The Buccaneers are a solid veteran team that struggled with injuries last year, but they still possess a good nucleus. The offensive line went through a major overhaul, the running game appears to have received a boost, and they’ve added some good veteran talent throughout the lineup. Pulling it all together, however, is easier said than done.
Quarterbacks
Second-year QB Chris Simms appears to be the Bucs’ future at the position, but, despite the fact that he has made a lot of progress since his rookie season, head coach Jon Gruden is not yet comfortable handing him the starting job just yet. So for that reason, and the fact that Gruden runs a very complicated offense, veteran Brad Johnson will likely be the starter as long as Tampa Bay stays in playoff contention.
Johnson is an intelligent quarterback, who manages the game well, but he’s on the downside of his career. Brian Griese was brought in during the off-season to be the backup, but the quick development of Simms may just give him some competition for that role. The Buccaneers have also toyed with the idea of keeping Jason Garrett around in a fourth-quarterback/assistant-coach type of role.
Running Backs
Gruden would like to run the football a little more this year, and the addition of Charlie Garner should give the running game a boost, assuming he can stay healthy. He was hampered by a knee injury in 2003, and his numbers reflected it, but if he can stay healthy, he should add some versatility to the Bucs running game. When healthy, he has an explosiveness through the hole, and he catches the ball out of the backfield as well as anyone. It also helps that he is familiar with Gruden, having played for him while with the Oakland Raiders.
Mike Alstott is listed as a fullback, but he doesn’t play the classic fullback role. He can be a punishing runner once he gets roling, and he does a great job in short yardage and goal-line situations. Michael Pittman is a bit of a question mark with his off-field problems, and will miss some time this year because of it, so the Buccaneers could conceivably bring someone else in when teams start cutting down rosters.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
The Bucs have a good veteran group of receivers, and the addition of Joey Galloway gives them the deep threat they have been lacking the last couple years, but they are getting up there in age and durability is a concern. Galloway and fellow starter Keenan McCardell, who is still holding out of training camp at the time of this report, are 32 and 34-years old respectively. Joe Jurevicius, who was penciled in as the No. 3 receiver, will turn 30 this year. And after struggling to come back from a serious knee injury that cost him most of the 2003 season, he has been diagnosed with a herniated disc in his back that could cost him significant playing time again this year.
With the apparent loss of Jurevicius for at least a short period of time, rookie Michael Clayton could be asked to fill the slot in multi-receiver formations and Charles Lee will cover at No. 4 until Jurevicius returns. At tight end, the Buccaneers have three solid players in Dave Moore, Rickey Dudley, and Ken Dilger, but none has the speed needed to be a deep threat down the middle.
Offensive Line
Tampa Bay’s offensive line was completely revamped in the off-season with only center John Wade returning from last year’s squad of starters. Wade is a physical player and should do an adequate job, but he lacks the athletic ability possessed by some of the better centers in the league. Training camp battles will determine who lines up next to him at both guard positions, with four veterans, Matt O’dwyer, Matt Stichcomb, Jason Widdle, and last year’s starter Cosey Coleman, fighting it out for the two starting positions.
Derrick Deese will start at left tackle, and while he is not spectacular, he is an upgrade over what the Buccaneers had last year. Former Carolina Panthers left tackle Todd Steussie will move to the right side where, despite the fact that his skills are slipping, he should be very effective. Regardless of who wins the starting guard positions, the Bucs should be deep in the middle, however, if either starting tackle were to go down, the inconsistent Kenyatta Walker would be forced back into a starting role.
