On both sides of the ball, a dismal season is brightened by prospects who show promise when thrust into starting roles.
By ROGER MILLS
Published December 29, 2003
NASHVILLE - As bad as things have been this year, as horrible as they may have seemed Sunday in Nashville, the Bucs don't end the 2003 season in total dismay.
There is reason for optimism.
"We're very realistic about what has occurred here over the last year or so of football," coach Jon Gruden said after his team was hammered 33-13 by the Titans in the season finale. "A lot of things have changed since Super Bowl XXXVII, obviously. But I like the football team. I believe we have a good, solid nucleus and we have some things we have to improve on."
A team that finished 7-9 and was decimated by injury and misfortune can point to the emergence of a number of young players who could play a big role in the effort to return to the top.
Running back Thomas Jones rushed for 68 yards on 13 carries Sunday and would have had a chance to gain more had the Bucs not been behind early.
Since cracking the starting lineup against the Saints on Dec. 7, Jones has rushed for 89, 134, 73 and 68 yards, a 91.5 average. Not bad for a player acquired in a trade just before training camp as running back insurance.
"I look forward to having a great season next year," said Jones, who had a one-year deal and likely earned a new comfortable contract with the Bucs.
"I'm going into the offseason training as hard as I can and trying to get ready."
The same can be said for receiver Charles Lee.
An on-again, off-again roster member early in the season, Lee was re-signed off the streets on Oct. 7, and was pushed into the limelight after the Bucs deactivated Keyshawn Johnson in late November.
Against the Titans, Lee had four catches for 59 yards and produced one of his patented runs after the catch, good enough for 20 yards. Since being activated against the Giants Nov. 24, Lee has 33 catches for 432 yards and two touchdowns.
"I'm not exactly sure yet what it's done for my career," said Lee, who has one more year on his contract. "I don't know if they are going to try to keep me here or what. You never know how things can play out.
"I'm definitely proud of what I've done. I wanted to have fun, that was the biggest thing for me and I think I was able to do that. Now, it'll be up to the staff and how they feel. Whether they want to keep me, or whether I'm going to be the third or fourth guy or whatever."
If anything, Lee said his success in the last five games of the season offered increased enthusiasm for the offseason.
"I tell you what, all it's done is motivate me to have the best offseason ever," Lee said. "To really focus and buckle down. I've always worked out and trained in the offseason, but now I have to go all out. Now, I know. It's going to be an interesting offseason, to say the least."
But while Jones and Lee had already played for other teams, the Bucs also got a chance Sunday to look at two rookies.
Defensive end Dewayne White started at left end for the injured Greg Spires and held his own. White, who had played little on defense, registered five tackles.
"I was a little excited," White said. "I think I did a decent job. I made some mistakes on the defensive side of the ball, a couple things I can learn from. On special teams, I got a holding penalty.
"I think I showed them some things. It was important foundation. I feel like I'm going to be real good. I rush the passer real well. But I need to focus in on the defensive calls and run those better and eliminate some of those mental errors that I had out there. But, I'm excited."
With a couple catches in traffic, first-year receiver Edell Shepherd (four catches for 38 yards) also showed he belongs in the NFL.
"Most of the time it's what you do without the ball," Shepherd said. "I wouldn't be here if I couldn't run and catch. But it's the little things, it's showing that I can be tough and be in there blocking that'll go a long way. This league has a lot of big, fast and tough guys and if you're not tough, you're not going to make it."
White said the best thing about going through such a tough first season is learning how much work has to be done in the offseason.
"You find out what you need to work at and you can't wait to get started," he said.
"I'm going to make a list of things I need to work on and then I'm going to hit the offseason running, working and doing those things to see if in the preseason I made some strides."
