to the hole. Brooks still had a solid statistical season, however, with 96 solo tackles. With the release of Shelton Quarles due to questionable health, third year man Barrett Ruud will finally get the chance to start in the middle. Ruud has some limitations in coverage but should be just as effective as Quarles was in run support. The Bucs also signed Cato June late in the free agent period. June, who played the weak side in Indianapolis for the past three seasons, will move over to the strong side in Tampa Bay. He may struggle with the additional blockers he will face but should still provide a solid pursuit and cover backer. June may also be the future WLB after Brooks retires or moves on next season.

Backup LBs: With the acquisition of Cato June in free agency, 2006 SLB starter Ryan Nece will move back into a reserve role. Nece played well on the strong side but was not an impact player in any phase of the game and teams were able to take advantage of his size by running at him. The team is giving him snaps at MLB with the second team during the preseason. Third round pick Quincy Black fits the Tampa-2 mold well as a quick but raw pursuit backer who has shown good cover ability. Black played the versatile "Urlacher" role at New Mexico last season and could take over an OLB position in 2008 and beyond.

Defensive Backs

Starters: RCB Ronde Barber, LCB Brian Kelly, SS Jermaine Phillips, FS Will Allen
Backups: CB Philip Buchanon, CB Torrie Cox, S Sabby Piscitelli, CB/S Tanard Jackson, S Kalvin Pearson

Starting DBs: Ronde Barber continues to be one of the league's best all-around cornerbacks and may be the best run supporting corner in the NFL. Barber struggles in man coverage but thrives as an instinctive and quick playmaker in short and intermediate zone coverage. Brian Kelly only played in two games last year as he battled a severe turf toe injury. He has also been unhappy with his contract situation and is threatening to stay out of off-season workouts. When happy and healthy, Kelly is similar to Barber as a solid zone cover corner with above average ball skills. After saying they were happy with the play of last year's safeties, the coaching staff aggressively addressed that position in the draft with Sabby Piscatelli and Tanard Jackson. Despite a career high 119 total tackles (89 solo), strong safety Jermaine Phillips was inconsistent and nearly lost his job mid-season to journeyman Kalvin Pearson. Phillips has played well this preseason and has kept Piscitelli from getting a chance with the first team. Will Allen has held off Jackson for the other safety spot. Allen showed little big play ability at FS last year and isn't very physical against the run. It wouldn't be surprising to see a new safety duo at some point in the 2007 season.

Backup DBs: Sabby Piscitelli and Tanard Jackson are welcome additions to the safety unit. Both may end up in starting roles soon. Piscitelli is a former college linebacker who will play safety with the Bucs. He is a physical player in run support and can handle himself in coverage. He should be an upgrade to Jermaine Phillips. Jackson played corner at Syracuse but projects as a physical, playmaking free safety. Kalvin Pearson will struggle to make the roster unless another veteran is released. With the release of Juran Bolden, Philip Buchanon and Torrie Cox will man the nickel and dime corner spots.

Last modified: 2007-09-03 06:34:18