Projections (9/02/03)

Passing Stats

Rush Stats

Receiving Stats

Fantasy

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Quarterbacks
Starter - Brad Johnson
Backups - Jim Miller, Chris Simms, Shaun King

Starting Quarterback: What an incredible run Brad Johnson had last season! Now the question is whether he can duplicate that success in 2003. The big concern with Brad Johnson is his durability as he has been plagued with injuries throughout his career and missed a few starts last season. However he can produce when healthy as his sizzling run at the end of last year indicated. Once he learned Coach Jon Gruden's system, his game flourished in a huge way. His numbers in the second half of the season were nothing short of amazing. Check these statistics out. 251 passing yards per game, 64.2% completion percentage, 7.1 YPA, 15 touchdown passes and only 1 (yes 1) interception. He was simply unbelievable in the passing game and has the same weapons around him to work with. Even with a drop-off likely occurring this season, he'll still be a solid quarterback for the upcoming season. His biggest risk is durability.

Backup Quarterback(s): The Buccaneers were hung out to dry last season when Brad Johnson went down with injury. Rob Johnson actually played pretty good but couldn't get the ball into the endzone and Shaun King had a game to forget against the Steelers. The Buccaneers upgraded the backup group with the additions of veteran quarterback Jim Miller and rookie quarterback Chris Simms. Miller is experienced and poised and will run the offense well if needed. Simms is a player with a big upside and he'll have the luxury of learning from the sidelines for a couple of seasons.

Update - 8/28: King and Simms have looked good in preseason action. Miller has been placed on the PUP list.

Running Backs
Starter - Michael Pittman, Thomas Jones
Backups - Aaron Stecker, Terry Kirby
Fullbacks - Mike Alstott, Jameel Cook

Starting Running Back: Super Bowl hero Michael Pittman has seen his life crumble since January. He was indicted on two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly ramming his car into a car driven by his wife and carrying his son and baby-sitter. Complicating matters is that Pittman was given three years probation in 2001, after he pleaded guilty to counts of criminal trespass and damage after a domestic dispute with his wife. Pittman may be in jail by the time the season begins, and it's unclear what role he will have with the team right now. He ran for only 718 yards last season, so he didn't have great value before this incident-considering the Bucs have many other quality RBs, Pittman shouldn't be counted on to help your fantasy team this year.

Not many RBs have disappointed like former top ten pick Thomas Jones, but it's possible he can revive his career in Tampa Bay. Few RBs have disappointed as much and as long as Jones, only to switch teams and become a star. There's no doubt he's in a much, much better situation, but Jones has never shown that he has the talent to compete at the NFL level. Even if Jones earns and holds onto the starting job (a job he's lost several times in his brief career), the Bucs play too much RBBC for him to have a lot of fantasy value.

Backup Running Back(s): Stecker's a playmaker, averaging 6.2 yards per carry last season. He'll likely have too much competition to have great fantasy value, but will see an increased workload this year. Terry Kirby, a versatile veteran who played under Gruden in Oakland, can run, catch and return kicks. Kirby won't make much of a fantasy impact.

Fullback(s): Alsott may end up being the most valuable fantasy back on the Bucs this season. Alstott will clearly be the goal line back, regardless of who is the starting RB. Alstott is listed as a fullback, but at times plays as the primary ball carrier. Alstott is a strong runner who is tough to bring down once he gets a head of steam. Expect him to lead Tampa Bay RBs in total yards this year, as he's also a pretty decent receiver. Despite being undersized, Jameel Cook is a terrific blocking back, and plays a much more traditional fullback role than Alstott.

Update - 8/28: The backfield is terribly cluttered. Pittman has been successful in getting hearings postponed and could easily hang around the entire season. If so, he'll certainly get a share of the carries. Jones has been fairly impressive in preseason work so he'll get some rushes as well. Gruden likes what he sees in Stecker so he should get some looks. Finally, Alstott is the short yardage guy and is slated to be more involved in the passing game. And oh yeah, the team has even talked to Jamal Anderson (the former Falcon). The only sure thing is that Kirby was released.

Wide Receivers
Starters - Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell
Backups - Joe Jurevicius, Karl Williams, Jacquez Green

Starting Receiver(s): The defending Super Bowl champs return the same receiving corps from last season, led by Keyshawn Johnson. While Johnson didn't have the dominant season that many predicted when Jon Gruden took control, he was an effective (76 receptions for 1,088 yards and 5 touchdowns) part of the Bucs' attack. Johnson turned in a career high 14.3 yards per reception last season, and should again be the most targeted receiver on the team.

Keenan McCardell is slated to start alongside Johnson, but must do more in his second season with Tampa if he's to hold off Joe Jurevicius. While sure handed (0 drops in 2002), nagging injuries robbed him off his ability to make plays after the catch.

Backup Receiver(s): Jon Gruden is a fan of multiple receiver sets, and has already proclaimed that Joe Jurevicius will be more involved in the offense on a week-to-week basis. Jurevicius is a big receiver who made some clutch plays last year. After the 'Big Three', the cupboard runs bare, with Karl Williams and Jacquez Green slated for the 4th and 5th receiver spots. Green was brought back for one last chance, primarily because the team is desperate for a deep threat, something that the top three receivers don't provide.

Update - 8/28: Coach Gruden has promised to get Joe Jurevicius more involved this year, and we look for him to take some touches away from Keenan McCardell primarily. Jurevicius had some big moments last year, particularly in the red zone. Fabian Davis, a 5'8" spark plug from Wake Forest may be a dark horse for the final roster spot (behind Johnson, McCardell, Jurevicius and Williams) based on his ability to play multiple positions, coupled with impressive playmaking in practice. Charles Lee, despite leading the team in receiving yards this preseason, may not make the final roster because of his propensity for dropping balls in key situations. Andre Rison, who has been out of the NFL for three seasons, worked out for the Bucs this week in hopes of catching on in a reserve role. Should Rison land a job, it would almost assuredly signal the end of Fabian Davis' bid for the fifth receiver spot. Green has been released by the team.

Tight Ends
Starter - Ken Dilger
Backup(s) - Rickey Dudley
Dilger is not the receiving target he once was with Indianapolis. He can stretch the field and has good hands, but is down the list on Brad Johnson's options. Add in athletic Rickey Dudley as the preferred red zone target, and you get a two-headed TE, neither of which is probably worthy of being a fantasy starter. Both players will likely end up on some fantasy owner's bench all season being used in a pinch.

Place Kicker
Martin Gramatica: Gramatica's team gives him plenty of chances to score and he hits a high percentage of his attempts. On top of these two gems, he's got the leg strength to hit the long ones. Gramatica seems a lock to finish top 10 again and could challenge for the overall kicking leader if Tampa Bay continues their winning ways.

Update - 8/28: Gramatica has a little strain in his groin and hamstring. He has returned and looks as good as ever. No worries with him.

Offensive Line
C-John Wade; G-Kerry Jenkins; G-Cosey Coleman; T-Roman Oben; T-Kenyatta Walker
This isn't a great unit but they played well a season ago despite the poor statistical output. Walker is a good young tackle that will anchor this line for years to come. The rest of the linemen are only average football players and the team will be pleased if they can match the performance of a season ago.