The Continuing Saga of Tampa Bay Buccaneer Fan!

As I type this (can we really say "write" anymore), it's roughly ten hours before the league imposed deadline for submitting the final, 53 man roster. The Bucs are 23 over that number right now. While it certain that some players will be "injured reserved," which counts towards the cutdown, the only vets, thankfully, in that position are Derrick Deese, who continues to nurse a bum foot, and Jeff Gooch, who apparently has some kind of nasty pull/strain/tear (the team won't specificy) that is going to at least keep him out of the Minnesota game.

Instead of predicting the cuts, as I did last time, I'm going to predict the final, 53 man roster that I expect to see come 3pm this afternoon.

Quarterbacks
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Brian Griese
Chris Simms
Luke McCown

This is the only "slam dunk" of the position battles. Unless there's a practice injury, these will be the quarterbacks entering the season.

Runningbacks
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Carnell Williams
Michael Pittman
Derek Watson
Earnest Graham
Mike Alstott (FB)
Jameel Cook (FB)

There's a chance that either Watson or Graham could be cut. I'm banking that the strong preseasons had by each will win them jobs. Everyone else is a lock. Carnell was the top pick, Pittman is a slam dunk as the backup. Alstott won't be cut simply because of his value as a leader and to the fanbase. Jameel Cook is the only legit fullback on the roster, though he faces a challenge from "roundhouse" Rick Razzano for the job.

Wide Receiver
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Michael Clayton
Joey Galloway
Ike Hilliard
Edell Sheppard
JR Russell
Larry Brackins

Gruden says it's up in the air if the team will keep five or six receivers. I think six is the minimum, with all the young talent at the position. The top four spots are locked. Three receivers - 5th rounder Larry Brackins and fellow 7th rounders JR Russell and Paris Warren - vie for the last two spots. Russell has been a preseason stud, with 11 grabs for 139 yards and a score. Brackins did not contribute much in the preseason, but the team expected as much. He will get the final spot over Warren simply on the basis that it's 50/50 the team will lose Warren if he has to go through waivers (before joining the practice squad), but losing Brackins, with his incredible upside, would be a given. Note also the absence of DeAndrew Rubin, former USF star. He's been a good punt returner this preseason, but he walked into a loaded position battle. If the return game falters, he could be brought back during the season.

Tight End
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Anthony Becht
Alex Smith
Dave Moore

The first two are a given. Dave Moore's longsnapping ability, veteran leadership (which Gruden seems to value in a player), and reliability will win him the job over Nate Lawrie and Will Heller.

Offensive Line
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Anthony Davis
Matt Stinchcomb
John Wade
Sean Mahan
Kenyatta Walker
Jeb Terry
Dan Buenning
Chris Colmer
Todd Steussie

This assumes Derrick Deese is put on IR. If he's not, you can count Steussie out (here's hoping). This group is like a poorly cooked steak - grizzled on the outside, raw in the middle.

Defensive Line
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Anthony McFarland
Chris Hovan
Simeon Rice
Greg Spires
Dewayne White
Anthony Bryant
Andrew Williams
Ellis Wyms

This is a good young group. Everyone there is a given. Williams look good in his only preseason appearance, and the team is high on him. Josh Savage likely lost his job when Williams came aboard.

Linebackers
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Derrick Brooks
Shelton Quarles
Ryan Nece
Barrett Ruud
Marquis Cooper
Matt Grootegoed

If Jeff Gooch ends up on IR - a possibility - this is what the linebackers will look like. Grootegoed will be gone if Quarles comes back and Gruden decides he only needs six linebackers. Josh Buhl is a darkhorse.

Defensive Backs

Ronde Barber
Brian Kelly
Jermaine Phillips
Dexter Jackson
Will Allen
Juran Bolden
Torrie Cox
Donte Nicholson
Blue Adams

Barber, Kelly, Jackson, Allen, and Phillips are the only "bet my life on it" sure things. Juran Bolden is the likely nickelback. He's a vet with good ball skills, and he's played well in the preseason. Torrie Cox is a boffo kick returner and showed flashes at cornerback last season. He'll likely be the 4th guy. The only sure thing at safety is Jermaine Phillips at SS. Will Allen and Dex Jackson are fighting for the FS job. Donte Nicholson will probably back up Phillips. If the team decides it needs a 5th corner, it'll probably be Blue Adams.

Specialists
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Matt Bryant (K)
Josh Bidwell (P)

Bidwell will be the punter. In the tense battle between Bryant and Todd France, I give Bryant the edge (though I think France has much more upside) because he's the known commodity here, and Gruden almost always errs on the side of the known commodity.

So, there you have it. We'll see this afternoon how close I was.