Jeremy Zuttah doesn't have to look over his shoulder to notice Keydrick Vincent.
You can't miss the guy.
Vincent, a 6-foot-5, 325-pound lineman signed as a free agent from Carolina last month, is trying to unseat Zuttah as Tampa Bay's starter at left guard. Vincent, 32, excelled as a run-blocker for the Panthers, opening holes for DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
"That guy put a smile on my face,'' Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams said of Vincent, who wasn't re-signed because the Panthers wanted to get younger along the offensive line. "You turn on the Carolina film and he just eats up guys. He's so big and strong and once he gets his hands on you, it's over.''
Zuttah, Tampa Bay's most versatile lineman, started all 16 games at left guard in 2009 after Arron Sears was sidelined by personal matters. Zuttah struggled at times as the Bucs
failed to establish a consistent ground attack.
"We were 3-13 and competition is something we need around here so we can all get better,'' said Zuttah, who relies more on athleticism than strength. "My level of confidence is up and I'm more sure of myself on every play. I think I'm more aggressive this year. I'm just trying to get better every game. But I know there's a lot of work to get to where I want to be.''
The left guard spot is the only contested starting position up front and Coach Raheem Morris can't wait to sort out the competition.
"Vincent's a big man,'' Morris said. "He's able to move people and he's slowly picking up the offense. I think he likes football a lot. He's an intense young man and he brings a Carolina demeanor ... we're going to run the ball and you're not going to stop us.''
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