Bucs offense loses its anchor

The Bucs believed they excelled at one facet of Sunday's season opener against the Cowboys. Already, the chances the Bucs will excel at that facet again this week have been compromised.

The loss of center Jeff Faine for at least a month with a left triceps strain has the potential to slow an offense that consistently played up to the high expectations the team has this year.

Tampa Bay racked up 450 total yards of offense, including 174 yards rushing, in a 34-21 loss to the Cowboys, but matching that output may be difficult without Faine to anchor the line.

The league's highest-paid center, Faine brings to the position a unique blend of athleticism, toughness and veteran savvy that Bucs coach Raheem Morris said will be hard to replace.

"You all know how smart he is, how well prepared he is," Morris said. "He's a pro. He teaches everybody in his room to be professional. It's a huge loss."

Tampa Bay tried to minimize the loss on Monday by re-signing veteran center/guard Sean Mahan, a former fifth-round pick of the Bucs who begins his third stint with the team. Mahan could step into Faine's position, or play guard if the team opts to move left guard Jeremy Zuttah to center.

Mahan played in three preseason games with Tampa Bay but was released on Sept. 2. He was about to join the Cleveland Browns when the Bucs called on Monday.

Mahan has 52 career starts, including 16 at right guard for the Bucs during their 2005 playoff run. He started 16 games at center for the Pittsburgh Steelers during their 2007 playoff run.

Though Mahan lacks the ideal size and strength to play center, he has the versatility the Bucs like and the ability, like Faine, to recognize blitzes and make changes at the line of scrimmage.

When Faine was injured in the fourth quarter, he was replaced by Jonathan Compas, an undrafted rookie from California-Davis whom the Bucs claimed off waivers from the Raiders just two weeks ago. Compas still isn't completely comfortable with the offensive scheme.

"It's a lot to absorb in a short time," Compas said of learning the checks and line calls the center makes. "I was in a (similar offense) at Oakland, but I'll have to have a high learning curve this week."

More than likely, though, the Bucs will put Mahan in the starting lineup Sunday at Buffalo and hope that Faine, whose injury won't require surgery, can return after just a few weeks on the sideline.

"I hate to say it's a toughness deal with him, because it's not all toughness," Morris said. "It really just depends on when he can go, when he can get that thing right."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at