Bucs with right to be nervous

Loyalty is an absolute necessity between siblings or lifelong friends.

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published June 3, 2007

Loyalty is an absolute necessity between siblings or lifelong friends.

But when your football team is reeling after a 4-12 season and ownership has put the entire organization on notice, well, loyalty ranks right up there with picking Gatorade flavors.

Knowing this, the Bucs will have some new starters this fall. It's not a matter of if - just how many.

In the absence of a crystal ball, you'll have to settle for our educated guesses at which starters are at greatest risk of losing their jobs.

Chris Simms

We'll start with maybe the most obvious. Quarterback Jeff Garcia was arguably the team's biggest offseason addition. And the Bucs didn't sign him simply because his reddish hair is similar in color to Jon Gruden's.

Simms is entering his fifth season in the system and has yet to eliminate doubts that he can quarterback the Bucs long term. This is hardly a suggestion the Bucs have given up on those hopes, but when have you ever known Gruden to be a patient man?

Ryan Nece

Like Simms, another likable guy, but that alone won't save his job.

Nece has weathered storms like this before, each time regaining his strong-side linebacker spot after a newcomer tried to supplant him.

But this time, the newcomer is the real deal. Free agent Cato June comes to Tampa Bay with Pro Bowl credentials a starter in the 2006 game, and the Bucs will find a way to get him on the field, even if it isn't at his natural weakside position.

To take this a step further, look for the Bucs to keep June - a former safety - on the field during passing downs, too. The strong-side linebacker leaves in favor of a third cornerback in third-and-long situations. The Bucs want to take full advantage of June's impressive pass-coverage skills.

Ellis Wyms

He was always effective coming off the bench in spot duty, playing at interior defensive line or defensive end. But after last season's trade of Anthony McFarland to the Colts, Wyms was often ineffective - when he wasn't injured - as a full-time starter at under tackle.

Enter Kevin Carter. The former Dolphin may be a better fit to play defensive end, but it appears the Bucs think he can fill a need on the inside.

Anthony Davis

The Bucs probably never considered him the long-term solution at left tackle, though they still think it to be his natural position. But newcomer Luke Petitgout, while he isn't exactly Walter Jones, is probably the best option the Bucs have had in the past few years. Seems like a no-brainer.

There are other, though less likely, candidates to be replaced.

Michael Clayton, you'd better look out for Maurice Stovall at receiver. Jermaine Phillips, those rookies aren't going to make it easy on you at safety. And John Wade, maybe everyone is underestimating Matt Lehr.

SHOTGUN UPDATE: The Bucs are working on the shotgun more than ever during summer workouts, but the gut feeling is that Gruden still has doubts. Maybe he's just playing coy, but you don't get the feeling he's really committed to it when the subject comes up. Chances are we'll see in the preseason, but will he have the nerve to use it in September?

SMALL GAINES: We recently asked first-round pick Gaines Adams whether his first few weeks of workouts were eye-opening. His response was priceless. "Eyes? Man, my eyes, ears, everything's been opened, " he said. "It's just totally different from college. I just need more and more reps." That said, it seems he's catching on. We think he'll be fine.

[Last modified June 2, 2007, 23:22:08]