Buccaneer Offense: Who's in, Who's on the Bubble?

Part Two of a series. Today we look at the offensive roster. Who's a lock to make the roster, who's probable, and who's on the bubble.

When you take a look at the 81-man roster for the Buccaneers, the first thing you notice is that someone will have to be released when quarterback Josh Freeman is signed. Camp roster limit is 80.

After that, take a serious look at these players and you begin to understand just how small NFL rosters are. If a team is two-deep at every position, that's 44. Add a kicker and a punter and now you're down to seven positions that go beyond a two-deep depth chart.

In Part One, there were 43 players on the offensive depth chart with 27 or perhaps 28 jobs available. That decision will depend on who stands out in camp and who plays well in preseason. Then there will be the in-fighting among position coaches, lobbying on behalf of their players.

Here's how it could break down.

LEAD PIPE LOCKS TO MAKE THE FINAL ROSTER

Tight end:  Kellen Winslow Jr., Jerramy Stevens

Left tackle:  Donald Penn

Left guard:   Jeremy Zuttah

Center:  Jeff Faine, Sean Mahan

Right guard: Davin Joseph

Right tackle: Jeremy Trueblood

Wide receiver: Antonio Bryant, Mike Clayton, Maurice Stovall

Running back: Earnest Graham, Derrick Ward, Clifton Smith, Cadillac Williams, B.J. Askew, Jameel Cook

Quarterback:  Luke McCown, Josh Freeman

Total locks to make the final roster:  19

PROBABLES TO MAKE THE FINAL ROSTER

Tight end:    John Gilmore

Left tackle:  Anthony Alabi

Left guard:  Arron Sears

Right tackle: James Lee, Xavier Fulton

Wide receiver: Dexter Jackson, Brian Clark, Sammie Stroughter

Quarterback:  Bryon Leftwich

Total probables to make the final roster: nine

PLAYERS ON THE BUBBLE

Tight end:  Jason Pociask, Ryan Purvis

Left tackle: Marc Dile

Left guard: Maurice Miller

Center: Rob Bruggeman

Right guard: Julius Wilson

Right tackle: Demar Dotson

Wide receiver: Cortez Hankton, Kelly Campbell, Joel Filani, Pat Carter

Running back: Kareem Huggins, Josh Vaughn

Quarterback:  Josh Johnson

Total players on the bubble:  15

Some of the questions on offense that remain to be answered include the condition and status of last year's starting guard, Arron Sears. Nothing is certain until he reports to camp, if he reports.

The physical condition of Cadillac Williams is a question mark although head coach Raheem Morris has gone on the record to say that Williams will be ready for camp. It has previously been speculated that Williams would be on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list going into camp.

The most watched competition on offense will obviously be the quarterback position. The Buccaneers are the only team in the NFL South going into camp without knowing who the starting quarterback will be when the season opens.

Tomorrow: Defensive depth chart.