The defense never rests

Tampa Bay will rely on stuffing opponents to win -- again

Defensive end Warren Sapp will have to keep the pressure on if the Bucs are going to get by on their defense. Jonathan Daniel/Allsport

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with one of the best defenses in the NFL, open their camp in Tampa on Aug. 1. Here are a few questions from Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z, followed by CNNSI.com's perspective on some of the issues facing the Buccaneers this season. SI's season previews will be posted August 24.

Dr. Z wants to know :

1) Wideouts kept coming up with the dropsies in '98, yet quarterback Trent Dilfer kept getting booed? I ask you: Is this fair?

2) Isn't it about time we stop reading "this is the make-or-break year for Dilfer?"

3) How long until fans start hollering for rookie quarterback Shaun King, or Ravens import Eric Zeier or Doug Williams (but not Steve Walsh)?

4) Am I the only person who thinks Pro Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp turns it on only when he feels like it?

5) Why'd they get rid of Lorenzo Neal, one of the NFL's best blocking fullbacks?

6) The Bucs overachieved in '97, underachieved in '98. Can we ask them to just plain achieve (funny word ... sounds like a sneeze)?

The Bucs can make the playoffs if : Their defense holds up. And the Bucs still have one of the studliest in the league, with Pro Bowler Sapp anchoring the line and linebacker Derrick Brooks watching his back. The defense would be much appreciative, though, if the offense could help a little, and that means a decent year from quarterback Dilfer is a must.

Pivotal games : Sept. 26 vs. Denver, Dec. 6 vs. Minnesota. The Bucs have the third-toughest schedule in the league, and it starts with the defending Super Bowl champion Broncos in Week 3. The game against the Vikings in Raymond James will go a long way toward determining who rules the NFC Central.

On the hot seat : The Bucs traded for highly regarded quarterback Zeier, then drafted Tulane QB King, who many scouts have drooled over. For Dilfer, who had a poor 74.0 quarterback rating last season as the starter and has been the lightning rod for all who cry over the Bucs' lack of offense, that might be a hint: Do it now, or do it elsewhere.

Up-and-comers : Jacquez Green is a threat in a lot of ways. The second-year speedster from Florida can burn you as a wideout (17.9 yards a catch last season), and he has the potential to be a dynamite punt returner (a stunning 15.1 yards a return last season, second only to Dallas' Deion Sanders) for a lot of years. He may be the most exciting player on the team.

Player Movement Unrestricted Free Agents Restricted Free Agents Players Lost   Don Davis, LB, re-signed John Davis, TE, re-signed Jeff Gooch, LB, re-signed Jason Odom, T, re-signed

1999 Draft Picks Round Overall Pick Player Pos School 1 15 Anthony McFarland DT LSU 2 50 Shaun King QB Tulane 3 80 Martin Gramatica PK Kansas St. 4 113 Dexter Jackson S Florida St. 5 150 John McLaughlin OLB California 6 195 Lamarr Glenn FB Florida St. 7 226 Robert Hunt OT Virginia 7 233 Autry Denson RB Notre Dame 7 240 Darnell Mcdonald WR Kansas St.