Bucs look to improve depth on defensive line

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already figured out which players will start on their defensive line in 2009.

Figuring out who will play behind them is proving to be more difficult.

Gaines Adams and Jimmy Wilkerson are Tampa Bay's starting right and left defensive ends, respectively, while Chris Hovan and Ryan Sims are projected to start at defensive tackle. What happens after each of that foursome steps off the field is being sorted out during voluntary workouts this week.

"We really need to start increasing the reps for some of these younger guys and taking some of the reps away from some of our starters," said Todd Walsh, Tampa Bay's defensive line coach. "We know we have a good starting unit. We're very satisfied with what we can do, but we need to develop some depth inside and from end to end."

The only certainty appears to be Stylez White, who is expected to back up Adams this season.

White had five sacks last season and eight in 2007, but Wash is hoping to see more productivity from him and Adams on the right side this season.

"Stylez needs to put himself in position where he can give Gaines a break and be able to go in there and play versus the run," Wash said. "That's the thing we're stressing with him right now in the offseason. He needs to develop better technique against the run. We didn't ask him to do a lot of that last year and we didn't ask him to do a lot of that the first year he was here. Coming out of Arena Football, he hadn't had to line up against a tight end. This is something he's continuing to learn."

Wash said he is very pleased with how quickly rookie defensive end Kyle Moore and defensive tackle Roy Miller are developing.

Moore's reps have increased daily and he is emerging as Wilkerson's possible backup this season. Wash also said defensive end Louis Holmes is starting to show flashes of potential, while defensive tackle Chris Bradwell and defensive end Jarrett Buie have also caught the coaching staff's eye.

"Obviously we drafted Roy Miller, we drafted Dre Moore from last year's draft, we got [Greg] Peterson two years ago, and out of those guys, somebody has to step up [at defensive tackle]," Wash said. "We're starting to see some real good stuff out of Rashard [Duncan]. Out of those four guys, we need some guys to step up and play well because we feel very good with our starters, but we need to have some depth.

"Obviously we have some draft picks that we feel very good about. It's just how long it's going to take for them to transition it our game. Once again, our job as a defensive staff is to get them ready to play and I feel by the time we open up with Dallas, those guys will be ready to play."