Signings...State Of The Team

The Bucs have started signing their rookies with CB/S Tanard Jackson hitting the cash flow first, quickly followed by CB Marcus Hamilton. That leaves the Bucs with 8 wet ears left to go. It looks like Allen will probably get most of these guys signed within the next couple of weeks. They have until the last week of July to get everyone signed up so that they don't miss any training camp practices.

Well, now that all of the OTA's are over, and the Bucs are coasting along until training camp starts up, I thought I'd review the team a bit on a positional basis. Starting at QB, Garcia appears to clearly be the leader, with an ability to execute the offense. It appears it will still take him a while to get the jargon down to where he's not thinking about the plays, but he's on his way and should be the best QB we've fielded under Gruden. Gradkowski is looking like the number 2 guy right now. He's apparently much improved and is considered a better fit for the offense. Whether or not he'll ever be starting material...I'm not convinced. Simms is in the number 3 spot after being listed number 1 going into the off-season. Why? The mechanics (no, not the group). His throwing mechanics are still suffering from the surgery and the down time. He's going to have to fight hard to move back up over Bruce. If he gets the mechanics back in-line, I think he can beat Bruce out positionally, but we'll see.

The Offensive line is looking like it will field an upgrade at LT, a very solid RG and RT, and a very good LG, whether it be Sears or Davis. Center is still up in the air, but if Buenning is 100% by camp, you can mark me down for a guarantee that he'll be the starting Center. He's bigger, stronger, and more athletic than Wade is now. Wade has just been have all sorts of problems in the middle the last two years, and this upgrade is needed. My bet on the starting 5 is Petitgout, Sears, Buenning, Joseph, and Trueblood. We may even get a chance to see what it's like when our Tight Ends are freed up to run routes! Wow!

Speaking of Tight Ends, Smith and Becht are set. Stevens looks likely, unless TJ Williams heals up and gets out there. Running back is set with Caddy and Pittman, though the one thing clearly coming out of the camps is that Caddy is looking real good catching the ball now. Darby has a shot to unseat Graham, but we'll see. Alstott and Askew are set at FB, and Askew looks like a very capable guy to replace Alstott, though more so catching and blocking than running.

The real battle on offense is at the receiver position. There, after Galloway, an intense battle for number 2, followed by number 3, is ensuing. Clayton, Boston, and Stovall, are in a pretty tight and heated battle where any of the three can be the number 2 or the number 4 receiver. Pewter Report has reported a good bit on this battle, with some local paper coverage as well. Sufficed to say, Clayton looks quicker, is getting separation, and has apparently started catching the ball again. Boston is close to the old Boston. And Stovall looks like the rookie version or Clayton. Needless to say, the Bucs may be turning a so-so receiving corps into a top notch one. If these guys all go into this season playing at the top of their ability, with Clayton returning to rookie form, the Bucs could end up fielding one of the best top 4 receiver corps in the league. Not too mention the Bucs would likely still have Ike Hilliard on the squad. I think that might be one helluva set of targets for Garcia to hit. So I think it's safe to say that this position is looking quite good.

I'll address the defense in a separate post.