Trouble In Tampa Bay: Weak Team In The NFC South For 2009

(Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an uphill battle this season, as the weakest team in the NFC South.

They fired the coach who took them to a Super Bowl for the first time in team history, which they won. Then they brought in Raheem Morris, who has no head coaching, or offensive co- coordinator experience.

Next, they cleaned house, getting rid of several All-Pro players, including Derrick Brooks, who was a franchise player, and aging, but one of their best.

This team is very limited this season, and my expectations are low for 2009.

Brian Griese has been disappointing at best for several years now, and most likely, Byron Leftwich will be the starter.

Leftwich will most likely be cut for the 2010 season, because of a $3.5 M dollar roster bonus due before the start of the 2010 season, and the inability to get the team out of last place.

Freeman will not make an impact on the team in 2009, but will probably start for a couple of years, starting in 2010, but never really be very good, despite the huge salary, and being a 1st round pick.

The have a great center in Jeff Fain, but little else. They are old and slow, and just not very good for this coming season.

New Orleans  and Atlanta should compete for the division title, with Carolina, having a rough time competing with those two team, after a huge flop in last years playoffs.

I would not expect Raheem Morris to be another Mike Tomlin with this weak a team.

Maybe he will last 3 years, before being let go. That might be a stretch, keeping him even that long.

The draft did not bode well for this team, and the roster looks bleak this season.

Another flop is WR Maurice Stovall,a former 3rd round pick in 2006, who probably in his last season.

Tampa Bay needs a huge rebuilding plan if they want to achieve any success in the next three years.

I would hope Josh Freeman could step up, but without a good supporting cast, it will be tough.

Leftwich will miss the defense of Pittsburgh, and find himself running for his life, in a number of games.

NFC South prediction:  first Place, New Orleans Saints, second place and a possible wild card berth, the Atlanta Falcons, third place, the Carolina Panthers, and last in the division, the Tampa Bay Bucs.

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