Morris confirms Freeman as Tampa Bay's backup quarterback

In case you had any lingering doubts, Raheem Morris made things quite clear Sunday.

The 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all about Josh Freeman.

A day after making their cuts, the Bucs made their bed, officially naming the strapping rookie out of Kansas State as their backup quarterback behind veteran Byron Leftwich.

Freeman was elevated to the No..2 spot following the trade of Luke McCown to Jacksonville on Saturday night, with second-year pro Josh Johnson moving up to No..3 on the depth chart.

Morris said he expects his prized first-round pick to be more efficient in an enhanced role.

"Everything we do has a thought process in Josh Freeman," Morris said. "Everything we do has to. We are married to him. Everything we do around that position, around this team, around this organization, the Tampa Bay area ... we clean the street on MacDill, it's going to be around Freeman. That's just what it has to be."

Freeman struggled for much of the preseason, completing only 45 percent of his attempts with one touchdown and three interceptions.

Morris believes the added responsibility will help accelerate Freeman's transition to the pro level as the Bucs prepare for Sunday's season opener against Dallas.

"He'll get more reps, which is guaranteed, and he'll prepare as a No. 2," Morris said. "Now it's got to be fast-forward training. Luke was probably one of our best 53, but we got some value for him and we move on."

Morris suggested the Bucs had little choice but to go with kicker Mike Nugent and part ways with veteran Matt Bryant, who set a franchise record with 131 points last season and didn't miss a field goal attempt from inside 40 yards.

"We didn't get the competition that we liked at kicker," said Morris, referring to the hamstring injury that kept Bryant sidelined for much of the past month. "The comfort level with Nugent should be right where it needs to be. I like his mental toughness and how he finished off the preseason."

The Bucs reduced their roster to 51 Saturday, and claimed two players off waivers Sunday - Maurice Evans, an undrafted free-agent defensive end recently cut by the Giants; and cornerback William Middleton, a fifth-round pick out of Furman who was released by the Falcons.

Except for tackle Xavier Fulton (injured reserve), all six of Tampa Bay's draft choices made the active roster.

Seventeen of the 53 players on the roster are new to the club, and 20 current Bucs have never started an NFL game.

Tampa Bay could open with as many as 10 new starters against dynamic quarterback Tony Romo and the Cowboys, who are favored by five points on the road.

Although the Bucs have reached the NFL roster limit, they are still looking to improve the talent level before Dallas arrives at Raymond James Stadium in Week 1.

Some current Bucs remain nervous as Morris approaches the first meaningful game as a head coach.

"Nobody's relaxed," Morris said, "except for me."

PRACTICE SQUAD: The Bucs signed CB Kyle Arrington, WR Patrick Carter, DT Rashaad Duncan, RB Kareem Huggins, T James Lee, TE Ryan Purvis and WR Mario Urrutia to the practice squad. They still have one roster spot remaining on their eight-man practice roster.