Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gruden set the tone for his coaching style the moment he took over for Tony Dungy as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “I'm not going to have a 'No yelling' sign on the sidelines, I guarantee that,” Grunden said back in his 2002 introductory press conference. Anyone who’s ever seen Gruden in action knows that yelling and f-bombs are crucial aspects of his overall coaching philosophy. A permanent grimace is also part of the package.  

Gruden is a student of the West Coast offense. He was an offensive assistant in San Francisco in 1990. From 1992 to 1994, Gruden was an offensive assistant and wide receivers coach for the Green Bay Packers  For two years, starting in 1995, Gruden was the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1998, Gruden became the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.  

Under Gruden, the Raiders were sick. The team developed an efficient, precise offense, and enjoyed a 40-28 record during Gruden’s four seasons as head coach. When Tony Dungy was fired from his job as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Bucs, Tampa Bay was aggressive in its pursuit of Gruden. First and second round picks were sent over to Oakland along with $8 million. The huge ransom paid off in 2002, when Gruden took Dungy’s team to the Super Bowl and crushed his old team, the Oakland Raiders. It was the worst day of Rich Gannon’s life.

Since that 2002 championship, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won zero playoff games. Gruden has delivered only one winning season in the four years since 2002. His overall record is 27-37 during that same stretch. Needless to say, the clock is ticking for the man with the perpetual scowl. If 2007 looks anything like 2006, Gruden’s days in Tampa are done. Mr. Expletive needs a winning campaign this year to keep his post.      

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Off-Season Moves

Jeff Garcia was the biggest pickup of the offseason. After dismal stops in Cleveland and Detroit, Garcia enjoyed a major resurgence in Philly last season. Filling in for an injured Donovan McNabb, Garcia posted great numbers (10 TDs, only 2 picks, a 61.7 completion percentage and a passer rating of 95.8). If he can provide Tampa with the same sort of boost he gave Philly last season, the constant shuffling of QB starters could quickly become a thing of the past.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a flier on free agent dirt bag TE Jerramy Stevens. It’ll be interesting to see if this cat can behave himself in Tampa. Tight End Doug Jolley left via free agency.  

Offensive tackle Kenyatta Walker was cut. Cornell Green split via free agency and guard Sean Mahan signed with the Steelers . Tackle Luke Petitgout was signed after being discarded from the Giants, and guard Matt Lehr was picked up in early April. Fullback Jerald Sowell is gone, but Alstott’s coming back and B.J. Askew was brought in from the Jets.

Linebacker Shelton Quarles is off the team after failing his physical. That’s the same excuse the team gave for cutting Simeon Rice. DE Dewayne White signed with Detroit, and safety Blue Adams was picked up by Cincinnati. Linebacker Cato June found his way to Tampa after winning a Super Bowl with the Colts last year. Defensive lineman Ryan Simms was acquired in a trade with Chiefs, and Nigerian-born LB Patrick Chukwurah was signed to a five-year deal on the first day of free agency. He played for the Broncos in 2006.     

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2007-08 Season Outlook

When Chris Simms exploded his spleen, rookie Bruce Gradkowski took over as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting QB in Week 5. He posted a passer rating of 107.6 in his first start against New Orleans. Gradkowski would go on to post a 3-8 record as the starter. In a game against the Bears on December 17th, Gradkowski was benched. Tim Rattay finished the game. Gradkowski did not attempt a pass in the final two games of the season.

To stabilize this topsy-turvy QB situation, the Tampa Bay Bucs brought in Jeff Garcia. The team also traded for Jake Plummer, but Plummer wants to retire so that he can focus on handball and looking burly (the mountain man look wasn’t going to fly in Tampa anyway). Gruden is hoping that Jeff Garcia can be his Rich Gannon. It’s no secret that Gruden loves wily, old QBs that understand the West Coast offense. He may sound like a fruitcake, but Jeff Garcia understands how to run the type of show that Gruden wants to stage. Chris Simms needs to get his throwing motion back in sync to keep the QB situation interesting. The only way Gradkowski is going to see the field is if some gets hurt. Garcia is the best candidate to lead the offense in 2007.

Cadillac Williams was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2005, but his 2006 campaign was a step backwards. Williams posted a 3.5 yard-per-carry average, one TD and he finished the season with 380 fewer rushing yards than he put up as a rookie. Williams will have to stay healthy if he wants to contribute more on offense. The addition of offensive tackle Luke Petitgout and fullback B.J. Askew should help Williams find more holes to run through. Wide receivers Joey Galloway, Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall all stand to benefit from the stabilized quarterback situation.

On defense, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up DE Kevin Carter, LB Cato June and drafted Clemson standout DE Gaines Adams. With the influx of new DE depth, Simeon Rice was given the boot. LB Shelton Quarles is gone, but Derrick Brooks is still there to anchor the D.

If Garcia can step in and lead the offense, it will take tremendous pressure off Tampa’s defense. This is a critical year for Coach Gruden. If the Bucs struggle to win games in 2007, Gruden could be gone. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Trivia

Malcolm Glazer, the Buccaneers owner, also owns Manchester United, one of the most famous football (soccer) clubs in the world.

No team that has lost to the Buccaneers during the regular season has ever won the Super Bowl that season.

Until a 2002 win over the Chicago Bears, the warm-weather Buccaneers had never won a game during which the temperature was below 40 degrees.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2007-08 Roster

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2007-08 Depth Chart

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Raymond James Stadium

Construction Began: October 1996
Opened: September 20, 1998
Capacity: 65,657
Location: Tampa, FL
Surface: Natural Grass

Most famous for Buccaneer Cove, the stadium is only completed by the 103 foot long pirate ship located on the north end of the stadium. It offers fans the opportunity to really “get into the game” while they're getting into the game via a 19th century pirate village. Raymond James Stadium was the result of a passed referendum that would bring one of the world's finest stadiums to the NFL. It has played host to the “winning” Tampa Bay Buccaneers since opening, as well as once hosting a Super Bowl and the annual NCAA Outback Bowl. From concessions to luxury suites, Raymond James offers  the best of modern amenities.