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Brad Johnson Stephen Dunn/Getty Projected starting lineup Offense No. Player Pos. 87 Keenan McCardell WR 83 Joe Jurevicius WR 85 Ken Dilger TE 70 Derrick Deese LT 73 Matt O'Dwyer LG 76 John Wade C 78 Matt Stinchcomb RG 75 Todd Steussie RT 14 Brad Johnson QB 40 Mike Alstott FB 30 Charlie Garner RB 10 Martin Gramatica K Defense No. Player Pos. 97 Simeon Rice RDE 92 Anthony McFarland DT 98 Darrell Russell NT 94 Greg Spires LDE 55 Derrick Brooks WLB 53 Shelton Quarles MLB 52 Ian Gold SLB 25 Brian Kelly LCB 20 Ronde Barber RCB 23 Jermaine Phillips SS 26 Dwight Smith FS 9 Josh Bidwell P 2004 Draft Rd. Player Pos. School 1 Michael Clayton WR LSU 2 Marquis Cooper LB Washington 4 Will Allen S Ohio State 5 Jeb Terry G North Carolina 6 Nate Lawrie TE Yale 7 Mark Jones WR/FS/KR Tennessee 7 Casey Cramer TE/FB Dartmouth 7 Lenny Williams CB Southern Outside the Huddle Is Griese the word? Brian Griese couldn't cut it in Denver with head coach Mike Shanahan or in Miami with offensive coordinator Norv Turner. But the 29-year-old will get another shot with a third offensive guru, Bucs head coach Jon Gruden. Gruden already has the son of a famous quarterback on the roster -- Chris Simms, the son of Giants Super Bowl quarterback Phil Simms. Let it be said he loves players with pedigree. Welcome back The best Bucs quarterback on the payroll is Doug Williams. The former Redskins Super Bowl MVP left his position as Grambling head coach to work in the pro personnel department for Tampa Bay, where he began his career. He didn't get lost going to work. The Bucs have not upgraded their training facility in the 30-year history of their franchise (although they'll be opening a new facility in 2006). "When I came back here this year, I realized that Atlanta had built two [training facilities] since then. That kind of told me about how far behind we were," Williams says. Defense The Bucs still ranked fifth in the league in total defense (279.1 ypg) in 2003, marking the seventh consecutive season the team has ranked in the top 10. During this seven-year run, Tampa Bay has allowed the fewest points in the NFL (1,802) and has the fifth-best record in the league -- 67–45. 2003 Revisited The Prophecy: "It's no secret Jon Gruden has had some sharp criticisms of GM Rich McKay and their relationship is strained, at best." The Lie: " 'We have a dynasty,' says defensive end Simeon Rice." --Athlon Sports Pro Football 2003

Tampa Bay is a hot spot for NFL transplants wanting to finish their careers playing on a natural surface while tropical breezes sway the palm trees surrounding Raymond James Stadium.

But the Bucs' organization has a colder, harsher feel to it. Assistant coaches are denied opportunities to interview for coordinator positions. Future Hall of Fame candidates are shown the door without emotion. Players twice suspended by the NFL are welcomed.

It reminds you of, well, the Raiders.

That's no surprise. The new GM is former Oakland senior assistant Bruce Allen, who signed former Raiders Charlie Garner, Matt Stinchcomb and Darrell Russell (since released) and re-signed Rickey Dudley. In fact, reunited with head coach Jon Gruden, Allen brought in more than two dozen new players, mostly 30-and-older.

Certainly, a 7–9 record was the cause for the overhaul. The Bucs put up one of the weakest defenses of a Super Bowl title in history, failing to make the playoffs.

"Seven and nine is an acknowledgement that what happened last year isn't what we want," says Bucs offensive line coach Bill Muir. "I don't care what phase of the football team you're in, you've got a bad taste in your mouth about being 7–9.

"How do you change that? Well, you could go and say here are the same faces and let's hope we get better. Or you can try to bring in some new faces, new blood so to speak -- throw them in the mix. They in fact may be better. They may force other people to be better."

The Bucs also felt they would be better off without defensive tackle Warren Sapp and safety John Lynch, who combined for 20 seasons and 12 Pro Bowls. The purge occurred to make room for budding stars like defensive tackle Anthony McFarland and safety Dwight Smith.

Gruden believes he has more playmakers on offense. And with a revamped offensive line that includes tackles Derrick Deese and Todd Steussie, his quarterback will have more time to get receivers like Joey Galloway and rookie Michael Clayton the football.

Brad Johnson, who turns 36 early in the season, got off to a hot start but fizzled down the stretch as injuries depleted his offensive line. He threw 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in the Bucs' first five games but slumped to 14 touchdowns and 18 INTs in the final 11 games. His 21 interceptions were a career high. Johnson clearly didn't play his best football down the stretch, but he still finished fifth in the NFC in passing and was without many of his biggest weapons throughout the year, including Keyshawn Johnson, Joe Jurevicius and Mike Alstott.

