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2005 Team Report: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterbacks
Starter: Brian Griese
Starting QB: Brian Griese finally seems to have his act together. After Brad Johnson had the Bucs off to a 0-4 start, he was benched for Griese in week 5. Griese only managed to guide Tampa to five wins on the year, but he posted some solid numbers along the way including a 97.5 passer rating (his best since 2000), 69.3 completion percentage (career best), and 20 TD passes (best since 2001). Now that Johnson has moved on to Minnesota, Griese will go into training camp as the #1 QB in Tampa. The Bucs finished 6th in passing yards and 5th in passing TDs. They slipped to 12th in passing yards and passing TDs last year due to a nasty string of bad luck which included injuries to WRs Joey Galloway and Joe Jurevicius, Keenan McCardell's holdout and Michael Pittman's three game suspension. Assuming that the karma train comes around the other way for Tampa this year, that should mean a return to the top five in passing and excellent numbers for Griese as the starter.
Backup QB: Chris Simms saw his first NFL action last year, and did not get off to a great start. He only completed 57.7% of his passes and threw more INTs than TDs, resulting in a 64.1 passer rating in his limited action. Second year QB Luke McCown came over in a trade with Cleveland during the draft. In his five appearances with Cleveland last year, McCown was 48 out 98 for 608 yards and four TDs against seven INTs and a meager 6.2 YPA. Luke is a young raw talent who could develop into a good QB if given enough time and instruction.
Running Backs
Starter: Cadillac Williams [r]
Starting RB: Williams was the rookie running back that Tampa wanted all along. Gruden loves Cadillac's rushing and receiving skills and believes that Williams can be the primary back in Tampa. He is the shifty and elusive runner that Tampa has wanted for a while now. The key for Tampa will be improving on their 29th ranked rushing offense. Pittman led the team with only 260 touches in 2004. Williams will probably be in the 325-350 or more range. If Williams can match Pittman's 4.2 YPC from last year and carry the ball 300 times for the season, he'll post a solid 1250 yards rushing. That's a huge improvement in the Tampa running game, and exactly the spark that Gruden needs to reroute the current losing trends and bring the Bucs back to their winning ways. Backup RBs: Pittman was suspended for the first three games of the season but came on strong once he was back with the team. He posted a career best 926 rushing yards and 7 TDs and chipped in another 391 yards receiving and 3 TDs. When the Bucs selected Williams in the first round of this year's draft, Pittman was immediately regulated to the primary backup position. He'll be there if Williams gets off to a slow start or goes down for an injury. Ernest Graham beat out veteran Charlie Garner for the 3rd tailback spot.
Fullback: Mike Alstott is a shadow of his former self. A talented guy who works his butt off, but who has just taken too much of a pounding for too long to be effective anymore. Alstott was the #2 back on the Bucs roster last year, despite only posting 230 yards rushing and a menial 3.4 YPC. He's light years away from the 949 rushing yards that he put up back in 1999 and the 10 TD performance that he put up in 2001. Alstott will be the fullback for most of the season, and he'll grind out 400-500 yards from scrimmage and a couple TDs, but not much else.
Wide Receivers
Starters: Michael Clayton, Joey Galloway
Starting WRs: Well we sure weren't expecting THAT. Due to the landslide of receiving injuries and McCardell's refusal to play ball, rookie Michael Clayton was pressed into service sooner than Gruden wanted. Clayton responded like a champ and ground out 1200 yards receiving and 7 TDs. He destroyed all other rookie WRs and finished with over 700 yards more than #2 teammate Joey Galloway. Joey suffered through some injuries of his own, but he signed a longer-term contract in the offseason and will start opposite Clayton in 2005. With the Bucs looking to bring their passing game back to life, and little or no competition from the rest of the team, both Galloway and Clayton are poised to turn in solid seasons. Backup WRs: Hilliard, an eight-year starter (when healthy) for the NY Giants, provides depth and experience, and may challenge Galloway for the starting job opposite Clayton. Behind Clayton, Galloway, and Hilliard, the Bucs have a host of talented, yet untested young receivers. Shepherd is starting his third season in the NFL and only has four receptions to his career. Rookie J.R. Russell made the team, while fellow rookie Larry Brackins (considered a potential starter long-term by some draft pundits) was released and replaced by special teams veteran Mark Jones, most recently of the Giants.
