by Sean Quinn

Created on: September 12, 2010

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are an intriguing team for 2010. While their decline from a 9-7 record in 2008 to 3-13 in 2009 suggests the need for rebuilding, the wrinkle here is that the Buccaneer staff recognized that need early. After two seasons of strong drafts and intelligent free-agency decisions, the Buccaneers have the pieces in place for their next playoff run. Whether that playoff run comes this season or next is going to depend on the development of the team's young players.

Coaching stability will be a major improvement in the team this season. Last season saw Jon Gruden fired, and replaced with first-year head coach Raheem Morris. Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski was fired shortly before the start of the season, and defensive coordinator Jim Bates saw his duties taken over by Morris late in the season. Disagreements between Bates and Morris affected the defense's performance, and Morris' restoral of a modified version of the Tampa 2 defense coincided with dramatic improvements in the team's defensive statistics, which also translated into a couple of late-season wins. The team's offseason work has been performed with a staff and direction firmly in place, so that the young players will not again be burdened with having to change schemes during the course of the season.

Last season, the Buccaneers opened play with their quarterback of the future on the roster, but not yet ready to lead their offense. Inserted into the lineup midway through the season, he led the team to their first victory in his first start. Now, the job is firmly his, and coaches and teammates alike have been impressed with his dedicated work habits, and with the way he's taken responsibility as a team leader. There's little doubt that he'll be a great quarterback, but the team's fortunes will largely rest on how soon. Will it be this year? Next? Two or three years down the road? In case of injury, the team has solid backups in place in Josh Johnson and Rudy Carpenter, although both are also very young.

The team spent considerable offseason effort getting Freeman some good targets to throw to. Morris' emphasis on youth and effort has led to underachieving veterans Michael Clayton and Reggie Brown being cut from the receiving corps, while fourth-round draft pick Mike Williams has claimed a starting role. Promising 2009 rookie Sammie Stroughter is starting on the other side. The receiver position has gone from an unimpressive lineup to being a particularly deep area of the team,

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