Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2009 Preview

Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl hopes are grim as can be. The Buccaneers lost some crucial defensive leaders and will rely on unproven or ineffective quarterbacking to lead this team. While the Buc’s are young and have potential, this season will be long and hard to watch for fans. Rebuilding can happen over night,  but don’t be surprised if  the Buc’s are one of the worst team’s in the NFC in 09.

Offseason Transactions

You can’t say Tampa didn’t try this offseason, particularly on offense. There’s nothing wrong with their acquisitions of Kellen Winslow Jr. at tight end and Derrick Ward, who has little mileage on his frame, at running back. The Bucs lost Jeff Garcia, so they signed Byron Leftwich and drafted Josh Freeman in the first round.

Key Position Battles

The most important position battles for the Bucs are on offense. At quarterback, Luke McCown reportedly has the inside track on Leftwich and Freeman. While it’s understandable that Freeman needs time to develop, I wouldn’t count on McCown beating out Leftwich, even though he’s a statue, Leftwich is just a bit more polished and experienced.

At running back, Earnest Graham appears at No. 1 on the depth chart but the Bucs didn’t sign Derrick Ward to be a backup, so betting on Ward to win the job is a smart idea.

Offense

On paper, the Bucs look better than they’ll turn out to be. Winslow and Ward should be solid contributors, and Antonio Bryant busted out in 2008, but the loss of Jeff Garcia should seriously hurt the passing game. Bryant in particular shouldn’t come anywhere near last year’s numbers. Ward, Graham and Cadillac Williams form a fine stable of backs, but the Bucs will see more eight-man fronts this season with their quarterbacking so weak. Also, the young, budding O-line may have lost an important pillar, as Aaron Sears has left the team, possibly because of an old head injury. There’s no timetable for his return.

Defense

In 2009, the true talent of this unit gets put to the test. Perennial Pro Bowler Derrick Brooks is gone and, as is the case with Brian Dawkins’ departure in Philadelphia, that could have an effect on the defense that no sportsbook software can project. Equally important; the Bucs lost defensive co-ordinator Monte Kiffin, engineer of the speedy, versatile, ball-hawk defense that helped Tampa win a Super Bowl in 2002. With a somewhat underwhelming group of playmakers remaining, it will be interesting to see if the Bucs’ defense, with ranked ninth overall in 2008, can excel again. Remember, Tampa’s defenders should be on the field longer every game because of the shaky quarterbacking.

Outlook
The Bucs’ odds for an instant turn around are terrible in our opinion. They added some offensive weapons but won’t maximize their potential with Garcia gone. That puts more pressure on the defense and I’m not sure it can handle the potent offenses of division mates New Orleans, Atlanta and Carolina with Brooks and Kiffin flying the coop.