Tampa Bay Buccaneers
HISTORY
Joined the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1976, and has never relocated.
CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY
League Championships: 1 – 2002 (Super Bowl)
Conference Championships: 1 – 2002 (NFC)
Division Championships: 5 – 1979 (NFC Central), 1981 (NFC Central), 1999 (NFC Central), 2002 (NFC South), 2005 (NFC south)
Playoff Appearances: 9 – 1979, 1981, 1982, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005
2005 Finish: 11-5, 1 st Place NFC South
Recent Records:
2004: 5-11 2005: 11-5 2006: 4-12
2008 NFL DRAFT GRADES
This was a very good draft by the Bucs brass. They got a star, some great upside players, and some guys that could find their way to NFL stardom at the bottom of the draft. I like what the Bucs did.
Aqib Talib was one of my favorite defensive players in the entire draft, and the Bucs got him with the 20th pick. Talib has great size, good speed, and even better ball skills. He can really make plays all over the football field. He is physical and confident. I like his style.
Dexter Jackson made a name for himself as the kid with all the right moves against Michigan in that huge upset to kickoff the season last year, and he is a nice little player. He’s super fast (4.33 40) but doesn’t have much size. He wasn’t part of a dynamic passing offense, but make no doubts about it, he’s a player and will make an impact in this league.
Jeremy Zuttah was a very good leader of the offensive line than helped Ray Rice be a college star. He can play all 3 offensive line positions and is a really smart football player. The Bucs will be happy with him.
Dre Moore was a steal in Round 4. He can play any tackle position and has strength and quickness. He plays with the toughness of a boxer and can really deliver a blow. I like the way he brings it every snap.
Josh Johnson is a great prospect. He’s skinny and needs to add some strength, but the kid did everything well at San Diego and earned the praise of many evaluators. This kid has the athleticism and tools to be a starter, and the Bucs have the time to develop him. He can really throw the ball and he’s fast.
Geno Hayes doesn’t have great size, but it’s not like he’s small either. He played very well for the Seminoles and has elite speed and quickness. He’ll be a special teams star from the get.
Cory Boyd has upside. In Round 7 he has the receiving ability, speed, and some nice athletic shiftiness that impressed the Bucs. At 6’1″ 213 he has a body that could add some weight and really take a pounding.
2007 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay really struggled in 2006. Last years’ rookie of the year, Cadillac Williams, couldn’t find his stride throughout the year, dealing with small injuries and an offensive line that had a hard time blocking anyone. Chris Simms had a tough start to the season, and then ruptured his spleen, losing the rest of his season. The back-up situation wasn’t bad, but Bruce Gradkowski and Tim Rattay didn’t light up the win column either. Joey Galloway had another solid season for the Bucs, totaling over 1,000 yards while snagging 7 touchdown grabs. Pretty good for an old school speedster reaching grandfather levels. The Tampa Bay defense wasn’t what it had been in years past, forcing the team to rely on their offense more than ever. Injuries and overall offensive line struggles seemingly killed any hope the Bucs had to compete in the NFC. Next year, with Jake Plummer, Chris Simms, and possibly Jake Plummer, the Bucs will at least give the Bucs a solid group of signal callers, but who knows how the starting spot will turn out. I expect the Bucs to compete in the NFC, but unless their sub par offensive line steps up, they’ll remain out of the playoff picture in ’07.
2007 Off-Season Plans:
The Buccaneers obviously are sitting on the fact that they always follow the common roller-coaster theme, following a bad year with a good one. 5-11, 11-5, 4-12…. 12-4??? As of now, I don’t see it working out quite like that, but the Bucs have a plethora of solid players, and with one or two more starters via the draft, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Bucs surprise in 2007. Tampa Bay looks like a team trying to improve defensively first. Of the teams off season signings and trades, the Bucs have added 5 defensive players, including the leading tackler of the Colts Super Bowl team, Cato June. June’s ability to run and make plays makes him a prime candidate to do work in Tampa’s cover 2 scheme. Luke Petigout sill bring a little more stability to an O line that teetered and tottered all season long. Adding Jeff Garcia and Jake Plummer, and resigning Chris Simms should make it easier for the Bucs to get solid output from the quarterback position. The draft could net the Bucs one of a couple great young players. At the 4th spot, Calvin Johnson might still be available, making this pick a no-brainer. But if CJ is off the board, as he is in my mock draft, expect the Bucs to waste no time in selecting Joe Thomas to instantly aid their O-line. I everything but guarantee one of the two will be on the board at pick #4. What happens with that first pick will determine what Tampa does throughout the rest of draft, as offensive line, receiver, and defensive fire power are all things of equal need down south.