There's been talk about replacing Johnson, but the Bucs couldn't handle the almost $8 million in dead money on the salary cap.

Johnson started all 16 games and finished 13 of them, giving virtually no playing time to Shaun King, who signed with Arizona. Second-year pro Chris Simms is a pet project for Gruden and could be No. 3 for another year.

Gruden is reunited with Charlie Garner, who played for him with the Eagles and Raiders. Although he's 32 and coming off knee surgery, the Bucs believe Garner can catch 60-to-70 passes a season and gain 1,000 yards on the ground.

Michael Pittman was sentenced to 30 days in jail for pleading guilty to felony endangerment, stemming from a domestic violence incident in 2003. The league suspended him three games for his second violation of the conduct policy. The Bucs signed Jamel White and Brandon Bennett as an insurance policy.

The Bucs used their first pick on Clayton, a 6-foot-3, 197-pound LSU product who will do the blocking and dirty work on third down that used to be performed by Keyshawn Johnson. Keenan McCardell, 34, set a career high with eight touchdowns, but none of them came in a Bucs win. And Jurevicius is coming off a serious knee injury and may not be ready when training camp starts.

The Bucs traded Johnson to Dallas for Galloway, who will allow Gruden to stretch the field.

The first thing Allen noticed was how often Brad Johnson ended up on his back. So he used free agency to sign four new potential starters on the offensive line -- Deese, Stinchcomb, Steussie and Matt O'Dwyer. The only holdover will be center John Wade. Tampa Bay re-signed guard Cosey Coleman to a one-year deal, and Kenyatta Walker could stick around as a backup.

"The football player in this league, with very few exceptions, is a competitive animal," Muir says. "And when he's challenged, not many of them put the tail between his legs and leaves. I mean, they play. There's 32 of these jobs, man, they don't want to lose them. This is an arena like anything else and they don't want to be out of the arena. Let's see what happens."

It's hard to imagine the Bucs' defense lining up without No. 99, but Sapp is a Raider. McFarland, formerly the nosetackle, will move to Sapp's undertackle position, where he should be more effective. Defensive end Simeon Rice, who was second in the NFC with 15 sacks last season, will inherit the leadership role. Dewayne White, the Bucs' second-round pick in 2003, will challenge Greg Spires for playing time at left defensive end with Ellis Wyms.

The most important move the Bucs made was not allowing defensive line coach Rod Marinelli to interview for defensive coordinator posts with the Bears and Jets.

Once an area of strength for the Bucs, the linebacking corps suddenly appears a little thin. Derrick Brooks is just one season removed from being the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and still has another Pro Bowl season or two left in the tank. But middle linebacker Shelton Quarles, who missed the first five games with a fractured forearm and dislocated elbow, did not play to the form that made him a Pro Bowl selection in 2002. Third-year pro Ryan Nece could be challenged at strong-side linebacker by Jeff Gooch, a free agent from Detroit who began his career in Tampa Bay.

The Bucs signed Broncos free agent Keith Burns for special teams help. Third-round pick Marquis Cooper from Washington will provide some depth at the outside positions. But the team will feel the loss of Nate Webster to the Bengals.

The Bucs' secondary was a house of cards last season. Everything collapsed when they lost cornerback Brian Kelly to a pectoral strain in the second half of the Monday Night Football debacle against the Colts. To guard against a repeat performance, the Bucs signed free agent defensive back Mario Edwards away from the Cowboys. But there will be a leadership void after Lynch was sent packing.

The Bucs were able to let Lynch go because they believe Jermaine Phillips is a budding star at strong safety. Dwight Smith, who returned two interceptions for TDs in the Super Bowl two years ago, had to split time between free safety and cornerback after Kelly's injury last season. The Bucs plan to leave him in center field. Ohio State rookie Will Allen will help on special teams and in nickel or dime packages.

Placekicker Martin Gramatica was erractica last season, connecting on an NFC-worst 61.5 percent of his field-goal attempts. For a team that lost seven games by a touchdown or less, that was significant. Gramatica needs to have better aim or he won't be around long. Punter Josh Bidwell takes over for Tom Tupa, who signed as a free agent with the Redskins. The Bucs hope that rookie Mark Jones will end an eternal search for a kick returner.

Even a Super Bowl hangover has to run its course. Besides, many of the Bucs who took champagne baths after beating the Raiders are elsewhere. Gruden has all the power, and his influence on the roster is reflected by all of the 30-something veterans. It's an infusion of experience, but older players are more susceptible to injury.

The Bucs should hover around .500 for most of the season. A late-season surge against NFC South opponents could propel them back into the playoffs, but this isn't a championship club.

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