2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football Preview

2008 Record: 9-7, Third NFC South

Find your favorite Buccaneers players in 5x7 inch wall graphics and buy Fathead Tradeables online at eBay or find Fathead Tradeables online at Sports-Shop.com.

Head Coach: Raheem Morris; First year

Key Additions: QB Byron Leftwich, RB Derrick Ward, TE Kellen Winslow

Key Losses: LB Derrick Brooks, CB Phillip Buchanon, RB Warrick Dunn, WR Joey Galloway, QB Jeff Garcia, DT Jovan Haye, LB Cato June, WR Ike Hilliard, TE Alex Smith

1st Round Draft Picks: Josh Freeman - Quarterback

2nd Round Draft Picks: -

2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Schedule

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2008 NFL Season in Review

With four weeks left in the 2008 regular season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in control over their own destiny. They had a 9-3 record and were first in the division, and were surging behind reinstated quarterback Jeff Garcia. However, the Bucs would lose their last four games, two against division rivals, to finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs. The collapse would mark the end of the Jon Gruden era, and many familiar faces would be released during the off season.

The Buccaneers at times struggled on the offensive side of the ball. Neither Earnest Graham nor Carnell Williams was healthy for the entire season. Garcia was by far the best option at quarterback for the club, but he only threw for 12 touchdowns in the 12 games he played. The defense was great against the pass, ranking fourth in pass yards allowed by sub par against the run, ranking 19 th. The unit, a mix with a cast of young and emerging stars and a few veteran holdovers, ranked 10 th in points allowed.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2009 NFL Season Preview

Raheem Morris is the new head coach and he promises to reform the defense into a swarming powerhouse. Many of the old names from the Super Bowl years are gone, although it's not out of the question that Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn come back to the club after being released in the off season. The Bucs took a bit of a flyer drafting quarterback Josh Freeman in the first round, will he win the starting job right away?

2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offense:

There are two major questions for the offense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009. The first is which quarterback is going to be running the show. Free agent pickup Byron Leftwich certainly has the experience and the arm to win the battle. But the team may decide to hand over the reigns to rookie Josh Freeman, allowing him to develop by learning after seeing the success of the division rival Atlanta Falcons with Matt Ryan starting his rookie campaign last season. Either way, the quarterback will have Antonio Bryant, who was resigned in the off season and trade import Kellen Winslow to throw the ball to.

The second major question is the health of their running backs and the status of the pecking order. The team has Carnell Williams, Earnest Graham and free agent pickup Derrick Ward all eager and capable of carrying the ball if they all remain healthy. Ward will see a good dose of action either way, as his speed provides a great change of pace. If all three backs remain healthy and happy in the shared role, the Bucs could be fielding one of the best running attacks in football, which would make life much easier for whichever quarterback gets the job.

> Find a great selection of Tampa Bay Buccaneers jerseys & merchandise online as well as NFL Fatheads through Pro Football Fans!

2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense:

The lone big name holdover from the Super Bowl season is cornerback Ronde Barber, who is still performing at a high level in pass coverage and on the blitz. But the stars of the defense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are their young core players. Linebacker Barrett Ruud has already established himself as a leader and a force in the middle of the field. Cornerback Aqib Talib had an excellent rookie season and should be even better with the year of experience under his belt. Defensive end Gaines Adams has had two strong seasons and could be ready to explode into a dominating force in this third. With that trio of young players, one each in every line of the defense, the Buccaneers have visions of returning to a shutdown force for years to come.

2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Prediction: Third NFC South

By Jake Emen
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer

View all of the 2009 NFL football previews online here at Pro Football Fans!