Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Previews - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers team preview for the 2007 nfl football season. Our 2007 pro football preview covers all 32 teams to advise you on your NFL fantasy football draft, as well as to help you with your NFL betting online with our top sportsbooks. We can hardly wait for the 2007 NFL season to start. How bout it owners? Email me your thoughts.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2007 Preview

(My Sportsbook) - Statistics don't often tell the entire story, but in the case of the 2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they say a heck of a lot.

Josh Bidwell's 93 punts, tied for second-most in the league, are a good start.

The fact that the '06 Bucs had three triple-digit tacklers is another telling sign.

A mere 237 first downs, an average of fewer than 15 per game, gets you closer to the reality of the situation.

Those stats and many, many others weave a tale of an offense that was horrendous, and had just about everything to do with Tampa Bay's 4-12 finish. From a team under the leadership of supposed offensive wizard Jon Gruden, the numbers were completely unacceptable to folks in Tampa.

Knowing that another debacle like last year would likely cost him his job, Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen got cracking in the offseason. They landed free agent quarterback Jeff Garcia and worked a trade for Denver's Jake Plummer, though Plummer eventually opted to retire.

The Bucs found a new left tackle, Luke Petitgout, to protect their quarterback, and gave him another capable target in ex-Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens.

There was also a slight shift in the club's tactical approach on offense, with new wrinkles put in place in an effort to maximize the unit's strengths while becoming less predictable.

All of the above is being counted on to boost the club's offensive production and get Tampa Bay back to the postseason after a one-year hiatus.

For certain, Gruden and company enter this year needing to improve the only numbers that matters, namely the won-loss record at the end of the year.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2006 RECORD: 4-12 (4th, NFC South)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2005, lost to Washington, 17-10 in NFC Wild Card

COACH (RECORD): Jon Gruden (39-41 in five seasons with Buccaneers, 77-67 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bill Muir

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Monte Kiffin

OFFENSIVE STAR: Joey Galloway, WR (62 receptions, 1057 yards, 7 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Derrick Brooks, LB (121 tackles, 3 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 28th rushing, 26th passing, 31st scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 17th rushing, 19th passing, 21st scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: New Orleans (9/16), at Detroit (10/21), Arizona (11/4), Washington (11/25), Atlanta (12/16)

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Jeff Garcia (from Eagles), FB B.J. Askew (from Jets), TE Jerramy Stevens (from Seahawks), G Matt Lehr (from Falcons), G Arron Sears (2nd Round, Tennessee), T Luke Petitgout (from Giants), DE Gaines Adams (1st Round, Clemson), DE Kevin Carter (from Dolphins), DT Ryan Sims (from Chiefs), LB Cato June (from Colts), DE/LB Patrick Chukwurah (from Broncos), LB Quincy Black (3rd Round, New Mexico), CB Sammy Davis (from 49ers), S Sabby Piscitelli (2nd Round, Oregon State)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Tim Rattay (to Titans), QB Jake Plummer (retired), FB Mike Alstott (out for season/injured), TE/LS Dave Moore (retired), T Kenyatta Walker (to Panthers), T Cornell Green (to Raiders), OL Sean Mahan (to Steelers), DE Simeon Rice (released), DE Dewayne White (to Lions), LB Antoine Cash (out for season/injured), LB Shelton Quarles (released), LB Wesley Mallard (to Broncos), CB Juran Bolden (released), S Blue Adams (to Bengals)

QB: Those who choose to accentuate the positive will note how brilliant Garcia (1309 passing yards, 10 TD, 2 INT with Philadelphia) was in the Eagles' run to a division title last year. Those who don't will point out that Garcia is 37 years old and will be playing on his fifth different team in five seasons. For certain, the Buccaneers are in major trouble if Garcia fails to play to the level that he did down the stretch in Philly a year ago. Second-year man Bruce Gradkowski (1661 passing yards, 9 TD, 9 INT) started 11 games last season after Chris Simms got hurt, and seemed to get worse as the season went along (he was ultimately benched in favor of Tim Rattay). That means Luke McCown, who was once a starter in Cleveland and sat out all of last season with a knee injury, will get a chance to win the top backup job. As for Simms (585 passing yards, 1 TD, 7 INT), it became clear as the third week of the preseason was set to begin that the best-case scenario would be the Physically-Unable-to- Perform (PUP) list, but that an outright release or a spot on season-ending injured reserve were also possibilities. Simms struggled to regain his mechanics after missing the final 13 games of 2006 with a ruptured spleen.

RB: Perhaps the most disappointing element of the Bucs' 2006 season was the work of running back Cadillac Williams (798 rushing yards, 1 TD, 30 receptions), who did not look like the same player who rushed for over 1,100 yards as a rookie. Part of the problem was persistent injuries, another was the weakness of Williams' supporting cast, and Tampa Bay is expecting a return to form from the former top-five draft choice. The depth chart behind Williams could remain unchanged, as Michael Pittman (245 rushing yards, 1 TD, 47 receptions) and Earnest Graham (59 rushing yards) were both contributors a year ago and can still offer help. Seventh-round draft choice and Alabama product Kenneth Darby is a long shot, but could stick on the practice squad. With Mike Alstott likely to call it a career after suffering a season-ending neck injury in training camp, the fullback job will belong to former Jet B.J. Askew (9 receptions with New York).

