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Mon., June 25
Does the addition of Brad Johnson make the Bucs the team to beat in the NFC? I think so. Brad Johnson can get the ball to Keyshawn Johnson. He runs
offenses that have been in playoff contention. The Bucs don't ask a lot out of their quarterbacks. Johnson, however, gives them the ability to beat teams in the air. He's smart. He's a leader. He's an accurate passer. What is also important is that he knows the NFC Central from his days in Minnesota. Going into the offseason, the Bucs didn't know if they had enough cap room available to sign Johnson. He could end up being their ticket to a Super Bowl. That's the opinion of Ravens coach Brian Billick, who knows
Johnson and considered signing him, too.
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Tony Dungy wasted no time making changes to a team billed as a Super Bowl favorite. Nine days after a 21-3 wild-card loss to the Eagles, he fired offensive coordinator Les Steckel (even though the team set franchise records for points and touchdowns) and promoted quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen to run the offense. After watching ex-whipping boy Trent Dilfer raise the Lombardi Trophy in their own house, the Bucs made two of the biggest splashes in free agency.
First, they got Christensen a new starting quarterback. The Bucs outbid the Ravens for Brad Johnson, who'll not only give them some much-needed experience at QB but the consistency Shaun King couldn't provide. They really got the Super Bowl favorite talk going by signing defensive end Simeon Rice, the disgruntled Cardinal who joins a defensive line that already features Warren Sapp, Anthony McFarland and 13-sack man Marcus Jones.
The Bucs also made the most surprising pickup of the offseason in claiming Chargers problem child Ryan Leaf off waivers. Hoping to deal Leaf for a draft pick, they decided to keep the former No. 2 overall pick as their third-string quarterback. Leaf reported to his first mini-camp at 260 pounds -- 25 pounds over his listed playing weight.
Buccaneers' complete offseason moves
How they drafted
The Buccaneers found the franchise left tackle they so desperately needed in Florida's Kenyatta Walker. Dealing their first- and second-round picks to Buffalo, they moved up from the 21st spot and stole Walker, a top-10 talent who inexplicably dropped to No. 14. Dungy addressed his secondary with his next two selections, taking cornerback Dwight Smith in the third round and safety John Howell in the fourth. Both should be capable backups in Tampa Bay's cover 2 zone scheme.
Unfinished business
As talented as the Buccaneers are, they still need to see if Walker and second-year guard Cosey Coleman can handle the NFL trenches. Coleman takes over at right guard for the departed Frank Middleton. Also, it remains to be seen if free safety Dexter Jackson can replace Damien Robinson, who signed with the Jets.
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Dates to remember (preseason times are local)
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Sunday, July 29
Rookies and veterans report to training camp (University of Tampa, Tampa, Fla.)
Monday, August 13
Miami at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, August 18
Tampa Bay at Cleveland, 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 25
New England at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 31
Tampa Bay at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
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