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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 12, 2003
MIKE ALSTOTT
HT/WT: 6-1, 248.
POSITION: Fullback/running back.
COLLEGE: Purdue.
NFL EXPERIENCE: Seventh season.
HOW ACQUIRED: D2 (draft, 2nd round), 1996.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: He finished with 548 yards on 146 carries, rushed for five touchdowns and caught two more, including a 44-yard score in New Orleans. His most dominant game was against Cleveland: 126 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns. He had 121 yards in the second half.
TOP BACKUP: Darian Barnes and Jameel Cook block for Alstott when he moves from fullback to running back.
JEFF CHRISTY
HT/WT: 6-3, 285.
POSITION: Center.
COLLEGE: Pittsburgh.
NFL EXPERIENCE: 10th season.
HOW ACQUIRED: Free agent, 2000.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: As captain of the offensive line, he has been a steady force making calls and ensuring the line is prepared for the defensive front.
TOP BACKUP: Todd Washington has started for Christy in the past and will replace him in the event of an injury.
COSEY COLEMAN
HT/WT: 6-4, 322.
POSITION: Guard.
COLLEGE: Tennessee.
NFL EXPERIENCE: Third season.
HOW ACQUIRED: D2, 2000.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: He was slowed by a knee injury early in the season and had to deal with a personal problem, but in the second half of the season Coleman resumed the physical play that was his forte last season.
TOP BACKUP: Washington also started for Coleman this year. Cornell Green is also a possibility.
KEN DILGER
HT/WT: 6-5, 255.
POSITION: Tight end.
COLLEGE: Illinois.
NFL EXPERIENCE: Eighth season.
HOW ACQUIRED: Free agent, 2002
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: In his first season under Jon Gruden, Dilger ended with 34 catches for 329 yards and two scores. His biggest day came against the Vikings when he had three catches for 61 yards.
TOP BACKUP: Veteran Rickey Dudley was signed to bring some punch to the offense and he did just that, chipping in 16 catches for 192 yards and three scores. One was a 9-yard touchdown against the Rams six days after signing.
KERRY JENKINS
HT/WT: 6-5, 305.
POSITION: Left guard.
COLLEGE: Troy State.
NFL EXPERIENCE: Fifth season.
HOW ACQUIRED: Free agent, 2002
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: This is all you have to know about Jenkins: At times this season he played with a broken leg and a broken eye socket.
TOP BACKUP: Washington completes the trifecta, subbing for Jenkins if needed.
BRAD JOHNSON
HT/WT: 6-5, 224.
POSITION: Quarterback.
COLLEGE: Florida State.
NFL EXPERIENCE: 11th season.
HOW ACQUIRED: Free agent, 2001
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: His was a Pro Bowl-like year in which he completed 281 of 451 passes for 3,049 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. But his best day was a five-touchdown performance against the Vikings. He was 24-of-31 for 313 yards in that game.
TOP BACKUP: Rob Johnson is back as No. 2 after temporarily losing the job to Shaun King. He is 2-0 as a starter this season.
KEYSHAWN JOHNSON
HT/WT: 6-4, 212.
POSITION: Receiver.
COLLEGE: Southern Cal.
NFL EXPERIENCE: Seventh season.
HOW ACQUIRED: Trade, 2000.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: Steady and consistent, Johnson finished the year with 76 catches for 1,088 yards and five scores. Against the Vikings, he had nine catches for 133 yards and two scores.
TOP BACKUP: Joe Jurevicius has started three games as the third receiver and chipped in 37 catches for 423 yards and four touchdowns.
KEENAN MCCARDELL
HT/WT: 6-1, 191.
POSITION: Receiver.
COLLEGE: Nevada-Las Vegas.
NFL EXPERIENCE: 11th season.
HOW ACQUIRED: Free agent, 2002.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: He missed two games, but still tied single-season highs for touchdowns with six. He also had 61 receptions for 670 yards, including 11 catches for 107 yards at New Orleans. McCardell had two 100-yard performances.
TOP BACKUP: Jurevicius also plays in McCardell's slot and took his reps for the two games McCardell was out. Veteran Karl Williams also is a reliable option.
ROMAN OBEN
HT/WT: 6-4, 305.
POSITION: Left/right tackle.
COLLEGE: Louisville.
NFL EXPERIENCE: Seventh season.
HOW ACQUIRED: Free agent, 2002.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: Oben must have done something right, considering starter Brad Johnson was only sacked 21 times despite 451 passing attempts.
TOP BACKUP: Lomas Brown, now in his 18th season, provides necessary depth. He has played little this season and should have fresh legs if needed to play a lot.
MICHAEL PITTMAN
HT/WT: 6-0, 218.
POSITION: Running back.
COLLEGE: Fresno State.
NFL EXPERIENCE: Fifth season.
HOW ACQUIRED: Free agent, 2002.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: There have been sprinkles and smudges here and there, but Pittman saved his best for last, rushing for 90 yards on 21 carries in a gritty 15-0 win in Chicago.
TOP BACKUP: Aaron Stecker (28 carries, 174 yards) is the second running back on the depth chart, but shares carries with Alstott.
KENYATTA WALKER
HT/WT: 6-5, 302.
POSITION: Tackle.
COLLEGE: Florida.
NFL EXPERIENCE: Second season.
HOW ACQUIRED: D1, 2001.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: Moved to the right side by the new coaching staff, Walker was benched for the opener for poor play. He pulled himself up and has been a solid protector and run blocker, particularly in the second half.
SPECIAL TEAMS
MARTIN GRAMATICA
HT/WT: 5-8, 170.
POSITION: Placekicker.
COLLEGE: Kansas State.
NFL EXPERIENCE: Fourth season.
HOW ACQUIRED: D3, 1999.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: The five field goals against the Bears, in temperatures below 40 degrees, not only gave the Bucs a win, but a first-round bye. They also helped temper memories of his miss in Green Bay two years ago.
TOM TUPA
HT/WT: 6-4, 225
POSITION: Punter
COLLEGE: Ohio State
NFL EXPERIENCE: 14th season
HOW ACQUIRED: Free agent, 2002
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: The veteran set a team single-season record with 30 punts downed inside the 20 and finished seventh in the NFL with a 42.8 average. He had eight punts for 349 yards (43.6) against the Packers.