A look ahead to the Bucs' offseason

Top Priorities

WHERE'S THE BEEF?

When you finish last out of 32 teams in stopping the run, it's obvious your defensive line needs an overhaul. Fortunately for the Bucs, defensive tackle may be the deepest position in the 2010 draft, led by Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy. If veteran DT Ryan Sims returns next year, there's no way he will start all 16 games for a front that was pushed around way too often this fall. Look for DE Jimmy Wilkerson to return to his previous role as a versatile, valuable reserve.

JUST MY IMAGINATION

Greg Olson, who didn't even interview for the vacant offensive coordinator position last January, struggled as a last-minute replacement for Jeff Jagodzinski. By the time Olson committed to the run, the Bucs were 1-12. Sunday's play-calling against Atlanta appeared uninspired, in sharp contrast to the creative game plan Tampa Bay executed deftly at Seattle and New Orleans.

SAFETY ISSUES

If the Bucs don't land either Suh or McCoy with the third overall pick, Tennessee S Eric Berry is a strong possibility. Tanard Jackson is a young, hard-hitting safety on the rise, but Sabby Piscitelli turned in an unimpressive season in his first full year as a starter, marked by too many bad angles and a slew of missed tackles.

MOVING TARGETS

With Michael Clayton still remarkably unproductive and Antonio Bryant's future in Tampa clouded by health and contract issues, the Bucs must find some reliable receivers for Josh Freeman. Sammie Stroughter was a steal in the seventh round, but Freeman needs big targets who can gain separation in a hurry.

COACHING CORNER

Even with Raheem Morris returning, his staff probably won't look the same. Special teams coach Rich Bisaccia, still under contract, wants to leave and pursue other opportunities. New offensive line coach Pete Mangurian failed to bring out the best in a unit that was billed as a team strength. Young linemen like T Jeremy Trueblood and G Davin Joseph regressed in 2009 and Sunday's manhandling by Atlanta's defensive line was embarrassing.

STAR QUALITY

Few NFL teams are as anonymous as the Bucs, who could be denied a prime-time game for the second consecutive year when schedules are announced in April. A roster once stocked with flamboyant Pro Bowlers has no national profile and Tampa Bay needs some flair to attract fans and create a buzz.

2010 Free Agents

Unrestricted Free Agents

S Will Allen - Special teams captain provides depth at safety
WR Antonio Bryant - Tampa Bay's best receiver the past two seasons
LB Angelo Crowell - Third-string linebacker before season-ending injury
S Jermaine Phillips - Injury prone veteran provides leadership
DL Jimmy Wilkerson - Bucs are high on him, but still determining value
WR Mark Bradley* - Could provide depth at a position that sorely needs it
WR Brian Clark* - Good special teams player and backup receiver
LB Matt McCoy* - Solid backup, but Bucs will not overpay for his services
LT Donald Penn* - Consistent, but Bucs want him to lose weight
LB Barrett Ruud* - New face of the defense wants security
WR Maurice Stovall* - Showed glimpses of promise, could start next season
RT Jeremy Trueblood* - Picks up untimely penalties, but is too valuable to lose
RB Cadillac Williams* - Emotional heart and soul of the offense

Restricted Free Agents

RB Clifton Smith - Pro Bowl resume means Bucs will have to pay him
FB Byron Storer - Too many injuries, expendable because of Chris Pressley
LB Rod Wilson - Could play special teams if healthy in 2010

*-Denotes player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent if a new collective bargaining agreement is reached prior to March. Without a new CBA, the NFL goes into an uncapped season and player becomes a restricted free agent.

2010 Draft Picks

No. Rd.Overall Team 1. 1st3rd Bucs2. 2nd35th Bucs3. 2ndTBA (42 or 44) Bucs (from Chicago)4. 3rd67th Bucs5. 4th99th Bucs6. 5thTBA Bucs (from New England)7. 6thTBA Bucs8. 7thTBA Bucs9. 7thTBA Bucs (from Baltimore)10. Conditional Bucs (from Jacksonville)

The Bucs have a total of 10 draft picks in the 2010 NFL Draft. The Bucs previously traded DE Marques Douglas to Baltimore for a 2009 seventh-round pick (233rd overall, WR Sammie Stroughter) and a 2010 seventh-round pick. The Bucs also traded TE Alex Smith to the New England Patriots for a fifth-round selection. Tampa Bay added another selection after trading QB Luke McCown to Jacksonville for a conditional draft pick in 2010. Bucs also traded DE Gaines Adams to Chicago for a 2010 second-round draft choice. That pick will be determined by a coin toss at this year's NFL Scouting Combine.

Key NFL Dates

Jan. 30: Senior Bowl, Mobile, Ala.
Feb. 7: Super Bowl XLIV at Land Shark Stadium, Miami
Feb. 24-March 2: Scouting Combine, Indianapolis
March 5: Free agency begins
March 21-24: Annual meeting, Orlando
April 22-24: 2010 draft

2010 Opponents

Dates and times will be announced in the spring, but Tampa Bay knows which teams it will play in 2010. As always, the Bucs will play NFC South rivals Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans twice each. The league's schedule rotation calls for the NFC South to play the AFC North and NFC West. And the Bucs' last-place finish pits them against last-place teams from the two remaining NFC divisions, Detroit in the NFC North and Washington in NFC East.

Home - St. Louis, Seattle, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans
Away - Arizona, San Francisco, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Washington, Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans