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Allen Has Plan To Improve Bucs

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By ROY CUMMINGS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 11, 2008

Updated: 01/11/2008 12:11 am

TAMPA - No one seems sure about the number. Bucs coach Jon Gruden said Monday it was $31 million. On Thursday, Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said it was more like $23 million.

It doesn't matter, really. The bottom line is, the Bucs have plenty of room under the salary cap this offseason. But much like last offseason, the Bucs may not spend all the money they are allowed.

Though he said the Bucs plan to participate heavily in free agency this spring, Allen suggested the means to improve on the Bucs' 9-8 finish already is in place.

"The best way we can improve our team is to get those 14 guys from the injured reserve list healthy again," Allen said. "That would be the greatest increase in talent.

"Would I like to sign a Tiger Woods at every position? Absolutely. But we've got to get those 14 injured players healthy and competing for starting playing time and for special teams playing time again. So we're looking at that group of 14 players as a whole new group of free agents. If you add that type of quality to a 53-man roster, that's a great leg up on free agency."

Key players such as left tackle Luke Petitgout, running back Cadillac Williams and wide receiver Maurice Stovall were among the 14 players the Bucs placed on I.R. this year.

All but Williams, who is rehabbing a torn patellar tendon, should be healthy enough to compete for jobs by the time training camp rolls around in late July. Even Williams could work his way back into the 2008 picture, Allen said.

"There is no doubt that Carnell is going to do everything in his power to get better," Allen said. "And if somebody can come back from that injury quicker than expected, it's Carnell Williams. He has excellent medical care, and the equipment and recuperation time is completely different than it was six or seven years ago even. I'm confident that if it can be done, he can do it."

The Bucs eventually may need Williams. Though Earnest Graham returns (the Bucs already have discussed a contract extension), the rest of the running back corps may not.

Michael Pittman and Michael Bennett are slated to become free agents, Allen said, so the running back spot is one the Bucs likely will look to beef up.

"It's obviously a position of concern," said Allen, who also listed the pass rush and the passing game as areas in which he believes the Bucs must continue to improve.

"That was the primary goal last year, and Jeff Garcia's play really lifted this team and Luke McCown's flashes of excellence were very helpful to this team," Allen said, "And our pass rush did get better.

"I compliment the players and the coaches on what they were able to accomplish, but we think we can do better. In this league right now, those two elements determine the winner. I credit Eli Manning with a good performance in the playoff game, but I wish we could have bothered him a little more. And I think we could have accomplished more on offense, but we didn't, so those elements will remain the focuses during the offseason."

The Bucs are focusing on re-signing their assistants, which is an indication Gruden will return, possibly with a contract extension.

So far, Allen said, the Bucs have re-signed offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Bill Muir, receivers coach Richard Mann and special teams coach Richard Bisaccia.

They also have extended an offer to defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who is mulling it with his agent. Allen seemed confident that Kiffin will return.

"He really is a fixture and an important part of the Buccaneers," Allen said. "He has said he wants to come back. Coach Gruden has said he wants him to come back. So we'll let him work on his timetable."

One assistant who is not coming back is running backs coach Art Valero. Valero told the Tribune on Thursday that he has joined the St. Louis Rams staff, though he is not sure what his role will be.

A possible addition to the Bucs offensive staff may be former Raiders and Nebraska coach Bill Callahan. Allen said the Bucs have not met with Callahan, but he did not rule out him coming to the Bucs.

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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