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NFC South
1. Front office / coaching. Gruden is gone. No more Chucky. Raheem Morris, a DB coach until of late, is the new head guy. He seems to be ushering in a youth movement both on the coaching staff and on the roster. Look for a more defensive-minded team.
2. Offensive Backfield and Receivers. Jeff Garcia is gone. That leaves, at present, Luke McCown, Brian Griese, and Josh Johnson to fight it out for the QB slot. Most of the quality FA’s at that position have been signed, so unless the Bucs do something odd in the draft, look for Luke McCown as your next starter. Warrick Dunn was cut, and Cadillac Williams has a questionable comeback ahead of him, so Earnest Graham and former Gint Derrick Ward, plus special teams ace Clifton Smith look to carry the rock. At WR, oldsters Galloway and Hilliard were let go, leaving vets Michael Clayton and Antonio Bryant and a cast of nobodies, except for maybe soph Dexter Jackson, who didn’t do much in his rookie year. Not gonna frighten anyone, that. Look for the Bucs to draft a WR or two. TB signed Kellen Winslow away from CLE to add to solid Alex Smith and headcase Jerramy Stevens at TE.
3. OL. The Bucs just locked up Donald Penn (LT) and have solid players at the other OL spots, plus Jeremy Zuttah and Sean Mahan. They could use an outside OL to backup Penn and RT Jeremy Trueblood. Plus, Jeff Faine ain’t getting any younger; the Bucs could look to draft an OC to groom for a couple years.
4. DL. Gaines Adams is coming on strong at one DE, but the other need help. Kevin Carter is the incumbent, but he’s getting long in the tooth, and Stylez (the DE formally known as Greg) White backs him up. Ho hum. They need to look at an upgrade here. In the middle slots, Chris Hovan is ok, and Ryan Sims is coming on, but the Bucs need some depth.
5. LB. Gone is longtime Buc Derrick Brooks and transplant Cato June. So, the Bucs need replacement OB’s. They brought in former Bill Angelo Crowell and look to find help from youngsters Quincy Black, Geno Hayes, and Matt McCoy. At IB, TB has found a solid player in Barrett Ruud, and just brought in Niko Koutovides to back him up.
6. Defensive Backfield. Rookie Aqib Talib performed well enough to allow for the departure of inconsistent Phillip Buchanan at one CB. At the other, Ronde Barber had a solid, if unspectacular, season. Surprising undrafted Elbert Mack was a decent backup, but the Bucs will need more help through the draft here. At S, Jermaine Phillips and Tanard Jackson are the incumbent starters, but Phillips may move to OB. Sabby Piscatelli and Will Allen were capable backups and one may step into the starter job. The Bucs will also need draft help here.
7. Kicking Game. Matt Bryant and Josh Bidwell? Sheesh. They could start their own AARP chapter. These guys have been solid for years, but it is time for the Bucs to bring in some fresh faces to move them into their rocking chairs. On returns, RB Clinton Smith and Dexter Jackson were capable. Look for both to improve in their 2nd seasons.
LOOK FOR TB TO DRAFT:
a. DE - Adams needs a bookend
b. QB - unless Luke has the Force, or Josh Johnson has developed, the Bucs are in trouble
c. WR - Bryant and Clayton will frighten no one; they need a burner
d. CB - It’s time for Ronde to follow Tiki out to pasture
e. S - If Phillips moves to OB, there’s a huge hole here to fill
d. DT - need depth at the least, and possibly a monster starter
e. XP - youth movement
f. XK - youth movement
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