The Buccaneers have been collecting QBs this off-season to compete for the starting job.  It would appear that Luke McCown would be penciled in as the starter heading into training camp.  He has some experience playing in the Bucs’ system and he’s looked very good at times.  He has all of the tools needed to succeed as he has a good throwing arm and nice mobility.  Byron Leftwich probably has the best resume’ out of this group of QBs.  But, he has had problems staying healthy since injuring his ankle against the Akron Zips in his last game at the Rubber Bowl.  Still, if healthy Leftwich has the best combination of arm strength and experience on the Bucs’ roster.  Rookie first round pick Josh Freeman could be the Wild Card this season if the Bucs’ want to throw him into the fire.  He definately looks the part with a good arm, nice size and good mobility.  But in college he threw a lot of pickoffs and that part of his game will need to improve if he’s to get on the field as a rookie.  The Bucs like what they saw out of Josh Johnson last season but he could be caught in a numbers game here.  Brian Griese appears to be the odd man out as the Bucs have been trying to trade him.  Griese still would be a good backup QB but his days as a starter appear to be behind him.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON:  D

33-year old Matt Bryant has turned into one of the best kickers in the NFL in Tampa after kicking around a few teams without much luck.  Bryant played in all 16 games for the Buccaneers last season and he connected on 28 of 33 field goals (84.8%).  He also made all 34 of his extra points last year.  Look for Bryant to possibly make a run for a Pro Bowl appearance if the Bucs’ offense gets him a lot of field goal attempts in 2008.  Bryant has now played in 78 games in his NFL career and he has connected on 106 of 130 field goals (81.5%).  He also has nailed 146 of 149 extra points (98%) in hs career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A

Jon Gruden appears to love collecting TEs like QBs as he has four decent ones.  26-year old Alex Smith is the best of the TE bunch for 2008.  He played in 14 games for the Bucs last season and he caught 32 passes for 385 yards (12.0 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  The Bucs would like to use Smith more in the offense but he needs to step up and win the starting job outright.  Smith has now played in 44 games in his NFL career and he has caught 108 passes for 1,002 yards (9.3 avg) with 8 TD grabs.

6′4″, 270 pound Ben Troupe has always been very highly touted but he has never been the big time player many expected of him.  He played in all 16 games last season for the Titans and he caught only 5 passes for 47 yards (9.4 avg).  Look for Troupe to catch more passes than he did last season but he still won’t make a huge impact.  Troupe has now played in 55 games in his NFL career and he has caught 106 passes for 1,056 yards (10.0 avg) with 7 TD grabs.

28-year old John Gilmore was brought in as a free agent and his game is blocking for the run.  He played in 15 games for the Bears last season and he caught 3 passes for 14 yards (4.7 avg).  Don’t expect him to catch more than 5 passes in 2008 for the Bucs but that doesn’t mean that he won’t be able to help the team win with his blocking.  Gilmore has now played in 86 games in his NFL career and he has caught 21 passes for 194 yards (9.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

The Bucs have re-signed Jerramy Stevens despite his off field issues.  He played in 15 games for the Bucs last season and he caught 18 passes for 189 yards (10.5 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Stevens has the most talent of any of the Bucs’ tight ends on the roster but he never seems to be focused on the job at hand as he drops too many passes.  Stevens has now played in 86 games in his NFL career and he has caught 148 passes for 1,647 yards (11.1 avg) with 19 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C

The Buccaneers have the same look at WR as they did in 2007 and I’m not so sure that’s a good thing.  Hopefully, this won’t be the season that Joey Galloway starts to act his age.  The 36-year old Galloway is a freak of nature as he’s still lightning fast and can get down the field.  He played in 15 games for the Bucs last season and he caught 57 passes for 1,014 yards (17.8 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Look for Galloway to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving again this season as long as he can keep in one piece.  Galloway has now played in 176 games in his NFL career and he has caught 669 passes for 10,572 yards (15.8 avg) with 77 TD grabs.  He also has carried the football 63 times for 496 yards (7.9 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.

32-year old Ike Hilliard is a possession receiver who just keeps catching a lot of footballs.  Hilliard played in 15 games for the Bucs last season and he caught 62 passes for 722 yards (11.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Hilliard to have another solid season for the Bucs in 2008.  Hilliard has now played in 145 games in his NFL career and he has caught 499 passes for 5,973 yards (12.0 avg) with 31 TD grabs.  He has also carried the football 15 times for 126 yards (8.4 ypc) in his career.

25-year old Michael Clayton has never come near his rookie production and the Bucs are starting to lose some faith in him.  Clayton played in 14 games for the Buccaneers last season and he caught 22 passes for 301 yards (13.7 avg) without a TD grab.  He also carried the ball 5 times for 22 yards (4.4 ypc) last year.  I have a hunch that Clayton is going to have a solid 2008 season in which he might wind up with the second most catches on the team to Galloway.  Clayton has now played in 56 games in his NFL career and he has caught 167 passes for 2,222 yards (13.3 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  He also has carried the football 16 times for 95 yards (5.9 ypc) in his career.

23-year old Maurice Stovall has nice size at 6′5″, 220 pounds but he has never really stepped up in Tampa.  Stovall played in 15 games last season for the Bucs and he caught 10 passes for 86 yards (8.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Stovall to have a hard time holding onto his job unless he starts to play better.  Stovall has now played in 24 games in his NFL career and he has caught 17 passes for 188 yards (11.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has also carried the ball 2 times for 29 yards (14.5 ypc) in his career.

The Bucs like taking chances on talented players who have had off field issues and they have done it again with 27-year old Antonio Bryant.  Bryant did not play last season but no one can deny that he has big time talent.  Bryant has played in 77 games in his NFL career and he has caught 250 passes for 3,837 yards (15.3 avg) with 19 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 9 times for 43 yards (4.8 ypc) in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C

Both of the fullbacks on the Bucs are solid blockers despite being on the small side and they are good receivers.  6′3″, 233 pound B.J. Askew is the starter and he’s a pretty good all around football player.  He played in 16 games (9 starts) for the Bucs last season and he caught 18 passes for 175 yards (9.7 avg).  Askew is a decent runner so look for the Bucs to give him the ball a few times this season.  Askew has now played in 68 games (15 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 27 times for 102 yards (3.8 ypc).  He has also caught 30 passes for 248 yards (8.3 avg) in his career to date.

Byron Storer is the backup and he’s on the small side at 6′1″, 219 pounds.  Storer played in 9 games (3 starts) for the Bucs last season and he caught 2 passes for 3 yards (1.5 avg).  Don’t look for Storer to get much playing time unless Askew hurts himself.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C