TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Attendance required for Bucs minicamp

ADVERTISEMENT

By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 16, 2009

TAMPA - Bucs coach Raheem Morris declared his team ready for training camp last week. Just to be sure, though, Morris is going to run the Bucs through their paces a few more times this week.

The string of workouts begins today at One Buc Place, and this three-day mandatory minicamp will serve as something of a final exam for the material learned the previous six weeks in voluntary workouts.

The exam figures to be grueling early on, with the Bucs scheduled to work out twice today and Wednesday. It gets easier at the end, though, with the Bucs scheduled for a private team function away from the field Thursday.

No matter how it plays out this will be the last time the Bucs get together on the field before training camp starts on Aug. 1, so this is an important run of workouts.

With that in mind, here are five things that bear watching as the Bucs wrap up their offseason program and begin preparation for the start of their first training camp under Morris.

Absentees

MLB Barrett Ruud, above, LG Arron Sears and QB Brian Griese skipped all of the team's voluntary workouts, all for different reasons. Ruud is negotiating a contract and didn't want to take a chance on getting hurt. Sears has been dealing with some undisclosed personal issues. Griese knows he's on the verge of being released. Failure to show up this week could result in each player being fined $8,000 per day, so it won't pay to miss these workouts. In the case of Ruud, though, it may not pay to participate, either. As for Sears, his presence would be a welcomed sight. His absence, meanwhile, would be an indication the two-year starter's problems are severe and would throw his status for the season into question.

Quarterbacks

The Bucs say this is anyone's job, but everyone knows the desire is to have first-round draft pick Josh Freeman spend this year watching from the sidelines. The real competitors for the starter's job are Luke McCown, above left, and Byron Leftwich, above right. McCown has the edge in athleticism, Leftwich in experience. That should make for a nice battle come training camp, but we may learn this week who has the edge going in.

Linebackers

The Bucs seem pretty confident Jermaine Phillips can make the switch from safety to weakside linebacker. We should get an idea this week whether they're right. The situation at strongside linebacker, meanwhile, is unsettled. The Bucs hope Angelo Crowell can step in as the starter, but a setback in his comeback from season-ending knee surgery has forced coaches to consider Quincy Black and Geno Hayes. The middle linebacker spot still belongs to Barrett Ruud, but his absence from camp has given players like Rod Wilson a chance to prove their worth.

Receivers

This is considered by many to be an area of weakness, but the Bucs believe they have some talented prospects in Brian Clark, above, Kelly Campbell and Sammie Stroughter. If one or two can emerge as a playmaker, the unit led by Antonio Bryant, Michael Clayton and tight end Kellen Winslow will look more formidable. If not, then the Bucs may have no choice but to make a run at a veteran free agent such as Plaxico Burress or Marvin Harrison.

Secondary

The starters here are not all perfect fits for new coordinator Jim Bates' man-coverage scheme, and the depth is somewhat suspect. The Bucs need youngsters such as CB Aqib Talib and SS Sabby Piscitelli, above, to mature quickly and veteran Ronde Barber to adjust to his new role as a press corner. We should get an idea this week how well the transition is going and whether this will be an area of strength or weakness this season.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT