Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp 2010: The Offense

The boys are back in town along with some new guys. Players report on Friday, work begins on Saturday for the 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season.

We're taking a look at some familiar names and new players battling for a roster spot when the sweat begins to pour at One Buccaneer Place.

Today, the offense takes center stage.

QUARTERBACKS: Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson, Rudy Carpenter, Jevan Snead.

The Scoop: The only battle here is for the clip board holder. Coach Raheem Morris is married to Josh Freeman but still makes eyes at Josh Johnson, the man he has dubbed a "lifetime backup." Sorry JJ. Freeman has put in the type of work you'd expect from a first-round draft pick. He's setting an example, he's eager to learn. It took Doug Williams two years to get into the NFC title game. How long will it take Freeman?

Carpenter finished as the third guy last year. At one time, Snead was projected as a first round pick so the Bucs want to see if they stole one here. The new twist at quarterback might be some "wildcat" plays for Josh Johnson.

RUNNING BACKS: Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward, Earnest Graham, Clifton Smith, Kareem Huggins, Chris Pressley, Rendrick Taylor.

The Scoop: This team really needs a running game and without it, Josh Freeman will have a tough time. This time last year, they were uncertain if Cadillac could get through training camp. He proved to be the most reliable back last year and it's a great story. Everyone pulls for him. It's time for Derrick Ward to show his stuff. He was one of the feature free agent acquisitions by Mark Dominik and he didn't do much last year. His attitude is questionable. Unless he steps up this year, don't look for him to be back after 2010.

Earnest Graham is the guy getting the short end of the stick. He's not a fullback and that's where they're playing him. This team needs a beast of a fullback to knock linebackers out of the way and perhaps that's a reason to keep an eye on Rendrick Taylor, the 6-2, 265 pound man beast from Clemson.

TIGHT ENDS: Kellen Winslow Jr., Jerramy Stevens, John Gilmore, Jeron Mastrus, Ryan Purvis.

The Scoop: With Winslow the leading receiver last year, that meant no blocking for run support. Stevens was a lousy blocker and with his size, you think he could get the job done. John Gilmore wasn't as effective as he could have been. That's part of the problem with the running game. Winslow isn't a blocker, he's a weapon, not a battering ram and hopefully his fragile knees will hold up but look for him to get limited work in camp, they have to save him for when it counts. There's a roster spot available for a guy who can block and catch.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Michael Clayton, Maurice Stovall, Sammie Stroughter, Reggie Brown, Arrelious Benn, Mike Williams, Chris Brooks, Terrence Nunn, Preston Parker, Mario Urrutia, Michael Spurlock.

The Scoop: It's a bit crowded in the room, isn't it? Round up the usual suspects and add some high profile new guys. Fact is, Benn and Williams are expected to contribute. They're both a cinch to be on the roster as are Stroughter and Stovall. Now it gets interesting. Reggie Brown, a veteran from Philly, was brought in to compete for a spot. And then there's you-know-who. Yes, the guy with the big contract. This is perhaps the most interesting competition with 11 receivers in camp. They will keep five or six. The only question: Is this the year we bid adios to Michael Clayton? If they keep six, it's easy to visualize Stroughter, Stovall, Benn, Williams, Brown and yes, Clayton as the dirty half-dozen. That leaves the "others" trying to prove their better than either Clayton or Brown.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Centers: Jeff Faine, Jon Compas; LT: Donald Penn, Demar Dotson, James Lee; LG: Jeremy Zuttah, Keydrick Vincent; RT: Jeremy Trueblood, Marc Dile, Xavier Fulton; RG: Davin Joseph. Other tackle: Derek Hardman, Other center: Donovan Railoa.

The Scoop: This group will be the focus of attention when camp opens. Odds are that Donald Penn will not report and most likely could show up before the start of the regular season. That really throws a wrench into the machinery. Faine is embedded at center and hopefully is healthy. It's quite possible that Vincent, who started for Carolina last year, becomes the new left guard with Zuttah back to where he belongs, backing up Vincent and Joseph at both guard positions. Trueblood needs to improve his play and it's time to find out if Xavier Fulton is a player or a bust.

This group will be heavily scrutinized. They will determine the success or failure of the offense. There HAS to be a running game, there's no other way to put it. And they have to be able to protect Freeman.

There will be a LOT of talk about Donald Penn and his impending absence.

NEXT INSTALLMENT: The Defense