Low Expectation for Bucs
(September 7, 2009)
Low Expectation for Bucs
(September 7, 2009)
You may not recognize the 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jon Gruden, Monte Kiffin, Derrick Brooks, Jeff Garcia, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway, Brian Griese, Luke McCown, Matt Bryant, Josh Bidwell, Ike Hillard, Phillip Buchanon, Alex Smith, Jovan Haye, Kevin Carter, among others, gone.
Last season, Raheem Morris was the Bucs defensive backs coach. In the wake of Monte Kiffin leaving to coach with his son at the University of Tennessee, Morris was promoted to defensive coordinator on Christmas Day. Then with the surprise firing of Jon Gruden, Morris was named head coach. The team is hoping that the trend of hiring young coaches, Morris is just 32, will pay dividends in Tampa Bay. Bruce Allen was also let go and Mark Dominik was promoted to General Manager. Veteran Jim Bates is the new coordinator on defense and the Tampa 2 defense will be gone. Former Boston College head coach Jeff Jagodzinski was named offensive coordinator, but was fired ten days before the season opener and replaced by quarterbacks coach Greg Olson.
Mark Dominik said, "I think Raheem and I really wanted to put our mark on the football team in the right way and put this team in a direction that we're very comfortable with and we're excited about. And I think we've done that."
So, just who are the Bucs assembled by new management team?
Free agent Byron Leftwich won the starting quarterback job over Luke McCown in one of the biggest dramas of training camp. McCown was then dealt to Jacksonville for a conditional late round draft pick. Leftwich is a big guy who throws hard, but is likely keeping the spot warm for the star of the future, first round pick Josh Freeman. How much action Freeman sees will be decided by how many games the team wins. Slow start and the rookie could be starting before mid-season. Everyone thinks second year player Josh Johnson will be the odd- man-out, but the Bucs could decide to keep four quarterbacks and might also listen to trade talks for one of the veteran QBs.
| Date | Opponent | Site |
| Sun Sep 13 | Dallas | Tampa |
| Sun Sep 20 | Buffalo | Orchard Park |
| Sun Sep 27 | N.Y. Giants | Tampa |
| Sun Oct 4 | Washington | Landover, MD |
| Sun Oct 11 | Philadelphia | Philadelphia |
| Sun Oct 18 | Carolina | Tampa |
| Sun Oct 25 | New England | London |
| Sun Nov 8 | Green Bay | Tampa |
| Sun Nov 15 | Miami | Miami |
| Sun Nov 22 | New Orleans | Tampa |
| Sun Nov 29 | Atlanta | Atlanta |
| Sun Dec 6 | Carolina | Charlotte |
| Mon Dec 13 | N.Y. Jets | Tampa |
| Sun Dec 20 | Seattle | Seattle |
| Sun Dec 27 | New Orleans | New Orleans |
| Sun Jan 3 | Atlanta | Tampa |
Antonio Bryant had a great 2008 season, but has not practiced much due to off season knee surgery. While he was slowed by a training camp injury, Michael Clayton is hoping that under a new coach he can return to the form of his rookie season. The Bucs biggest off season acquisition was tight end Kellen Winslow from Cleveland and he should catch more than a few balls this season. Jerramy Stevens is the reserve tight end, beyond that the Bucs have been looking for depth at receiver. Maurice Stovall is back and the team has been high on Sammie Stroughter, a seventh round draft pick out of Oregon State.
The offensive line should be a strength. Pro Bowl guard Davin Joseph, Jeremy Trueblood, Jeff Faine, Jeremy Zuttah and Donald Penn are a young and talented group. The story of Aaron Sears, who failed to report for unknown personal reasons, has yet to play out. The health of these guys will be critical, as there is not much depth here.
This is a spot where the team needs to show improvement and they are hoping this is the year that Gaines Adams shines on the defensive line. Jimmy Wilkerson starts at other defensive end spot, while Chris Hovan and Ryan Sims should start at the tackle positions. Greg White, he changed his name to Stylez G. White, will see plenty of playing time. Rookie Roy Miller and Dre Moore will serve as reserves.
It is hard to believe we're talking about Bucs linebackers and Derrick Brooks is in the conversation. Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud is now the undisputed leader of this defense. Geno Hayes will likely start on one side with Quincy Black and Adam Hayward competing on the other. There was a plan to move Jermaine Phillips into Brooks old spot, but problems in the secondary forced him to return to defensive backfield.
Free safety Tanard Jackson will miss the first four games of the season for violating the NFL substance abuse policy. Aqib Talib took a late night swing at a cab driver, so he could be suspended at some point. This group still has Ronde Barber, Torrie Cox, Sabby Piscitelli and part time linebacker Jermaine Phillips. Depth is provided by seventh-round pick E.J. Biggers and second-year pro Elbert Mack.
With Matt Bryant and Josh Bidwell, the kicking should have been an area of consistency. Then, hip surgery sidelines Bidwell for the season and enter journeyman punter Dirk Johnson. A hamstring injury limits Bryant's ability to practice, so now we have former Jets place kicker Mike Nugent. On cutting Bryant, Raheem Morris said, “That’s always a tough decision. We didn’t get the competition that we liked at kicker. When you don’t kick, it’s tough to make a football team.”
Even with all the changes, nobody likes to call it a rebuilding season. Morris commented, “It’s right now who helps this football team and how do they help this football team. What’s best for us, what’s best for the organization, what’s best for everybody.”
There is a tough schedule and a division where the Carolina Panthers or New Orleans Saints could make a Super Bowl trip. Most are predicting the Bucs to finish last in the NFC South with 3, 4 or 5 victories. It is hard to argue for anything better.
