Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Report by Chase Stuart
| TB Projections (9/3) | Passing Stats | Rush Stats | Receiving Stats | Fantasy | |||||||||||
| Change | Name | Pos | Att | Comp | % | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | Pts |
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#fname# #lname# | #pos# | #NumberFormat("#pts#", '__,_____')# | ||||||||||||
| Totals | #NumberFormat("#tot_patt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pcmp#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#evaluate(100*tot_pcmp/tot_patt)#", '_____._')#% | #NumberFormat("#tot_pyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ptds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_int#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ratt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ryds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rtds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rec#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_cyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ctds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pts#", '__,_____')# | ||
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Quarterbacks Starter - Brad Johnson Backups - Rob Johnson, Shaun King Starting Quarterback: For the second time in four years, Jon Gruden is trying to take a journeyman thirty-four year old QB and have him master Gruden's West Coast Offense. Brad has long been touted as one of the league's most accurate passers, and a move to Gruden's system could do wonders for him. The addition of Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius gives him one of the biggest trios of wide receivers in the league. Michael Pittman's arrival should help to take pressure off of him, and the offensive line should return to good form this season. This is the best offense Tampa Bay has had in a while, and if things go right maybe ever. Johnson is not good enough to make an offense much better, but placed in the right offense he can shine. A career 61.6 % passer, Johnson threw for 4000 yards with the Redskins and won a playoff game. His three years as a Vikings starter, Johnson threw for seven yards per passing attempt, and a touchdown and a half per game. However, he's limited physically and may not even keep his job. Backup Quarterback(s): He may lose his job to Rob Johnson, who seems like a natural fit in this offense. He's mobile, he's young and Rob has the tools to be a starting quarterback in this league. The question is for how long, as Johnson seems to get hurt every other week. Johnson was accused in Buffalo for holding onto the ball too long and taking a sack, in order to protect his QB rating. Until he learns how to avoid the sack, and proves he can stay on the field, he won't be this team's starter. Shaun King is the third QB on this roster to have started a playoff game in the past three years, and impressed Gruden in their previous preseason game. As of now though, he is number three on the depth chart. Running Backs Starter - Michael Pittman Backups - Aaron Stecker, Travis Stephens Starting Running Back: Michael Pittman replaces Warrick Dunn as the Bucs primary ball carrier. He must have eaten his spinach along the way, as Pittman's arms look like Popeye's. A versatile player, Pittman has all the tools to excel under one of the best, young offensive minds in the game. While last year Pittman disappointed, the Bucs represent improvements across the board from Arizona. Most important of those, is Tampa Bay's offensive line. The addition of Bill Muir, an offensive line guru, could pay big dividends for Pittman. However, here is the biggest knock on Michael Pittman. In Tampa's dream world, they can match what Gruden did in Oakland in 2000: Third in carries, third in yards per carry, second in touchdowns with twenty-four, and first in the league in rushing with 2,470 yards. Amazingly, the top ball carrier Tyrone Wheatley finished 21st among RBs in fantasy points, albeit in the best season for runners in recent memory. Still, that team is the archetype for Gruden's ground game: The primary ball carrier with 230 carries, a short yardage RB with seven touchdowns, a third down RB with a high yards per carry and 500 yards, and yet a fourth RB to lead the team in receiving yards. Backup Running Back(s): Aaron Stecker's quick, slashing style is perfect for a third down back, and would be a fantasy factor on other teams. In Gruden's offense he'll get his touches, but he'll be more of a fantasy vulture than a fantasy value. Travis Stephens, the fourth round pick from RB factory Tennessee, rushed for 226 yards and three touchdowns against Florida. However, at 5-7 he's small, and has to work quite a bit on both his pass catching skills and blocking. Plays with good football speed, but drew the Gruden stare after a fumble in his first preseason game. Will get a few touches in the offense. Fullback(s): Mike Alstott, Jameel Cook, Zain Gilmore: Making matters worse for Pittman's fantasy success, Tampa has one of the best backup RBs in the league in Mike Alstott. Alstott rotates between HB and FB, but wherever he plays he will get his touches. If Pittman was to go down, Alstott would be a top 15 RB. He has ranked 22nd, 21st, 18th, 15th, 36th and 18th in his six seasons in the league. At 6'0, 248 pounds with surprisingly good feet, he's a very difficult runner to bring down. However, he doesn't bring much to the table as a blocker, and when he is lined up at halfback, Jameel Cook comes in. Cook's a good blocker and has adequate hands, and should help out both Pittman and Alstott. Wide Receivers / Tight Ends Starters - Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell Backups - Joe Jurevicius, Karl Williams Starting Receiver(s): Keyshawn Johnson has proven he can dominate a game, and is already a star. He led the NFC in catches last year, despite sitting out the meaningless last game to rest for the playoffs. Gruden moved Johnson back to split end, the position he played with the Jets. Johnson should be good for eight-to-ten touchdowns, as he had done the previous three seasons before last's year one touchdown aberration. Keenan McCardell switched from playing second fiddle to Jimmy Smith to playing second fiddle to Keyshawn Johnson; he switched from playing with accurate Mark Brunell to accurate Brad Johnson; and moved from Jacksonville, Florida to Tampa Bay, Florida. McCardell should bring nice yardage again this season, but his TDs will once again be limited. On the surface it looks the team change has no effect, but it has yet to be seen if Johnson can develop the confidence in McCardell than Brunell had. McCardell's age and limited upside as a WR2 on Tampa are the reasons we have him ranked relatively low. Backup Receiver(s): As if Brad Johnson wasn't accurate enough, he's got a pair of starting WRs that are 6-3 and 6-1. In case that's not enough, he can throw to former Giant and current giant, 6-5 Joe Jurevicius. In three WR situations, they'll like move Jurevicius outside with McCardell lined in the slot. Jurevicius is a streaky player, and when he's on his game you wonder why he isn't a starting wide receiver somewhere in the league. He brings something that no other play has on the offense, and even the arrival of Gruden didn't bring: experience on a Super Bowl team. A great red zone target, Jurevicius caught more TDs in one game last year than Johnson did all last season. He also caught a touchdown in the NFC Championship game in 2000, and had five games with at least seventy-five yards last year. Not bad for a number three wide receiver. Karl Williams brings depth, and adds a spark on special teams. He can use his veteran experience to help bring along third round pick Marquise Walker. Tight End(s): Ken Dilger, Marco Battaglia, Todd Yoder Dilger's an underrated tight end, and is the perfect compliment to this offense. Gruden knew what he was getting when he brought in the 6-5, 255 lb former Colt: A menacing blocker, with good receiving skills. With all the weapons on the offense Dilger will likely be used more to block than catch the ball, but should still have some value as a backup tight end. Ex-Redskin Marco Battaglia will see some action, and may be able to vulture a touchdown or two in goal line sets. Place Kicker Martin Gramatica: Gramatica is one of the top kickers in the league, and should be in for his best season yet. "Automatica" has matured physically, improving his frame this off-season. He had slips in his concentration last year, but he should be more consistent this year as he learns from his mistakes. With what looks to be a top notch defense and the makings of a very good offense, he should be able to rack up a ton of points this year. In leagues with long field goal bonuses, Gramatica's value rises even more. He should finish in the top ten, maybe even top five among kickers. Defense For years the Bucs defense has been at the top of the league, but for the first time it may not be much better than the offense. The Bucs lost MLB Jamie Duncan, but Shelton Quarles is faster and may be able to upgrade the position, as Duncan never lived up to his potential. However, the Bucs biggest loss was Tony Dungy. Monte Kiffin is still there, one of the best defensive coaches in the league. However, eventually the losses of great defensive minds Tony Dungy, Herman Edwards and Lovie Smith will take a toll on this defense. Also, Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp are coming off poor seasons by their pro bowl standards. Still, the talent is obviously there and the defense should be energized to play with a counterpart that can put points on the board. Throw in a weak division, and the Bucs defense is very attractive for fantasy purposes. Coaching Jon Gruden took over a Raiders team that had lost its winning ways. He took them to the AFC Championship game in 2000, and was a tuck away from playing for the right to go to the Super Bowl again last season. However, his job is more difficult on the East Coast: Transform a good team, into a great team. While the Bucs didn't sign superstars, the additions of Michael Pittman, Ken Dilger, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius, along with bringing in Bill Muir and Kerry Jenkins to help the line, will outperform the sum of their parts. This team has all the makings of a top team, and Gruden knows how to win with proven talent. A breath of fresh air at coach, the Bucs team may need his aggressive, in your face attitude to finally make a Super Bowl. Intangibles Tampa Bay has had to fight complacency after doing the same thing so many years. In part, that may have contributed to the down years of some of their stars. This year a new regime is in town, and the Bucs will be playing at a high level. Keyshawn Johnson and Warren Sapp may not get long, but as long as each player plays like a top player there will be no chemistry problems there. Michael Pittman is used to playing in a committee, and Gruden will use Alstott quite a bit in his familiar role. I really think that Gruden didn't just bring in talent, he added talent that perfectly fit the team he is trying to make-he is placing square pegs into square holes. The Bucs are always touted as Super Bowl contenders, but this should be the year they finally play like one. |