The Continuing Saga of Tampa Bay Buccaneer Fan!

Three days! Three days! Wow, I'm jazzed!

Anyway, with the line coming into focus, I was thinking about doing a post on just those guys, but I ultimately decided just to post the entire starting lineup. This is based on everything I've read and heard from the horse's mouth regarding the Minnesota game. I have to admit, I'm impressed in general with the youth movement. It's a year too late, but this will be a much younger Buc team, especially on offense.

After a strong 2004, Brian Griese returns as the quarterback. The biggest question regards if the full offseason has helped him learn the offense. If it has, he's a dark horse Pro Bowl canidate.

At tailback, Carnell Williams will be on the field for snap one. How many carries he gets is a big question, but against Minnesota's still forming defense, he could get off to a big start and never look back.

When Gruden goes with a traditional fullback, look for Mike Alstott on the field. Alstott may also get carries behind Jameel Cook. Also look for Mike Pittman to get his touches, spelliing Williams, on third and long, and (especially) as a receiver split out or out of the backfield.

Michael Clayton and Joey Galloway will be the starting receivers. When the team goes three-wide, expect Ike Hilliard on the outside and Galloway in the slot, where his raw speed will give safeties headaches. When the team goes four wide, expect to see promising but skinny Edell Sheppard join the fray.

6th offensive lineman Anthony Becht will play on running downs, and occasionally slip out for a play-action pass. When the team goes double tight-end, which I expect to see more often than in the past, Alex Smith, the basketball player-like rookie from Stanford, will join him. Smith won't be asked to block very much until he improves at it, but he should exploit some mismatches with his size and athleticism.

I had wished and hoped for a youth movement on the offensive line, and I got it big time. Future Pro Bowler (mark my words) Anthony Davis will be the starting left tackle, taking over for the departed Derrick Deese. Rookie Badger Dan Buenning is the new left guard, with incumbent Matt Stinchcomb both ailing and lousy when he's healthy. John Wade, still in his prime, is the center again, one of only two returning starters. Second year man Jeb Terry is the new right guard, after a second great camp in a row. He takes over for sloppy, unmotivated Cosey Coleman, now of the Browns. The 2nd returning starter is 5th year man Kenyatta Walker at right tackle.

The defensive line will return three of four starters from last year - and possibly all four. Anthony McFarland will start and under tackle. If he's healthy (JUMBO IF), he will have a huge impact. The team allowed fifteen fewer rushing yards a game last year when he played. Simeon Rice will be the right end, after another pro bowl quality season. Greg Spires, coming off a career year, will be the left end. The nose tackle will either be last year's starter, Ellis Wyms, or comeback player of the year canidate Chris Hovan, late of the Vikings. The title of "starter" is almost ceremonial in this case, as both will see a lot of the field.

Death, taxes, and Derrick Brooks on the weakside. In the middle, Shelton Quarles is back for likely his last go-around with the team. The new strongside guy (which has always been a revolving door under Monte Kiffin) will be Ryan Nece, who started the entire 2003 campaign but was benched last year for Ian Gold. It was thought that job would go to Jeff Gooch, but he blew a calf late in the preseason and is on IR for the year.

For the 6th year in a row, Brian Kelly and Ronde Barber are your starting corners. Jermaine Phillips is shifting from free safety to strong safety. Former Superbowl MVP Dexter Jackson will man the free safety spot, unless Will Allen sneaks up on him. Juran Bolden will be the 5th defensive back.

For the first time since 1999, the Bucs will enter the season with a kicker who isn't Martin Gramatica. Journeyman Matt Bryant, a Giant last season, is the new kicker, and like Martha Stewart says, "It's a good thing." Former Packer Josh Bidwell is back as the punter after a solid 2004 season.

The kick returner will probably be 3rd year cornerback Torrie Cox. He looked lights out in limited duty last season. The punt returner will almost certainly be newly acquired (like, yesterday) former Buc draft pick and Giant Mark Jones.

I'll tell you, I've been down on this team all offseason, but good health, and even modest improvements in the offensive line and kicking game, and this could be a nine win playoff team. With this essentially a rebuilding-retooling-whatever year, so a playoff birth would be a huge bonus to us once again suffering fans.