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2008 Team Report: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Quarterbacks

Starter: Jeff Garcia
Backup(s): Brian Griese, Luke McCown, Chris Simms, Josh Johnson [R]

Starting QB: Jeff Garcia has been effective as the starter for Tampa Bay leading them to the NFC South crown last year and a playoff appearance. He tossed 209 of 327 passes for 2440 yards, 13 TDs and four interceptions (35/116/1 rushing). He also appeared in the Pro Bowl last season for the fourth time in his career. However, at 38, it is fair to question how much gas he has left in his tank after nine years in the NFL and five seasons in the CFL (winning a Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders). Given last season's passing offense, Garcia is unlikely to be a top-shelf fantasy QB during the 2008 campaign.

Backup QB: Brian Griese returns to Florida. He started some games for Tampa Bay back in 2004-05, posting his best season of the last five years there with 2,632 yards, 20 TDs and 12 interceptions over 11 games during 2004. He looks like the Bucs No. 2 guy heading into training camp. He started a few games for Chicago's merry-go-round rotation last year so Griese doesn't have a ton of rust on his throwing arm. Behind Griese is a pack of hopefuls battling for No. 3, led by Luke McCown (94 of 139 for 1,009 yards, five TDs and three interceptions during five appearances in 2007), with now-healthy Chris Simms rounding out the crowded depth chart. After the fifth-round selection of Josh Johnson from San Diego (who completed passes at a 68.3 percent clip for 2,988 yards, 43 TDs and just one measly interception as a senior), the Bucs have more QBs on the roster than any other NFL franchise. Johnson is a developmental prospect who may end up on the practice squad.

Running Backs

Starter: Earnest Graham
Backup(s): Warrick Dunn, Cadillac Williams, Michael Bennett, Cory Boyd [R]
Fullback(s): B.J. Askew

Starting RB: Earnest Graham stepped into the starting lineup after Cadillac Williams was lost for the 2007 season due to a patellar tendon injury and played very well. He ended 2007 with 222/898/10 rushing and 49/324/0 receiving. Entering training camp, it looks like the featured back role is Graham's. He's entering his fifth year in the league -- Graham is a seasoned veteran now -- and owns a career mark of 274/1,113/10 rushing (a solid 4.1 YPC) with 50/328/0 receiving to his credit. He is positioned to improve on 2007 now that he'll have the benefit of a full training camp as the lead back in Coach Gruden's offense.

Backup RBs: Warrick Dunn returned to the team that originally drafted him after six years with the Falcons organization. Dunn had a forgettable 2007 campaign (228/718/4 rushing with 37/238/0 receiving) as Atlanta's offense and coaching staff dissolved around the players. Dunn's 3.1 YPC was the worst mark he'd put up since arriving in Georgia. Hopefully, he still has enough gas left in the tank to contribute to the Bucs as a veteran mentor and role player during 2008. Cadillac Williams remains a big question mark as he continues his latest injury rehabilitation program; last year it was a torn patellar tendon. The year before that, his season was wrecked by a foot injury. The rumors in March were that Williams' knee injury is threatening his career. Michael Bennett provides veteran depth and can chip in with some effective plays here and there. He had 60/239/1 rushing and 15/101/1 receiving last year with the Bucs. Cory Boyd joins the team as a seventh-round pick from South Carolina. He'll have to work extremely hard to stick on the 53-man roster.

Fullback: B.J. Askew is the Bucs only fullback as of mid-April. Last year he was used sparingly with zero carries and 18/175/0 receiving during his 13 appearances in the lineup.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard
Backups: Michael Clayton, Maurice Stovall, Antonio Bryant, Dexter Jackson [R]

Starting WRs: The Buccaneers have one of the oldest starting tandems in NFL history. Joey Galloway is aging like a fine wine at 36 years of age. He's had three straight 1,000-yard seasons with Tampa including last year's 57/1,014/6 effort on 98 targets -- the 21st ranked WR in the NFL. Ike Hilliard is a spry 32 years old and handled 87 targets for 62/722/1 last year, second among all Buccaneers receivers in yardage gained. Galloway keeps defying Father Time, but given the conservative passing game the Bucs feature with Garcia under center, his barely-over-1,000-yard effort from last year looks like a ceiling at this point in Galloway's career. Don't expect a lot of upside if you draft a Bucs receiver and you won't be disappointed.

