2010 RECORD: 10-6-0
(3rd in NFC South)
HEAD COACH: Raheem Morris
Offense: Josh Freeman emerged as a solid quarterback in 2010, passing for 3,451 yards and 25 touchdowns with just six interceptions. The second year signal caller also ran for 364 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per rush. Josh Johnson is the backup.
LeGarrette Blount had a huge rookie season, gaining 1,007 yards for a 5.0 ypc average and scored six touchdowns. Earnest Graham is the fullback and also averaged five yards per carry. Kregg Lumpkin is the backup halfback and will spell Blount on occasion.
The wide receivers include Mike Williams, who had a brilliant rookie season with 65 catches for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns. Arrelious Benn (25, 395, two TD), Sammie Stroughter (24, 239 yards) and Michael Spurlock (17, 250, two TD) are the others.
Kellen Winslow, who led the Bucs in receptions a year ago with 66 for 730 yards and five touchdowns, is the tight end. Luke Stocker, a rookie out of Tennessee, is the backup.
The offensive line has Jeff Faine at center, Davin Joseph and Ted Larsen at guards and Donald Penn and either Jeremy Trueblood or James Lee at the tackle positions.
The Buccaneers rushed for 125 yards per game last season while finishing 19th overall in offense with 335 yards per game.
Defense: The defense struggled against the run but did a decent job against the pass in 2010, allowing just 201 yards passing per game, which ranked seventh in the NFL. Overall, the Bucs finished 17th on defense, allowing 333 yards per game.
Up front in the 4-3 defense will be ends Michael Bennett and rookie Adrian Clayborn (Iowa) along with tackles Roy Miller and Gerald McCoy. Kyle Moore, Brian Price, Frank Okam and rookie Da'Quan Bowers (Clemson) provide depth to the defensive line.
The linebackers are Mason Foster, a rookie from Washington, in the middle flanked by Quincy Black and Adam Hayward. Dekoda Watson and Tyrone McKenzie are ready as well.
In the secondary are cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber. Talib had six interceptions last season and Barber snared three passes. The safeties are Sean Jones and Cody Grimm.
OUTLOOK: After surprising many people a year ago, the Bucs, led by Head Coach Raheem Morris, will catch nobody off guard in 2011.
A tougher schedule will face the team this season and Freeman will be under the gun from the get go. After a great season, Tampa Bay is expecting to make the post-season this year. But playing against NFC South division foes Atlanta and New Orleans is not going to be easy, but this young team believes they can take the next step.
For that to happen, the defense has to improve even more, meaning getting more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Buccaneers managed only 26 quarterback sakcs last year, which ranked 30th in the league. The 19 interceptions ranked them in the top ten in that category.
The run defense has to get better, as the Bucs finished 28th overall, allowing 132 rushing yards per game.
Along with Freeman, Blount and wideout Williams will be looked upon once again to shine on offense.
If they continue to play as they did last season, there's no reason to think they cannot achieve higher goals in 2011. That will be the key for the Buccaneers this season, continuing development from the youngsters and the defense.
The call for the Buccaneers this year is a 8-8 finish as teams adjust to them, meaning Tampa Bay will look to a brighter future and taking a huge step in the right direction following the 2011 season.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Detroit
Week 2- at Minnesota
Week 3- vs. Atlanta
Week 4- vs. Indianapolis
Week 5- at San Francisco
Week 6- vs. New Orleans
Week 7- vs. Chicago (London, England)
Week 8- BYE WEEK
Week 9- at New Orleans
Week 10- vs. Houston
Week 11- at Green Bay
Week 12- at Tennessee
Week 13- vs. Carolina
Week 14- at Jacksonville
Week 15- vs. Dallas
Week 16- at Carolina
Week 17- at Atlanta
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