WR/TE: If there isn't concern over the state of the receiving corps in Tampa, there should be. No. 1 wideout Joey Galloway will be 36 by the end of the season and has a history of injuries. Ike Hilliard (34 receptions, 2 TD) and David Boston also fit the profile of players whose best years are behind them, and Michael Clayton (33 receptions, 1 TD) has never looked the same since a strong rookie year. The best young hope at the position is second-year-man Maurice Stovall (7 receptions), but Stovall's NFL resume' consists of nine games played, and he is still very much a work in progress. Return man Mark Jones should make the team as a sixth receiver, and that could spell trouble for holdover Paris Warren (5 receptions), who is firmly on the roster bubble. The Bucs improved their talent at tight end, with Stevens (22 receptions, 4 TD with Seattle) giving Garcia another proven target over the middle of the field. Alex Smith (35 receptions, 3 TD) had a disappointing sophomore season and will likely serve as Stevens' backup, with the trusty Anthony Becht (18 receptions, 1 TD) appearing mainly in two-tight end sets.

OL: The left side of the Tampa Bay line has received a necessary overhaul, with the former Giant Petitgout being relied upon for steady play at tackle and second-round draft choice Arron Sears manning the guard slot. That situation means the inconsistent Anthony Davis, who started every game for Tampa in 2005 and 2006, is relegated to backup status at both tackle and guard. The holdovers up front are center John Wade, right guard Davin Joseph, and right tackle Jeremy Trueblood, all of whom were solid if not spectacular a year ago. A couple of 2005 draft picks - guard Dan Buenning and tackle Chris Colmer - project as backups, as does another holdover, guard Jeb Terry. Seventh-round draft choice Chris Denman (Fresno State) appears headed for the practice squad.

DL: A Tampa team that struggled mightily to apply a pass rush last season made major changes at end, parting ways with the likes of Simeon Rice and Dewayne White while spending the No. 4 pick in the draft on Gaines Adams and welcoming free agents Patrick Chukwurah and Kevin Carter to the mix. Adams is likely to start opposite solid veteran Greg Spires (51 tackles, 5 sacks), with Chukwurah (25 tackles, 4 sacks, with Denver) appearing mainly as a pass rush specialist. Carter (45 tackles, 6 sacks with Miami) should appear mostly at tackle, meaning there should be a spot in the end rotation for holdover Jovan Haye (17 tackles). On the inside, the team likes what it has seen from Chris Hovan (51 tackles, 2 sacks) and Ellis Wyms (30 tackles, 5 sacks), and will likely use those two in a rotation along with Carter and former Chiefs first-round pick Ryan Sims (7 tackles with Kansas City). Fifth-round draft pick Greg Peterson (North Carolina Central) is an undersized project but could also factor into the mix at tackle.

LB: The Buccaneers finally addressed an aging corps of linebackers in the offseason, parting ways with Shelton Quarles after 10 years in the middle. Tampa also acquired former Colts Pro Bowler Cato June (142 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack with Indianapolis), placing him on the strong side and effectively demoting Ryan Nece (65 tackles, 2 sacks). The middle will now be occupied by third-year pro Barrett Ruud (57 tackles), who started in five games last year but will have a steep learning curve in replacing Quarles. Remaining on the weak side for a 13th season is 34-year-old Derrick Brooks, who isn't the Pro Bowl talent he once was but is still better than average. Nece and fellow holdover Jamie Winborn (12 tackles) are experienced backups, and 2007 Draft picks Quincy Black (New Mexico) and Adam Hayward (Portland State) will make most of their contributions on special teams.

DB: Tampa Bay sent a message to starting safeties Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen in April, when they spent a second-round pick on Oregon State's Sabby Piscitelli and followed up by selecting Syracuse's Tanard Jackson in round number four. Neither Piscitelli nor Jackson will be a starter initially, but if Phillips (104 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack) and/or Allen (77 tackles) continue to be inconsistent, look for a switch to be made at one or both positions. The ultra-reliable Ronde Barber (98 tackles, 3 INT) returns at one corner, and will be re-joined on the other side by Brian Kelly (12 tackles). The above- average Kelly missed 14 games with turf toe last year, and the team's coverage suffered because of it. Backups at corner should include former first-round draft picks Philip Buchanon (24 tackles, 2 INT) and Sammy Davis (30 tackles with San Francisco), though one could be axed if the club foresees more of a role for 2006 fourth-round pick Alan Zemaitis. Holdover safeties Kalvin Pearson (35 tackles) and Donte Nicholson could soon be unemployed due to the way the draft shaped up, and cornerback Torrie Cox (30 tackles) is in jeopardy of being cut after being handed a four-game suspension to start the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Buccaneers are set in the kicking game, where kicker Matt Bryant (17-22 FG) and punter Josh Bidwell (43.5 avg.) are both capable. Following the retirement of long snapper Dave Moore, holdover Andrew Economos will be given the first shot at both of those duties. Backup wideout Mark Jones (7.8 punt return avg.) didn't do anything especially notable on returns last year, but he will be given a chance to handle both kickoffs and punts.

PROGNOSIS: Though the acquisition of Garcia was indeed an upgrade, the Buccaneers once again appear to lack playmakers on the offensive end of the football. Expecting Galloway, Cadillac Williams, and other key components like Jerramy Stevens to remain healthy at the same time seems like a stretch, as does the development of a consistent No. 2 receiver. If Tampa Bay is going to make a run toward the playoffs again, it will do so on the strength of a defense that has some talent but needs a great many things to go right. If Adams is an immediate presence in the pass rush, the two new linebacking starters adapt quickly, and the secondary both remains healthy and plays up to its capabilities, you could be looking at a dark horse candidate for a Wild Card berth in the NFC. But what is more likely is a six or seven-win campaign and a third-place finish behind New Orleans and Carolina in the South.

08/23 19:45:44 ET

WagerOnFootball.com - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Predictions

More 2007 NFL Previews >>

Click For The 2007 Fantasy Draft Guide...

USE THESE NFL PREVIEWS TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR NFL BETTING AT OUR BEST FOOTBALL SPORTSBOOKS ONLINE FOR THIS SEASON