Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp: 5 Position Battles to Watch

Raheem Morris is fired up and he ought to be.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were finally in pads Tuesday and Morris simply declared: "I'm fired up!"

Now it's time to turn your attention to some key position battles that will unfold at the Buccaneers training camp.

"I'm excited to be playing football," Morris said on WDAE radio Tuesday while the team was in a delay, waiting for lightning to clear the area. "We've developed a nice little learning curve here the last couple of year," he said, looking forward to watching his new crop of rookies, including defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers.

Morris declared his team to be in "somewhat decent shape."

Gerald McCoy, Arrelious Benn, Cody Grimm and Brian Price are all coming back from significant injuries and only Price appears to be a question mark. The only player on the Physically Unable to Perform list is long snapper Andrew Economos, who is recovering from a torn Achilles.

Here's a look at some key position battles to watch the new few weeks.

Right Tackle: James Lee vs. Jeremy Trueblood

You'll see a heated battle for the starting right tackle -- James Lee vs. Jeremy Trueblood.

The Bucs re-signed Trueblood, who was an unrestricted free agent. Last season when Trueblood was injured, Lee stepped in and made the right tackle position his.

Trueblood may be listed as the starter when the first depth chart comes out but make no mistake, this is a real battle and whoever plays best will be the starter on opening day.

It's the only position up for grabs, which is good for Josh Freeman. The offensive line is stable.

Here's the way the rest of the positions stand right now, starter-wise:

Tight end:   Kellen Winslow Jr.

Left tackle:  Donald Penn

Left guard: Jeremy Zuttah

Center:  Jeff Faine

Right guard: Davin Joseph

Right tackle: Lee vs. Trueblood

Second Tight End: Ryan Purvis, Luke Stocker, Nathan Overbay, Daniel Hardy

Kellen Winslow Jr. is the starting tight end, period.

The second tight end position is up for grabs. The Bucs haven't re-signed unrestricted free agent John Gilmore and he is most likely out of the picture with the drafting of Luke Stocker out of Tennessee.

Stocker appeared to be the top candidate until he jammed his hip and is now on the sidelines.

Ryan Purvis looked good in camp last year and could be the man who steps up if Stocker's injury becomes a long-term problem. Other rostered tight ends including Nathan Overbay, seventh round draft pick Daniel Hardy and undrafted free agent Jose Cruz from Syracuse.

Erik Lorig was in the mix last year but has moved full-time to fullback. He's a valuable roster guy because he can go back and play tight end if needed.

Second Running Back: Is Earnest Graham the Man?

LeGarrette Blount could push himself into the NFL elite runners this season.

But who will be the second guy in the Bucs backfield?

Earnest Graham is coming off an injury and will now be able to move from fullback to the running back position. Graham is Mr. Reliable. He can get tough yardage and he can pick up the blitz.

The roster is crowded with draft pick Allen Bradford the newcomer to watch. The Bucs like Kregg Lumpkin so much that they said goodbye to Kareem Huggins. Undrafted free agents are Mossis Madu from Oklahoma and Armando Allen from Notre Dame.

Erik Lorig has moved fulltime to fullback and is joined there with the beastly Rendrick Taylor from the practice squad.

Mike Linebacker: Tyrone McKenzie vs. Mason Foster vs. Adam Hayward

Barrett Ruud is gone, there will be a new man in the middle of the Buccaneer defense this season.

It will be a battle between Tyrone McKenzie, third-round draft pick Mason Foster and newly re-signed Adam Hayward.

McKenzie is the top guy on the depth chart as camp opens but Foster is going to make it tough to keep him off the field.

The other starting linebackers at Geno Hayes at the Will or weakside back and Quincy Black at the Sam or stronside.

One familiar face who may not be around this season is Nikko Koutouvides, who is an unrestricted free agent and hasn't been signed yet.

Nickel Back: Myron Lewis vs. E.J. Biggers vs. Elbert Mack

The starting corners for the Buccaneers are veteran Ronde Barber (right side) and Aqib Talib (left side).

The Buccaneers really like Myron Lewis, E.J. Biggers and Elbert Mack and those are three who will battle for the nickel back position.

Other corners in camp are Anthony Gaitor and D.J. Johnson.

Secondary has been a pretty stable area for the Buccaneer defense and it was the position that Raheem Morris knows best, having gone from secondary coach to defensive coordinator to head coach in world-record time.

Morris still retains the defensive coordinator title in addition to head coach.