| Andrew Perna. 25th February, 2009 - 4:05 pm
 Record: 9-7
Trench Counter: 1.2 (16th)
Point differential per game: 2.4 (15th)
Payroll: $104M (23rd)
Cost Per Win: $11.6M (10th)
Passing offense: 226.2 (11th)
Rushing offense: 114.8 (15th)
Passing defense: 187.3 (4th)
Rushing defense: 118.8 (19th)
Turnover differential: 0.3 (11th)
Strength of schedule: 20th
If their season were a song: Almost - Tamia
Game-by-Game (Score, Trench Counter)
Week 1: at NO, 20-24 Loss, -4.3
Week 2: ATL, 24-9 Win, +5.4
Week 3: at CHI, 27-24 Win, -6.7
Week 4: GB, 30-21 Win, +14.7
Week 5: at DEN, 13-16 Loss, +2.9
Week 6: CAR, 27-3 Win, +11.2
Week 7: SEA, 20-10 Win, +11
Week 8: at DAL, 9-13 Loss, -2.4
Week 9: at KC, 30-27 Win, -8.3
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: MIN, 19-13 Win, +8.8
Week 12: at DET, 38-20 Win, +12.7
Week 13: NO, 23-20 Win, +6.5
Week 14: at CAR, 23-38 Loss, -8.3
Week 15: at ATL, 10-13 Loss, -5.7
Week 16: SD, 24-41 Loss, -11.6
Week 17: OAK, 24-31 Loss, -7.1
Season Summary
The Buccaneers jumped out to a 9-3 record and looked like a lock to make the postseason, as a wild card at the very least. However, the combination of a tough three-game run against playoff teams and an utterly disappointing loss to the lowly Raiders in Week 17 knocked them out of the postseason picture and sent coach Jon Gruden home without a job.
Reina Value and FIC Rank
Quarterback
- Jeff Garcia (2nd, 612, -21%)
Garcia, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the week, had a disappointing final season in Tampa Bay. If you remove a three-game stretch (between Weeks 12-14) from his statline, he had just 2,107 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions this season. Of course, he did miss four games (Weeks 2-4, 15) due to injury. He did, however, complete 64.9% of his passes, which stands as a career-high.
Running Backs
- Warrick Dunn (20th, 471 [248 rushing, 223 receiving], 3%)
Dunn returned to Tampa Bay after a six-year run with Atlanta, and had a relatively effective season. He had 786 yards and two touchdowns on 186 carries for the Buccaneers, while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. If Earnest Graham hadn’t gone down with an injury, Dunn’s numbers would have been considerably lower.
- Earnest Graham (45th, 302 [186 rushing, 116 receiving], -42%)
Graham was only able to play in ten games, rushing 132 times for 563 yards and four touchdowns. After a breakout 2007 season (898 yards and 10 TDs), Graham disappointed on a number of levels, but I suppose it wasn’t entirely his fault. Through the first nine weeks, prior to the injury that ended his season, Graham tallied 560 yards and four scores on 4.3 yards per carry. Chances are, had he gotten through the season healthy, he would have finished with 1,000 yards and probably seven or eight touchdowns.
- Cadillac Williams (78th, 116 [86 rushing, 31 receiving], -82%)
If there was any bright spot for the Bucs at the end of the season, it was the return of Williams to the field. After a serious patella injury that hampered him severely, Williams ran 63 times for 233 yards and four touchdowns in the final six games of the season. He averaged 3.7 yards per carry, which isn’t outstanding, but the Bucs have to be happy that Cadillac’s wheels are finally churning once again.
Wide Receivers
- Antonio Bryant (8th, 797, +1007%)
Bryant had a breakout campaign for Tampa Bay, finishing among the league’s leading receivers in a number of categories. His 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns on 83 receptions were career-highs for the seven-year veteran, who has played for five different teams. He was a big-play receiver for the Bucs, who haven’t always benefited from home run plays. Bryant was a bargain in 2008, but wants a huge contract this offseason, and has said that he won’t be happy with the franchise tag.
- Ike Hilliard (64th, 305, -16%)
Hilliard, who will be 33 in April, appears to be on the downside of his career, but was a tremendous possession receiver for the Bucs in 2008. He had 47 receptions for 424 yards and four touchdowns, with 31 of those catches going for first downs. He returned a few punts as well, helping increase his value.
- Michael Clayton (65th, 301, -39%)
After his amazing rookie season in 2004 (1,193 yards and 7 TDs), Clayton has been a yearly disappointment. He tallied 38 catches and 484 yards this season, the best numbers he’s had since his first NFL season. He hasn’t had a 100-yard game since his rookie year, when he accumulated two. As an unrestricted free agent, Clayton could officially be done in Tampa Bay.
Tight End
- Jerramy Stevens (24th, 261, 213%)
A growing trend for the Buccaneers, Stevens is set to become a free agent, which could mean even more changes are on the horizon. He appeared in fourteen games this season, tallying 36 receptions for 397 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The effort marked the second-best season of his seven-year career, spilt between the Seahawks and Bucs. He’s known to be a tad inconsistent, but his numbers are also indicative of the touches John Gilmore and Alex Smith received in 2008.
- Alex Smith (32nd, 176, -12%)
Smith, the second of the three tight end trio, averaged 11.9 yards per reception this year. However, he had just 21 catches for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Smith is a good option, but he isn’t as good of a blocker as Gilmore, who played more often than expected because of his talents in that respect.
- John Gilmore (43rd, 102, -12%)
Gilmore appeared in all sixteen games, as I mentioned before, because of his blocking skills. He did catch 15 balls for 147 yards and a touchdown, but he played six games in which he failed to either be targeted, or catch a ball thrown his way.
Defensive Summary
As usual, Tampa Bay was tremendous against the pass this season, but they struggled a great deal when trying to contain the run. They were 19th in the league, allowing 118.8 yards per game, which soiled their stingy pass defense. They were still 10th in points allowed, but stand to slip further down defensively with the loss of Monte Kiffin.
Biggest draft needs
In my opinion, they could go a number of different ways when the draft rolls around in April. With Jeff Garcia no longer an option, they could look to draft a quarterback to groom under journeyman such as Brian Griese and Luke McCown. They could focus on the defensive side of the ball as well, especially with the change of regime.
Previous Audits
32. Detroit Lions
31. St. Louis Rams
30. Oakland Raiders
29. Cleveland Browns
28. Seattle Seahawks
27. Cincinnati Bengals
26. Kansas City Chiefs
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
24. Buffalo Bills
23. Denver Broncos
22. San Francisco 49ers
21. Dallas Cowboys
20. Houston Texans
19. Green Bay Packers
18. Chicago Bears |
