Where have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers improved for 2010.

Every team improves itself from year to year, although it doesn’t always show that way on the score board or in the results column. Some teams improve their win totals by a few games; some by more than that. Then there are those like the ’09 Bucs who drop from 9 wins 2008 to 3 the next season. Just like a football game is more than just a collection of players put together, a season is a collection of results that are determined by not only strength of schedule but WHEN you play a certain team. But lets just say all these things are a given, the constant, the team itself, has to improve for their record to do so as well. How has the team improved? Lets take a look, and grade them as well. QUARTERBACK– Going into last year, Josh Freeman was not expected to play at all during his rookie campaign. He got little to no reps, as Byron Leftwich was the starter. in 2010 Freeman goes into the season as the undisputed starter. While he is sure to make some youthful mistakes, the growth he experiences will counter the bad plays he also commits. Expect the QB position to improve overall from 2009 from a D- to a C+. Offensive Line-– The line should return with the same personnel, but with one main exception; They should finish the

season on the same page they start it. Last season, they were told to lose weight, and learn the zone blocking scheme of Jeff Jagozinski. Before we knew it, we were told the Bucs were scrapping the Zone scheme and that now they were going back to the old blocking system instead. The line never recovered. With the loss of Aaron Sears now apearantly permanent, the Bucs will look to a group of untested yet talented younsters for depth and/or possible replacements. The O Line should improve from a C- to B- in Pass Blocking, but only a C+ for Run formations. WIDE RECEIVERS– Without a crystal ball, I would be foolish to tell you I can accurately predict how the Bucs receiving corp would grade out next year. However, the Bucs did bring in talent in the early rounds for the position, and they didn’t mis-match their players. Benn and Williams represent two different types of receivers; a field stretcher, and someone who can catch the ball underneath the coverage too. Sammy Stroughter is another one who can do this; and if all indications are correct, the Michael Clayton era may finally be over in Tampa Bay. We do know the potential far outweighs anything the Bucs have ever put together. Antonio Bryant may have run wrong routes, but on opening day he would have been the best WR on the field. After that day however, it could go either way.

RUNNING BACKS– There is no significant change to grade. We have to grade the Defense on their performance after the removal of Jim Bates as Defensive Coordinator. DEFENSIVE LINE– No area of the Bucs team was changed as much as WR and Defensive Line, especially the interior of the line; defensive tackles. Brian Price and Gerald McCoy are as Green as can be, but their rookie camp showed us they have the motors Tampa Bay coaches, and fans, are looking for. The 2009 Bucs ranked last vs the run. Expect that to improve as Roy Miller will also be part of this mixture. Just a reminder, but the best defensive tackle in Bucs history was not able to excel in his first year. Sapp, Lynch, Brooks all played well in their first years, but it wasn’t until their 2nd and 3rd seasons when they became dominant pro bowl type players. As the rookie camp is all we have to go on, it would seem this could be a three grade improvement. F to B- LINEBACKERS– Expect no changes, as Barrett Ruud, Quincy Black and Geno Hayes will return as the Bucs trio. Black and Hayes should improve a letter grade based on their experience. DEFENSIVE BACKS– Aqib Talib and Tanard Jackson return and bring with them consistent veteran presence. Sean Jones will replace Sabby Piscitelli at safety, and Ronde Barber will be back as the sole surviving sports hero from Buccaneers teams gone by. Rooke Myron Lewis will probably earn his way into the rotation as the corner, replacing the gifted yet sometimes troubled corner Elbert Mack; who will fight it out with E.J. Biggers for Dime defensive back. The improved defensive line play will make the secondary appear to be better preforming, but that again will be the D line more than anything. B- to B. SPECIAL TEAMS– The lineup of Punt Coverage and Kickoff Coverage units is made up of reserve players. A good judge of a

team is its special teams; as they represent the depth of a team. The Bucs had the Best Special Teams in the League last year, giving up least punt and Kick off yardage. Coach Rich Bisaccia should have the 2010 unit up to par. A to A Rookie Punter Brent Bowden should be a marked improvement over last years comedy of rotating punters. D to B- Place Kicker– The Bucs have settled down with Connor Barth although there is another kicker, Lawrence Hunter, on the roster. Last year the Bucs spent 2.5 million to upgrade the Kicking position from Matt Bryant who was accurate but could not kick a deep ball. Bryant suffered an injury in camp and never kicked to compete. Nugent was replaced several times before settling with Barth. F to B-