Backup WRs: Michael Clayton (22/301/0 during 2007) has never repeated his fine rookie effort, stringing together three clunker seasons in which he's failed to go over 400 yards receiving and has scored exactly one TD in 40 games. The guy is a real-world and fantasy bust -- a tough reality for dynasty league owners of Clayton. Maurice Stovall scored more TDs than Clayton last year with less opportunity, posting a line of 10/86/1. Much-traveled Antonio Bryant hopes to latch on with the Bucs after a year out of football; Bryant was suspended to start 2007 due to a substance abuse violation in November of 200. Tampa decided to take a chance on him this year after flirting with signing him a year ago. Dexter Jackson, the team's second-round pick, hails from Appalachian State and faces a steep learning curve as he makes the jump from small-school program to the NFL.

Tight Ends

Starters: Alex Smith
Backups: Ben Troupe

Alex Smith held down his top slot on the depth chart last year cranking out career-highs in yardage and yards per reception while tying his career mark in TDs. He had 53 targets for 32/385/3 for a 12.0 YPR -- all this despite competition from now-departed Jerramy Stevens. Smith is entering his fourth year in the league and is in the prime of his career. Hopefully he can play a full slate of 16 games after missing two games per season over the past two years. For 2008, the Bucs signed Ben Troupe to back up Smith. Troupe spent the last four seasons in Tennessee, but was largely an afterthought in 2007 with 9 targets for 5/47/0. It remains to be seen if Troupe can recapture his 2005 form of 80 targets for 55/530/4.

Place Kicker

Matt Bryant : During a dismal 2006 season, the Bucs provided Bryant with the fewest kicker scoring opportunities in the league. He hit only 17 of 22 (77.3%) field goals and added 22 PATs. In 2007 they turned things around significantly. Bryant made 28 of 33 (84.8%) field goals and added 34 PATs. The 118 points placed Tampa at 10th in kicker scoring. It was their first top ten finish since 2002. The one negative for Bryant last year was missing all three of his attempts from 50+ yards, after having nailed a 62 yard game winner the year before. The last two years Bryant and his hamstrings played full 16 game seasons for the first time since his rookie year. After a slow start to his career, Bryant has evolved into a decent kicker.

Kick and Punt Returners

Kick Returners: Micheal Spurlock; Torrie Cox; Brian Clark; Michael Clayton; Earnest Graham; Dexter Jackson; Clifton Smith

The Buccaneers quest for a return specialist continued last year with Chad Owens not panning out and Mark Jones being lost to injury. They subsequently promoted WR Micheal Spurlock to the active roster. His 90 yard kickoff return for a TD was the first KR for a score in the Buccaneers' 32 year history. He averaged 27.8 yards on his 16 returns. But will that be enough to keep a roster spot this year? CB Torrie Cox led the Bucs in kickoff returns in 2004 and the first part of 2005. Since then he has served as a backup (2 returns, 20.5 avg.). WR Brian Clark was the starting kickoff returner for Denver the first part of 2006 (23 returns, 22.3 avg.), however he failed to keep the job. Last year the Buccaneers continued to experiment with using WR Michael Clayton on kickoff returns (8 returns, 21.5 avg.). RB Earnest Graham (4 returns, 22.5 avg.) is also available as a backup. The bulk of second round draft pick WR Dexter Jackson's experience is on punt returns, however he did average 17.2 yards on 11 career kickoff returns at Appalachian State. The dark horse candidate for the return specialist role is undrafted free agent RB Clifton Smith. He averaged 18.2 yards on kickoff returns during his career at Fresno State.

Punt Returners: Dexter Jackson; Clifton Smith; Ike Hilliard; Phillip Buchanon; Micheal Spurlock; Joey Galloway; Ronde Barber

Dexter Jackson averaged 7.4 yards on 63 punt returns during his college career, and is assumed to be the early frontrunner for the Bucs lead punt returner role. Clifton Smith had impressive results in college, averaging 16.6 yards on 47 punt returns and scoring five TDs. WR Ike Hilliard continues to be a decent backup (15 returns, 6.1 avg.). CB Phillip Buchanon (16 returns, 3.4 avg.) is another serviceable backup. Although he was used primarily on kickoffs, Micheal Spurlock did average 7.5 yards on four punt returns. Another possible backup is WR Joey Galloway (3 returns, 4.7 avg.), although his numbers have declined in recent years. CB Ronde Barber averaged 3.5 yards on two returns in 2006.

