Thursday, May 23 What kind of an impact will Jon Gruden have on the Bucs? Gruden will bring a creative, well-conceived offensive attack. Few coaches have studied tape as much and as well as Gruden. He has a broad perspective of offenses and does a great job of adjusting to the talent available. Two years ago, he had a great running attack with the Raiders, the best in football. He loves to use a running back-by-committee system and seems to find ways to run the ball in games to make offensive linemen feel as though they are power blockers instead of finesse blockers. That's rare in a West Coast offense. The entire receiving corps except for Keyshawn Johnson is in transition, so Bucs fans may not see the full extent of his passing attack until next season. The other question is whether he settles on Brad Johnson at quarterback or goes with younger players such as Rob Johnson or Shaun King.

Calling the Buccaneers' offseason eventful wouldn't even begin to do it justice. Tony Dungy's firing just three days after the Bucs lost 31-9 to the Eagles in a wild-card playoff game led to a five-week circus that saw Tampa Bay turn into the laughingstock of the NFL before finally landing a new leader.

First, the Bucs were rejected by two-time Super Bowl winner Bill Parcells, with whom they were said to have a deal in place even before Dungy's dismissal. Parcells all but had his bags packed for Tampa when he abruptly decided not to take the job.

After Parcells' rejection, the Bucs turned their sights toward Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who let it be know that 2002 would be his last season in Oakland. When Tampa's initial efforts to land Gruden were unsuccessful, Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis emerged as the top candidate. But with Lewis seemingly assured of landing the job, Buccaneers ownership, led by owner Malcom Glazer's sons, abruptly decided to go in a different direction.

The final leg of Tampa's five-week search returned to the West Coast, with 49ers coach Steve Mariucci emerging as the top candidate. But when negotiations with Mariucci stalled, the Bucs made another run at Gruden. This time they got what they wanted, turning over two first-round draft picks, a pair of second-rounders and $8 million to the Raiders in exchange for the rights to Gruden, who was 40-28 in four season at Oakland, is still the NFL's youngest coach, not to mention one of its most recognizable.

For all the ridicule the Bucs endured during their search, they ended up with one of the NFL's best coaches. A renowned offensive mind, Gruden will be expected to turn around an offense that ranked 26th overall in the NFL in 2001 and 21st in 2000.

In on-the-field news, running back Warrick Dunn, who spent his first five years in Tampa Bay, left for NFL South rival Atlanta and a six-year deal. To replace Dunn, the Bucs signed former Cardinals back Michael Pittman. While not as explosive as Dunn, Pittman has the size of an every-down back (6-foot, 218 pounds) that Dunn lacked (5-8, 180). Pittman had some off-field issue while he was in Arizona, but Tampa officials looked into his background and were convinced his addition wouldn't be a distraction. Pittman will join fullback Mike Alstott, who signed a four-year extension over the offseason.

	BUCS AT A GLANCE
	Jon Gruden has a 40-28      record as a head coach.
	2001 record: 9-7 Team rank: Defense (6th); Offense (26th) Bucs team news

The departure of receivers Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green, both to the Redskins, opened the door for the signing of former Giants receiver Joe Jurevicius. The signing of Jurevicius means that the Bucs can move Keyshawn Johnson back to split end, where he played with the Jets. The Bucs made a move on the offensive line, signing tackle Roman Oben. A starter for the Browns last year, Oben will provide depth and could challenge Kenyatta Walker for the left tackle job.

Defensively, the Buccaneers remain essentially the same team. Linebacker Jamie Duncan (Rams) was the only starter Tampa Bay lost over the offseason. Al Singleton is penciled in to take over at strongside linebacker. Cornerback Donnie Abraham left for the New York Jets, but Abraham had lost his starting job to Brian Kelly last season.