T A M P A   B A Y   B U C C A N E E R S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Offseason Movement

Glance Head coach: Jon Gruden 2001: Results 2002: Draft picks Training camp: July 28 at Disney in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  2002 Schedule Date  Vs.  Time  Sept. 8  N.O.  4:15 p.m.  Sept. 15  at Bal.  1 p.m.  Sept. 23  STL.  9 p.m.  Sept. 29  at Cin.  4:15 p.m.  Oct. 6  at Atl.  1 p.m.  Oct. 13  CLE.  4:15 p.m.  Oct. 20  at Phi.  1 p.m.  Oct. 27  at Car.  1 p.m.  Nov. 3  MIN.  1 p.m.  Nov. 10  Open     Nov. 17  CAR.  4:05 p.m.  Nov. 24  G.B.  1 p.m.  Dec. 1  at N.O.  8:30 p.m.  Dec. 8  ATL.  1 p.m.  Dec. 15  at Det.  1 p.m.  Dec. 23  PIT.  9 p.m.  Dec. 29  at Chi.  8:30 p.m.

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

After being on the defensive for the past six seasons, Tampa Bay opted for an offensive mindset by replacing head coach Tony Dungy with Jon Gruden.

The Buccaneers originally went Tuna fishing, but could not hook Bill Parcells, then made overtures for Oakland's Gruden, Marvin Lewis of Baltimore and San Francisco's Steve Mariucci before eventually taking a final run at "Chucky." The price tag: two first-round and two second-round picks, with the No. 1s in 2002 and '03 and the No. 2s in '02 and '04.

"We were determined not to let outside pressures derail us from our goal, which was to find the best person to coach the Buccaneers," executive vice president Bryan Glazer said in February. "Our fans deserve nothing less.

"That person is Jon Gruden, the finest young mind in the game. We took our time and got the man we really wanted, and we couldn't be more thrilled. This was one of the most important decisions in the history of this franchise."

Leading Tampa Bay's offense will be quarterback Brad Johnson, who set franchise records in 2001 for passes thrown, completed, completion percentage and lowest interception percentage as the Bucs ranked 15th in passing. His top targets will be Keyshawn Johnson and free-agent signee Keenan McCardell.

Mike Alstott, who led the Bucs in rushing yards and scored 11 touchdowns last season, said Gruden's offensive philosophy is welcomed. "Our defense is where it needs to be and we're trying to get our offense to that level. We've shown signs in the past, but we haven't been consistent or been a balanced attack as an offense. Hopefully, Coach Gruden can do that for us."

Tampa Bay's offense will have its fourth different coordinator in four years, but Gruden says his system is "user-friendly" and shouldn't be too hard to grasp. "It depends on the energy put in by our football team. I'm confident that we're going to have a lot of guys that are excited about what we're asking them to do. I believe it will be a quick process."

The defensive staff will remain intact. Monte Kiffin will continue as defensive coordinator, and second-year coaches Joe Barry (linebackers) and Mike Tomlin (defensive backs) will return. Rod Marinelli, defensive line coach during the past six seasons, was elevated to assistant head coach/defensive line.

The Buccaneers were sixth overall in defense last season, anchored by the fifth-ranked pass defense, and finished second in takeaways/giveaways (minus-17). The defense also allowed only eight rushing TDs.

"The big thing with Monte is that you know he never stays the same," Gruden said. "I think one of the great things that Tampa has done over the last five or six years is draft players that fit this system. And at the same time Monte has really done a great job staying ahead of the posse and tinkering with it, adding new wrinkles, and really made it very, very effective."

Fact Since 1998, Keyshawn Johnson's team are 18-5 when he catches a touchdown pass, including 6-1 as a member of the Buccaneers.

Keyshawn Johnson, WR -- For as much success as Brad Johnson had throwing the ball in 2001, Keyshawn Johnson was a large part of it -- except when it came to getting into the end zone. KJ set a franchise record with 106 receptions, but only one went for a TD -- in the 12th game of the season.

Johnson, who entered the 2001 season averaging 75 catches and almost eight TD catches per year, is preparing for his seventh NFL season -- and will be playing for his fourth head coach. Still, the addition of Gruden should prove beneficial. "I'm pretty happy that we got an opportunity to get one of the best coaches in the league," Johnson said. "I didn't think it was going to happen based on all of the reports that were out there but it happened for us. Our owner stepped up and paid the price.

"I'm excited about it," he said. "I think coach Gruden knows offense and he's been around knowledgeable offensive guys like Andy Reid and Mike Holmgren and people from that era. It'll be fun. I'm pretty sure our offense will put up some points this year and we won't be in the position that we were in last year."

Ah, last year. ... Tampa Bay ranked 26th in offense with 293.4 yards per game -- 41.7 ypg less than the Raiders -- and 15th in passing. There will be even more emphasis on Johnson this season as leading TD receivers Dave Moore (4) and Warrick Dunn (3) are no longer in Tampa.

Brad Johnson believes Keyshawn and the other receivers will thrive in the new system. "You have to look at past history of systems," Brad Johnson said. "That's what they've had in Oakland the past three or four years and they've been successful doing that with big receivers -- Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. That's what we're going to have here. We've got guys that can catch the ball and make plays, and that's been a little bit lacking in the past. We have to be a high completion percentage type of team and the guys have to get yards after the catch. These receivers are going to be very physical and they're going to make a lot of catches."