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: LT Luke Petitgout, LG Arron Sears, C Jeff Faine, RG Davin Joseph, RT Jeremy Trueblood
Key Backups: Dan Buenning, Donald Penn, Anthony Davis

Commentary coming soon.

Team Defense

What looked like a defense in transition last preseason became a very respectable fantasy option by midseason. After a very poor '06, the Buccaneers finished in the top five in points, yardage allowed and in takeaways. The solid play of young players like DE Gaines Adams, DE Greg White, MLB Barrett Ruud and FS Tanard Jackson eased the loss of edge rusher Simeon Rice and the inevitable slow decline in play from veteran CB Ronde Barber and LB Derrick Brooks. Adams looked to be improving on a weekly basis at the end of his rookie season and should be even better this year. The additions of DB Eugene Wilson, a good fit in the Tampa-2 scheme, DE Marques Douglas and DT Dre' Moore will contribute and should further improve the unit. The team will face a more difficult schedule this season, but should remain a solid No. 2 defense with potential to break into the top 12 if Adams arrives and the secondary makes a few more big plays.

Defensive Line

Starters: LDE Marques Douglas, LDT Chris Hovan, RDT Jovan Haye, RDE Gaines Adams
Backups: DE Kevin Carter, DE Greg White, DT Ryan Sims, DT Greg Peterson, DT Dre Moore [R]

Starting DL: Adams finished 2007 strongly and could become the edge rushing threat the team hoped they were getting to replace Simeon Rice last season. Douglas was signed in free agency. The former 49er likely has the early lead in the competition to start opposite Adams. Whomever starts on the strong side will split reps with Kevin Carter and Greg White. Hovan returns for another season as the nose tackle. Though undersized, he's been a valuable and consistent player inside. Haye will get the majority of the snaps in a deep rotation at the undertackle position.

Backup DL: Carter will rotate in at both end and tackle and continue to mentor the Bucs' younger line prospects. White came out of nowhere to have a very productive season and will get plenty of snaps inside on nickel downs. Peterson and Moore have both received high praise from the coaching staff after being drafted in 2007 and 2008 respectively. If Haye or White fail to repeat their successful 2007 seasons, either could step in early. Sims may have to fight to keep his roster spot behind Hovan.

Linebackers

Starters: SLB Cato June, MLB Barrett Ruud, WLB Derrick Brooks
Backups: LB Ryan Nece, LB Quincy Black, LB Tedy Lehman, LB Geno Hayes [R]

Starting LBs: Brooks returns for yet another season as the weak side linebacker. His skills aren't what they once were, but he was still an effective every down player last season. Ruud started very well last season before being hampered by various nagging injuries. He should improve in all phases in his second year as a starter. June brought about what the team expected to the strong side position and looked better late in the season when the team changed up its nickel packages.

Backup LBs: Nece returns as veteran depth after losing his starting role to Cato June last season. Black will have an increased role if and when Derrick Brooks' play finally tapers. His long term position will be outside, but he can back up Barrett Ruud if needed. Hayes was drafted to improve the depth and is likely seen as a long term option at WLB. Lehman will be a good fit in this scheme and may push Nece for a roster spot.

Defensive Backs

Starters: LCB Ronde Barber, SS Jermaine Phillips, FS Tanard Jackson, RCB Aqib Talib [R]
Backups: CB Philip Buchanon, CB Eugene Wilson, S Sabby Piscitelli, S Will Allen

Starting DBs: Like Derrick Brooks, Barber's skills have fallen off but he remains a talented zone corner who will return to his long time starting role. The team drafted Talib to compete with Phillip Buchanon at the other corner spot. Phillips was in danger of losing his job at various points over the past two seasons, but had his best season last year at strong safety. The emergence of now second year safety Jackson at the free safety spot freed Phillips up to play to his strengths. The ball-hawking, but still physical Jackson will again be a good fit in the Bucs' scheme.

Backup DBs: Buchanon filled in ably for an injured Brian Kelly last season, but is an only average zone corner. He'll have a hard time keeping Talib off the field. The wildcard here is former Patriot safety Wilson, who has been very impressive this offseason at corner. His skill set fits the zone scheme well and it could be Wilson who starts opposite Barber on opening weekend. With Wilson as a swing player, former starter Will Allen has an uphill battle to make the roster. Piscitelli will provide solid depth and should be ready to step in if Jermaine Phillips regresses to his former struggles.

Last modified: 2008-06-09 19:47:05