Tampa Bay Bucs #19

Team: Tampa Bay Bucs
Division: NFC South
Last Year's Record: 9-7
Head Coach: John "Chucky" Gruden
Offensive Coordinator:Bill Muir
Defensive Coordinator:Monty Kiffin

Schedule: Sept.7 @ New Orleans 1:00 (Fox)
Sept. 14 Atlanta 4:05 (Fox)
Sept. 21 @ Chicago 1:00 (Fox)
Sept. 28 Green Bay 1:00 (Fox)
Oct. 5 @ Denver 4:05 (Fox)
Oct. 12 Carolina 1:00 (Fox)
Oct. 19 Seattle 8:15 (NBC)
Oct. 26 @ Dallas 1:00 (Fox)
Nov.2 @ Kansas City 1:00 (Fox)
Nov. 9 Open Date
Nov. 16 Minnesota 1:00 (Fox)
Nov. 23 @ Detroit 1:00 (Fox)
Nov. 30 New Orleans 1:00 (Fox)
Dec. 8 @ Carolina 8:30 (ESPN)
Dec. 14 @ Atlanta 1:00 (Fox)
Dec. 21 San Diego 8:15 (NBC)
Dec. 28 Oakland 1:00 (CBS)

Key Losses:
Greg Spires
Brian Kelly
Matt Lehr
John Wade
Michael Pittman
Anthony Becht

Key Additions: Jeff Faine
Jimmy Wilkerson
Brian Griese
Teddy Lehman
Eugene Wilson
Warrick Dunn
Marques Douglas

General Disclaimer: This ranking could change if Brett Favre comes aboard, as it could go either lower or higher. I'm going to now rant for approximately 50 words. I'm so fucking suck of ESPN reporting about every little thing about the Brett Favre "saga." Maybe I'm just bitter because I'm a Bears fan, but for the love of God, there's this really cool sport called baseball where 5 of the 6 divisions are extremely close, I really could give two shits about seeing footage of Brett Favre running and working out with high school kids in Mississippi. Talk about baseball, talk about the upcoming Olympics, shit, talk about the WNBA, but until Favre is actually playing somewhere please stop fucking talking about it. I watch ESPN religiously at all hours of the day, but today I had to stop. Enough is Enough.

Offensive Breakdown: "If it looks like a rat, and smells like a rat, well then by golly it's probably a rat." Jeff Garcia came back from that memorable TO quote to show that he can marry a playboy model and also play a little QB in the National Football League

Garcia is what he is, that being an efficient signal caller who can still run when he needs to. He threw 13 TD's last year to go along with only 4 Ints. The Bucs have 9 million QB's on the roster to back him up, but I would have to say Brian Griese and Bruce Gradkowski will probably back him up. Griese wasn't awful for my Bears last year, and he can still get it done at times.

The running back situation seems to be pretty stacked, as they don't have one stud, but a bunch of pretty good backs to spread the carries around to. Earnest Graham came out of no where to lead the team with 898 yards. They also picked up Warrick Dunn, who can still provide a spark in limited action. If they get their Cadillac back from the shop, that being Cadillac Williams (I'm so clever) they have even more potential to be able to control the game with the run.

What happened to Michael Clayton? He was really good as a rookie, then tailed off. Joey Galloway is old, but he's also still very fast and one of the best deep threats in the league. Ike Hilliard is decent, but he works in this system with Gruden's West Coast passing game. The other Alex Smith will start at TE, but won't be confused for Antonio Gates anytime soon.

A couple of alums from two of our website's writers headline the offensive line. Jeff Faine signed a pretty rediculous contract to come and take over for John Wade at Center. Faine was one of my favorite players at the Golden Dome when he played there, and looks to prove he was worth being the highest-paid Center in the game. (If I were Ollin Kreutz's agent, I'd be furious). UT alum Arron Sears will start at LG, while Jeremy Trueblood, Davin Joseph, and Donald Penn look to fill the rest of the Line spots.

The Bucs are by no means a juggernaut on this side of the ball, but they aren't the Bears either. They can put some points on the board and will play a steady ball-control offense. If they get Williams back, they will have some serious depth at running back. Garcia knows his limitations, and will not turn the ball over. He knows Chucky will probably punch him in the face if he does.

Defensive Breakdown: The headliner and cog in the machine for the Tampa Defense the last 13 years has been Derrick Brooks. Probably a future hall of famer, Brooks gets it done at the ripe old age of 35. Emerging star Barrett Ruud led the team in tackles last year, and Cato June came over from the Colts to make this one of the best threesomes in the league. They can all run and stick somebody, and can also drop back in coverage.

The defensive line added some depth with Marques Douglas and Kevin Carter coming on board. Greg White and and Gaines Adams led the team in sacks with 8.5 and 4.5 respectively. Adams started off slow, but looks like the light came on toward the end of the season. Look for marked improvement from him this year. Chris Hovan used to be the deuschbag on the Vikes who painted his face, and he's probably still a deusch. He starts with Jovan Haye, of whom I have no opinion on his personality.

Ronde Barber seems like he's the much more likable of the Barber boys. I honestly hope he plays at an All-Pro level for 5 more years, just to prove how much better and less of a pompous ass his twin brother is. Barber has always been a good run-stuffer for a corner, and still has the speed in coverage. Signing Eugene Wilson from the Pats was big, as was drafting Aqib Talib. Despite questions about his character, he was one of the best corners in College last year, and should end up being a steal. Phillip Buchanon, Tanard Jackson, and Jermaine Phillips are penciled in at the other DB spots. Phillips led the team in picks with 4, and was also the team's third leading tackler.

The Defense should once again be an asset. The team ranked 2nd in the league in total defense, and with the continued improvement of youngsters like Adams, and Greg White, they could be even better in 08. The only question is whether Brooks and Barber lose a step or two.

Matt Bryant once kicked a 62 yarder, and made 85% of his FG's last year. Josh Bidwell helped with the field position game, as he booted 30 kicks inside the 20. Rookie Dexter Jackson from good ole Appy St. is going to return kicks, while Michael Spurlock will handle the punts.

Looking back, I really think the Bucs should probably be ranked a little higher than they are. While they aren't flashy, they are very solid in a lot of areas and don't look like they have a lot of huge holes anywhere. They should definitely be a playoff contender, and could finish with anywhere between 7 to 10 wins.


(This link is a tribute to the Super Bowl winning team from 2002. I got kind of cised for the defense on that team, and I was always an Alstott fan ever since I saw him play in high school when I was like 10).