When looking across the NFL landscape for a potential Super Bowl contender the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are years away from consideration. Coming into the 2010 season the Bucs are full of question marks on both sides of the ball, and even on the sidelines. Finishing last year with one of the league’s worst records the hope for a rebound this season is dependent on multiple “ifs”. One of those being if second year head coach Raheem Morris can navigate his young team through a daunting NFC South. Another “if” for Bucs success, is the improvement in play by their young signal caller Josh Freeman. Entering his second year in the league, Freeman has massive potential as shown by impressive games last season without a stellar supporting cast. If Freeman alone can improve on his modest rookie performance the Bucs should steal a few wins. An obstacle for Freeman and the Bucs is that the supporting cast shows little promise for immediate success this season. The offensive line on paper could contend as one of the league’s best. Guards Davin Joseph and Keydrick Vincent along with Center Jeff Faine show talent and experience to propel the run game, yet Tackle Jeremy Trueblood must provide better protection for Freeman to succeed. The stable of backs that include Earnest Graham, Derrick Ward, and Carnell Williams are similar to the O-line with experience and talent, yet the running back by committee format must produce better this year. This is unlikely in that all are injury prone and offer similar running styles, not creative enough with their conservative offensive attack. For receiving options, Tight End Kellen Winslow is light years ahead of anyone else on the offense. Look for him to lead the team in receiving categories as Freeman will check down often with inexperience at receiver. With the departure of Antonio Bryant to Cincinnati a void has been left to fill as the team’s number one threat. Veterans Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall are not talented enough for that role, however rookies Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams are. Both showed great potential in college, yet both underperformed. If maturity can kick in, the two showed provide for interesting prospects to watch grow over the season.
For Buccaneer success on defense the rookie play of Gerald McCoy and Brian Price will be a determining factor. The two linemen should provide the Bucs with both run stopping strength and pass rushing pressure. In all they should make the defense better than it was last season when it ranked dead last in the league against stopping the run. Outside of those players, the depth and opposite end positions are the weakest in the league. At linebacker Barrett Ruud is the best player on the defense. His play stands out, yet is not dominant enough to carry the defense. Geno Hayes provides another talented tackling presence, however he like Ruud is not a game changer. The strongest part of the entire team is the secondary, where talent is present at numerous positions, yet does not boast a star but more is centered on depth and experience. At the corner position Ronde Barber provides a veteran insight and talent, yet at 35, can he be looked at as the team’s top cover man. Third year player Aqib Talib has made strides of maturing, and is capable during this year or next year of overtaking Barber as the teams number 1. At safety Tanard Jackson and Sean Jones are both experienced and game changing ball hawks. Jackson shows impressive skills that provide help over the top and is only behind Ruud and McCoy in terms of pure ability to play the game.
In all for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010 they will depend on a great number of question marks at numerous positions. The teams mix of youth and leadership should help the younger players develop faster and bring an impact. If that happens the Bucs could provide a few shocks along the way this year, yet with the youth at key positions that is about as far as the potential goes for success. Look for them to struggle to win in the first half of the season and dependent on the success of Freeman and McCoy 3-4 wins is the max this team should see. The Bucs should be looking to next season for a realistic playoff push, 2010 isn’t their year.
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