From now until the start of the season, I'm going to make a Training Camp Preview thread for each of the 32 NFL teams. I'll cover projected rosters, biggest question marks, biggest position battle, draft recap, team strengths, and a 2009 projection for each team.
For my fourth team preview, I'm going to focus on a team that is going through a little bit of a transition. Out is a Super Bowl winning coach and veteran players who have made their stamp on the franchise. In is a rookie head coach, a rookie QB, and a new GM. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the middle of semi-rebuild mode, yet still have some key players who can keep them in the hunt in 2009.
2009 Projected Roster
QB- Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown, Josh Freeman
RB- Derrick Ward, Earnest Graham
FB- B.J. Askew, Byron Storer
WR- Antonio Bryant, Dexter Jackson
TE- Kellen Winslow, Jerramy Stevens
LT- Donald Penn, James Lee
LG- Arron Sears, Jeremy Zuttah
C- Jeff Faine, Sean Mahan
RG- Davin Joseph, Jeremy Zuttah
RT- Jeremy Trueblood, James Lee
WR- Michael Clayton, Maurice Stovall
LE- Jimmy Wilkerson, Kyle Moore
DT- Ryan Sims, Roy Miller
NT- Chris Hovan, Dre Moore
RE- Gaines Adams, Stylez G. White
SLB- Angelo Crowell, Adam Hayward
MLB- Barrett Ruud, Niko Koutouvides
WLB- Jermaine Phillips, Quincy Black
CB- Aqib Talib, Elbert Mack
SS- Sabby Piscitelli, Will Allen
FS- Tanard Jackson, Donte' Nicholson
CB- Ronde Barber, E.J. Biggers
K- Matt Bryant
P- Josh Bidwell
KR- Clifton Smith
PR- Clifton Smith
LS- Andrew Economos
Biggest Question Marks
The biggest question mark going into the Tampa Bay Bucs 2009 season has to be the QB position. The Bucs have 3 different QBs who could start to begin the season, and as the saying goes, if you have 3 QBs, you have 0 QBs. Each QB has some positive attributes, but each has a giant question mark that has kept them from starting on other teams. Leftwich played well in spot duty last year, but has had trouble the last couple years when teams have time to gameplan for him. Luke McCown knows the system and players the best, but he's never established himself as a quality starter in the NFL. Josh Freeman is the QB of the future, and has a higher upside than all of the other QBs, but he's still a very raw rookie who needs some seasoning.
Biggest Position Battle
While the QB position is the biggest question mark, it is also the biggest position battle to be watching throughout camp. Early reports have Leftwich leading the battle, but there are plenty who think that Josh Freeman should be thrown in right away. There is also McCown, who was the leader going into camp, but hasn't done anything to separate himself from the other two yet. If the Bucs can get their QB situation straightened out quickly, they will have a much better chance at competing in the touch NFC South. If the battle lasts long into camp, and all three are splitting reps equally, it will take away from the reps that the eventual winner should have, which could hinder the teams progress under a new HC and new OCoordinator.
Team Strengths
On offense, the Buccaneers boast one of the most talented and underrated OLines in all of football. The Bucs have a very tough, physical group in the trenches, which should bode well for their running game. The OLine doesn't get a lot of credit or recognition, but they are full of potential and just reaching their primes. Outside of Jeff Faine, there isn't a player starting on the OLine with more than 3 years experience. The Bucs have done a great job at building a strong line for the future, which should help the development of their new franchise QB.
On defense, the Buccaneers strength has to be Barrett Ruud. Its hard to find a unit that really stands out above the rest since the Bucs decided to cut ties with a lot of their veteran players, so I had to settle on a specific player. Ruud had his best season in 2008, racking up 137 tackles and 3 sacks. He's improved every year in his career, and could be on the brink of a big season. If he can adjust well to the Bucs new defensive scheme, he should be able to secure his first Pro Bowl birth in 2009.
2009 Draft Recap
1st Round- QB, Josh Freeman
The Bucs had other holes, but they had to jump at the opportunity to secure their future franchise QB.
3rd Round- DT, Roy Miller
The Bucs love the underrated Miller, and he has a chance to make an immediate impact on a weak interior line unit.
4th Round- DE, Kyle Moore
Moore isn't expected to have an impact as a rookie, but could make some noise in the future if he improves his technique.
5th Round- OT, Xavier Fulton
Like Moore, Fulton isn't expected to do much as a rookie, but should provide valuable depth.
7th Round- CB, E.J. Biggers
With age in the secondary, Biggers has a chance to see some playing time as a rookie if he can make the team.
7th Round- WR, Sammie Stroughter
Stroughter can make an impact in the return game for the Bucs, and should give them a young weapon on offense.
While the Buccaneers did add the franchise QB they have been searching for for sometime, the rest of the picks aren't spectacular. All are expected to be nothing more than backups in their first year, while some aren't expected to be more than backups for their careers. Miller and Moore could see a lot of action early on, as the Bucs are weak along the DLine, but Fulton and Biggers have some quality talent in front of them which could keep them from getting on the field a lot.
2009 Projection
6-10; 4th place in NFC South
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