Tight Ends
Starters: Anthony Becht
As a team, Tampa tight ends had over 500 yards receiving and 4 TDs in 2004. But those numbers were split between six different people, most of whom are no longer with the Bucs. To make matters worse, the Tampa wide receivers are very young and inexperienced, making the lack of quality pass catching people a glaring weakness. To compensate, Tampa brought in Anthony Becht from the New York Jets. Becht had just 100 yards receiving and 1 TD for the Jets last year, but he should be able to provide the extra spark that the Bucs need. Second round rookie Alex Smith also adds depth to the Tampa TE corps. Smith is a solid kid who came back to Stanford for his senior year and led his team in 53 receptions for 706 yards and 3 TDs. He has good size and athleticism, and he should be a nice complement to Becht and the other Tampa receivers. Place Kicker Matt Bryant : The Bucs finally gave up on Martin Gramatica last year. Pre-season featured a competition between Bryant and Todd France. Bryant lost the NYG job last preseason due to injury, and then subbed for other injured kickers in the regular season in Indianapolis and Miami. He has the most NFL experience of the two (81.3% and 78.6% in two years with NYG) and slightly better range. France almost won the NYG job last year, but Tom Coughlin's fear of inexperienced kickers led him to sign Steve Christie. France strengthening his resume with a record setting season in NFL Europe this spring. Although Bryant was outplayed by France in the first half of the preseason, the Bucs gave Bryant the call in clutch game situations, and in the end, he did indeed win the job. Kick and Punt Returners Kick Returners: Torrie Cox, Earnest Graham, Carnell Williams CB Torrie Cox did a decent job as the leading KR last year (33 returns, 26.2 avg) and will probably fill that role again this year. His average was among the best for feature KRs. The backups include RB Earnest Graham (3 returns, 17.3 avg) and Cadillac Williams. Punt Returners: Mark Jones, Joey Galloway, Torrie Cox, Carnell Williams, Ike Hilliard, Michael Clayton Several days before the start of the regular season, the Bucs signed WR Mark Jones, who led the NY Giants in punt returns last year. Another option is veteran Joey Galloway, however the team would prefer to keep him on just offense. Galloway may be getting older, but he can still return punts (20 returns, 7.1 avg, 1 TD). Torrie Cox return punts during the preseason this year. First round draft pick RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams returned punts (11.4 avg) for Auburn last year. Former NYG WR Ike Hilliard is among the competitors for a backup role. The team experimented with using Michael Clayton on PRs early last year. The experiment ended after one return for two yards and a fair catch. Offensive Line
Projected Starters: RT Kenyatta Walker, RG Jeb Terry, C John Wade, LG Dan Buenning [r], LT Anthony Davis
This unit shapes up as one of the weakest in the NFL. Young talent such as Kenyatta Walker and Matt Stinchcomb have never developed as anticipated. Green sophomore Jeb Terry leads the competition for starting right guard in 2005, over Sean Mahan and Dan Buenning. Stinchcomb is probably the best player among this group, but he has never become the player that many thought he could be. He has good technique and athleticism but is too much of a finesse player. Walker is the longest serving veteran for the Buccaneers, but he is entering only his fifth season with the club. If young players Terry, Stinchcomb, and Walker can make improvements there is hope that this unit will come together, but at this time it appears to be a pretty significant weakness for the club. Team Defense The Bucs have a formidable (though aging) nucleus with Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber. The Bucs were typically stingy in total defense allowing 284.5 YPG (second in NFC). Though an average eighth best in the conference against the run (123.3 YPG), they rode their aerial defense gauntlet to a league best 161.2 YPG allowed. Tampa Bay was one of just three NFC teams under 20 twenty points allowed in scoring defense (there were seven in the AFC) and tied for third in the NFL with 45 sacks (low passing yards a corollary of this stat). Defense is not a promising avenue for investigation of the team's downfall. The real world avatar of Chucky came at a fearsome, horror-inducing price of multiple high round picks ('02 Super Bowl was a coup). This has robbed the team of its youth, depth and talent base. The Bucs have been one of the oldest teams in the league of late - which the pivotal '05 draft addresses. Defensive Line
Starters: DE Simeon Rice, DE Greg Spires, DT Anthony "Booger" McFarland, DT Chris Hovan
Starting DL: Rice was the subject of trade whispers before the draft. Being north of thirty, a heavy cap burden, and openly critical of a HC named Chucky is a bad combination. One of the most dominant pass rushers of his era, Rice has had LESS than 10 sacks only twice in his nine-season career. Not known for anchoring at the POA, Rice can be a liability in the run game. Still, he has Charles Haley-like first step, electrifying speed, the change of direction of a smaller man, ability to string moves together, and the tenacity to finish the deal. Spires was a journeyman-type who was thought to be a bridge to when Dewayne White was ready. Instead he had a career season (47 solos and eight sacks) and was re-signed. McFarland was Sapp's heir apparent, but repeated injuries have prevented him from actualizing his awesome potential. Hovan is an intense, fiery presence with one of the most lightning-quick first steps in the NFL for a DT. He attempts to resurrect his career after a downward spiral with the Vikings. Backup DL: White was the Buc's top pick in the 2003 draft with the last pick in the second round (their first rounder that year was part of the Gruden compensation to the Raiders). The former Louisville Cardinal was one of the most dominant pass rushers on the college scene during his three seasons (12, 15 and 10.5 ranked ninth, second and eighth nationally). Only Terrell Suggs had more than his 37.5 combined sacks in that span. White was a prep phenom who rushed for 1,805 yards and 29 TDs as a senior. He was all-state twice in football and a good enough athlete to also earn all-state honors in basketball three times. After a near redshirt season his rookie year with Tampa Bay, he flashed his serious upside in '04 with six sacks in limited action. White has the package to be a perennial double digit sack artist - lacking only the full time opportunity to prove it. Wyms is an active and disruptive interior presence whose season was cut short after six games. He doesn't have great size for a DT but compensates with quickness, leverage and technique. He moves around the line like White. The Bucs scheme emphasizes speed over size.
