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Bucs Camp: 5 Players To Watch

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRFIDE

Sydnie Coderre, 7, of Sarasota waits for Bucs players to check in to the hotel at Celebration.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 26, 2008

TAMPA - Your long, agonizing wait is over, Bucs fans.

Though the first meaningful game is still a few weeks away, football season is here. It starts today when the Bucs report to Celebration Hotel for their first round of meetings and fitness tests.

The first workout is set for Saturday at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, and it will seem as if it was followed up by a hundred more when the Bucs finally break camp three weeks down the road.

Between now and then, the Bucs hope first and foremost to stay healthy. They also hope to answer a few pertinent questions, such as: Who will be the No. 2 receiver behind Joey Galloway? Who will be the backup quarterback behind Jeff Garcia? And who will be the starting left tackle?

With that in mind, we give you five players who bear watching during camp drills: Gaines Adams, Quincy Black, Antonio Bryant, Luke Petitgout and Cadillac Williams. These aren't the only five you should keep an eye on, of course, but for reasons that will be explained, these five garner special attention.

WR Antonio Bryant

It's imperative that the Bucs find a receiver other than Joey Galloway who is capable of drawing a double team and making a big play. There are several candidates within the receiving corps, but the one to watch most closely is Bryant. He's a former second-round pick of the Cowboys who often has been his own worst enemy. He has fought with his coaches and was suspended for four games by the league following a 2006 arrest in which he was charged with speeding, driving under the influence and resisting arrest.

He was out of football for almost a year when the Bucs offered him another chance, and he has so far taken good advantage of the opportunity. He was one of the more impressive players in the Bucs' offseason workout program, and he seems to have regained his hunger and passion for the game. If that proves true, he could give the Bucs what their offense needs at wideout.

RB Cadillac Williams

Williams, who is still recovering from a season-ending and career-threatening torn patellar tendon injury suffered in September, is expected to start training camp and maybe even the season on the physically unable to perform list. He won't be able to practice with the team, but he can work out on his own. There's a good chance, then, that you'll see a lot of him during this camp. In fact, the more you see of him the better. The Bucs paraded Williams out for the media on the first day of their June minicamp and then talked glowingly of his comeback attempt, saying he has made tremendous progress and appears to be on his way back to a full recovery.

The truth is that Williams still has a long way to go, but you might be able to watch his progress and judge it for yourself during camp. The Bucs seem to have an idea of possibly using Williams sometime this year. That might be a bit optimistic, but if you see him running and cutting without incident, it might be a sign he will indeed suit up this year.

DE Gaines Adams

Adams has grown up, physically and mentally. During the course of the offseason he has matured as both a person and a football player. You'll recognize the physical maturation as soon as you see him. The baby fat is gone, replaced by a tone and tight muscle structure that makes Adams look rather menacing. A change in eating habits (Adams has cut back on the cheeseburgers and fries) is one reason for that.

A more professional approach to football is the other. Whether it was a result of Kevin Carter's cajoling or a dose of self-realization, Adams has gotten serious about playing this game, and the result could be a breakout season. Adams recorded 6.5 sacks last year when he really didn't know what he was doing. Now that he has a feel for the league and is leaning on something other than his raw skill and ability, he has the potential to be a dominant force.

LT Luke Petitgout

The Bucs spent a lot of money ($15.5 million over three years) to land Petitgout two years ago. They're still hoping to get a sizeable return on their investment, but there's no way of knowing if that will happen. Like Cadillac Williams, Petitgout went down with a knee injury in September. Like Williams, he has been rehabbing ever since and he also missed all of the offseason workout program, working out primarily on his own.

Unlike Williams, Petitgout should be ready to practice when camp workouts begin Saturday. He'll probably be limited, but he has to prove he's healthy and then must prove he's a better option at left tackle than upstart Donald Penn. That won't be easy, but if Petitgout can prove he's still a better run blocker than Penn, he could win the job.

LB Quincy Black

Black was arguably the most impressive player in the Bucs' offseason workout program. He made great strides from a rookie season in which he often showed great ability but lacked consistency. The Bucs are starting to believe that he could one day replace either Cato June as the starting strongside linebacker or maybe even Derrick Brooks as the starting weakside backer.

When will that happen? A lot depends on what Black shows you and the Bucs in camp. If he continues to play at the high level he played at during the offseason, he could push for playing time immediately. At the very least he would alleviate a lot of the concern the Bucs have of losing June or Brooks to an injury.

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

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