After playing for Rich Kotite, Parcells and Dungy during his first six seasons, Keyshawn Johnson isn't worried about having to learn a new system. "I won't have a problem with the offense," he said. "It can be West Coast or East Coast. ... I just need to be able to play."

Fact Last season was the first since Monte Kiffin joined the Buccaneers in 1996 that Tampa Bay allowed more sacks than it posted (48-41). Prior to '96, the last time the Bucs had more sacks than they allowed was 1982.

Defensive depth -- While Kiffin's unit has been the glue that kept the Buccaneers together in past seasons, Tampa Bay could be one major injury from shambles. OK, maybe two injuries. Gone from last season's crew are LBs Jamie Duncan (second on team with 73 tackles) and Jeff Gooch, DE Steve White (second with 4 1/2 sacks) and CB Donnie Abraham, the Bucs' all-time interceptions leader who was released because of salary-cap constraints.

Following Duncan's departure, the team elected to move strongside linebacker Shelton Quarles into the middle and fill his former starting role with holdover Alshermond Singleton. The Bucs' third starting linebacker is Derrick Brooks, coming off a fourth consecutive Pro Bowl season but a campaign somewhat marred by a foot injury.

Gruden believes the veterans will carry the load and points to Quarles as a prime example. "Shelton Quarles has made a big difference on our football team," Gruden said. "The speed that he brings to the defense from the middle linebacker standpoint is unique, and it makes it tough on us [on offense]. The [defense] is very fast, very athletic, they've been together for a while and we expect big things from them."

Across the line, DEs Simeon Rice and Marcus Jones are both seventh-year players, while five-year veteran Greg Spires was added via free agency for depth. The other six ends in camp have six years' combined experience, including three rookies. Defensive tackles Warren Sapp (8) and Anthony McFarland (4) are the starters, with the other three DTs having two years between them.

At linebacker, Brooks (8), Quarles (6) and first-year starter Singleton (6) lead the way. The other eight 'backers have 10 years' experience between them and include six in either their first or second seasons.

The secondary will miss Abraham, but he had lost his starting job to fifth-year player Brian Kelly at the end of the season. Still, the Bucs are thin in the backfield. Kelly, who suffered a broken hand during a collision with Keyshawn Johnson in an April minicamp, and Ronde Barber are the corners, but the other six CBs combined have six years' experience -- as much as Barber. At safety, John Lynch returns for his 10th season and Dexter Jackson is in year five. The remaining four safeties -- and stop us if you've heard this before -- have five years' combined experience.

"When one guy leaves, it's not only the guy replacing him, it's the depth," Lynch said. "But that's the reality of football in this day and age. Clearly they [the coaching staff] made a decision to put more into the offense and took some of our depth on defense. We're going to have to find that."

Can Jon Gruden get Tampa Bay over the postseason hump?

Fact In the 40-year history of the Raiders, only two Oakland head coaches were younger than Jon Gruden, who was 34 when hired in 1998: Al Davis (33 in 1963) and John Madden (32 in 1969).

In the wake of the Bucs mortgaging the future -- draft-picks wise -- for Gruden, many questioned if the Glazers had spent too much time in the Florida sun. Time will tell, but obviously the Buccaneers are married to Gruden, for better or worse.

"I don't even know what a honeymoon is," Gruden said. "When I got married, I eloped. I don't believe in honeymoons. I think that's hogwash. ... This is a 'What have you done lately?' business. We're going to be judged on how many games we win right away. That's what I love about being here -- standards are high, expectations are high and we need to get results between the lines on Sunday during the regular season. That's the bottom line."

Gruden is the seventh head coach in Bucs history, and replaces the most successful in the team's 27-year history. However, it was Dungy's postseason ineptness that cost him. Tampa Bay gained only 258 yards -- 101 in the fourth quarter -- and lost 31-9 to Philadelphia in an NFC wild-card game last season. That after the Bucs had just 199 yards in a 21-3 loss to the Eagles in a wild-card game in 2000 and managed only two field goals in an 11-6 loss to St. Louis in the 1999 NFC Championship Game.

The NFL's youngest head coach at 38, Gruden posted a 38-26 regular-season record in four seasons (1998-2001) with Oakland, including postseason appearances in 2000-01.

Under Gruden, the Raiders advanced to the AFC Championship Game in 2000 and lost last year in a Divisional playoff game to eventual Super Bowl champ New England. Gruden's offenses have finished in the Top 10 the past three seasons, including fifth in 1999.

But all of that means little when Tampa Bay tees up its 2002 season Sept. 8 against New Orleans.

"They know that I'm a very simple-minded coach," Gruden said. "I've got a new challenge and so do they. I'm going to be relentless, and I'm sure they will be also.

"The most important thing is to win football games. Our players, I believe, could care less how I got here. They could care less who I know that lives in this area. I think they want some straight organization and direction in terms of what we have to do to improve our football team.

"I'm thrilled to be here, and all I can guarantee is a lot of hard work and effort to try to put the Buccaneers into championship form."