Linebackers
Starters: WLB Derrick Brooks, MLB Shelton Quarles, SLB Ryan Nece
Starting LBs: Brooks led the team in solo tackles (109) last season and was second in the NFL behind only Zach Thomas. The former Seminole had a season for the books in '02 - 93 solo tackles, one sack, five INTs, one FF and four TDs (three INT returners for TDs the most ever by a LB). Brooks is the prototypical WLB foil to Ray Lewis at MLB and probably the best pursuit (space) LB in NFL history. One on one in the open field, ball carriers are at a disadvantage against his explosiveness and closing speed (AVERAGED over 100 solo tackles in his decade-long career). Fears he was too small (235) to play LB evoke a smile now. Quarles doesn't have prototypical size (225) for the middle, but Tampa Bay's cover 2 scheme starts three WILL-sized LBs and requires a MLB with the speed to defend a TE in the seam route. The 33 year old undrafted free agent had 113 and 104 solo tackles in the last two seasons he played 15+ games ('02 &, '04). Ryan Nece, better known as "Ronnie Lott's son" starts at strongside linebacker as Jeff Gooch was lost for the season after being put on IR. Backup LBs: Ruud brings the invaluable LB traits of instincts, intensity and production (he led the Big 12 last season in tackles with 143 on his way to shattering the Nebraska career record in tackles with 432). Extremely bright (40 Wonderlic score was same as #1 pick Alex Smith), he diagnoses plays quickly. Ruud led his prep team to three straight state titles, and his father played for DC Monte Kiffin at Nebraska before becoming a Bills first rounder. Cooper is a listed 6'3" 213 lbs., making him smaller than many safeties and one of the lightest LBs in the NFL. The second year OLB was one of the toughest pound-for-pound tacklers in the Pac-10. Though some scouts assumed he would have to switch to safety in the pros, he actually played inside at Washington (Bucs have a track record with "undersized" LBs). Cooper fits their WLB profile (could be Brooks backup) but is versatile and athletic enough to be in the mix for SLB. Limited rookie action leaves him untested and largely an unknown.
Defensive Backs
Starters: CB Ronde Barber, CB Brian Kelly, SS Jermaine Phillips, FS Dexter Jackson
Starting DBs: Barber's agent contended in the offseason his client is underpaid (only $3 million a year), but he didn't hold out and remains the Bucs most important player in the secondary. Barber doesn't lack ammo to support the position that he is among the NFL's elite defenders. Barber had a LB-like 100 and 99 tackles in '03-'04 (along with five INTs, five FFs, and three TDs). Sometimes the player makes the Cover Two, and not the other way around. Brian Kelly is a talented player who labors in the large shadow cast by his elite counterpart. He was second in the NFL in PD with 22 (Kelly Herndon had 23) and benefits from QBs reluctance to test Barber. The former Trojan is built (5'11" 193) to take the punishment of the Cover Two. Phillips got his chance with the release of his mentor (and Buc institution) John Lynch. He was progressing in the new role when his season was cut in half by a broken forearm. Back from a disappointing stint in Arizona, Dexter Jackson has reclaimed his starting job in Tampa. The team hopes he can recapture the form that earned him a Super Bowl MVP award, but more likely he'll do just enough to hold off Will Allen. Backup DBs: Bolden is a journeyman, but you can't have enough big CBs (6'2" 207). He imploded with Jacksonville in '04 but had seven INTs with Atlanta in '02-'03. He is a career nickel/dime back (28 solo tackles career high). After an All-American JUCO stint, Nicholson started every game the past two seasons for the powerful Oklahoma defense. Better known as an in-the-box safety, he has the speed (4.5) to run with RBs and TEs. A hard hitter that should fit right in to the Bucs tradition, he times blitzes well (six sacks in '03) and adds to the secondary's sparse depth. He has the size (6'1" 212) and athleticism to start but needs lots of work on recognition and coverage. Will Allen played CB and S for Ohio State (they already had All-American Mike Doss) and possesses good coverage skills for a safety.
Last modified: 2005-09-07 15:33:43
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