You know who’s really running this Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise? Al Davis. Think about it: In 2002, the owner of the NFL’s west coast band of nautical villains basically shipped rising young head coach Jon Gruden to Malcolm Glazer (owner of the NFL’s east coast band of nautical villains), in exchange for a bounty of draft picks and cash. With his Tony Dungy-built team, Gruden immediately delivered a Super Bowl title, fully erasing this organization’s long-held shabby image.

But Davis’s impact doesn’t stop there. On October 1, 2008, the AFL pioneer held a rambling press conference in which he announced the firing of Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin. On November 28, it was reported that the University of Tennessee hired Kiffin to replace longtime head coach Phillip Fulmer. The Buccaneers were 8-3 at the time. Two days later, they improved to 9-3 after a hard-fought victory against New Orleans. But on that same day, rumors erupted that 13-year defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, a staple of the Bucs franchise, would be following his son to Tennessee.

Kiffin dismissed the rumors as mere “speculation”. But they weren’t. The distraction of losing the backbone to the team’s famed Tampa Two defense rocked the locker room––particularly its heart and soul, Derrick Brooks. Longtime Buc Warren Sapp, who still keeps in close contact with Brooks, said after the season, “Once I knew (Brooks) was upset, it had to filter down because that’s the way this place is always built.”

Filter down it did. The Bucs gave up 38, 13, 41 and 31 points in their final four games––all losses––and wound up missing the playoffs with a 9-7 record. This, one year after they had lost four of their final five games, including a Wild Card bout at home, to finish with a disappointing mark of 9-8.

The consequence? A massive rebuilding project––the type that starts with wrecking balls and dynamite. Gruden was fired. So was GM Bruce Allen. On January 18, Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer promoted secondary coach/interim defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to the head position. It was a hasty move, though one the Bucs figured had to be made, given the buzz that was stirring around the 32-year-old (now 33) Mike Tomlin-protégé. Also, 37-year-old director of pro personnel, Mark Domenik, was promoted to GM.

This was only the beginning. Jeff Jagodzinski, the former Packers offensive coordinator who spent two years as the head coach at Boston College, was brought in to direct the offense. This verified the end of Gruden’s pass-happy West Coast era and marked the commencement of a run-heavy zone system. More startling are the defensive changes. Out is the Tampa Two that, for the last dozen years, had been the hallmark of this franchise. In its place is the antithetical “run contain” system, which centers around defensive tackles occupying blockers and cornerbacks playing bump-and-run coverage.

Morris and Domenik made no bones about wanting to begin this new era with a younger and, ostensibly more impressionable, roster. Thus, they released the iconic future First Ballot Hall of Famer Brooks. They also said goodbye to elder statesmen Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway, Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Kevin Carter and Ike Hilliard.

In February, the Bucs had a reported $61 million in salary cap space. Yet, they made only modest noise on the veteran market. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth rejected the club’s nine-figure offer. A complicated trade for Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler fell through twice. In the end, Tampa Bay’s biggest move was sending an ’09 second-round pick and ’10 fifth-rounder to Cleveland for tight end Kellen Winslow. Other moves included inking Giants running back Derrick Ward to a bargain five-year, $14 million contract, franchise-tagging star receiver Antonio Bryant, signing journeyman passer Byron Leftwich for two years at $7.5 million and drafting Kansas State 21-year-old quarterback Josh Freeman with the 17^th overall pick.

The Bucs now enter 2009 with no designated quarterback, a defensive lineup in utter flux and a head coach who relates well to players and vows to toughen things up but, at the same time, is learning a lot on the fly. But hey, it could be worse. Al Davis really could be running this franchise.

Offense

A three-way quarterback competition is like a traffic jam: never promising. The original plan was for Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich to battle for the rights to keep the starting seat warm while Josh Freeman adjusted to the NFL from a less stressful backup role. That still may be what ultimately happens, though the two veterans looked so predictably second-rate during offseason activities that Raheem Morris, Jeff Jagodzinski and quarterbacks coach Greg Olson couldn’t help but entertain the possibility of putting Freeman on the Joe Flacco/Matt Ryan route of starting right away. Of course, with that, there’s always the risk of the young signalcaller instead taking the route of David Carr or Joey Harrington. That risk is magnified when the rookie passer is only 21 and left college after his junior season. The athletic 6’6”, 224-pound Freeman has the prototype tools to flourish in the NFL, and he comes from a good home, which many believe bodes well for his maturation. But all the favorable factors in the world can’t create an accurate harbinger for how a man will react once the stakes are raised.

In Leftwich, Tampa Bay would have a slow, methodical pocket passer who limits the flexibility of the offense. In McCown, they’d have an unassertive leader with a 1-6 career record as a starter. The only reason for Morris to not start Freeman is if he believes the mental rigors could harm the young man’s long-term development.

The Bucs actually have offensive personnel capable of surviving a quarterback’s on-the-job training. Running backs Earnest Graham and Derrick Ward are good enough to headline Jagodzinski’s rush-first game plan. Both are stout, patient ballcarriers who shed tackles and show just enough speed to breakaway at the second level. And both do a good job at setting up blocks––no small factor considering the significant role that fullbacks B.J. Askew and Jameel Cook are expected to play. Ward is capable of handling third-down duties, though Pro Bowl return specialist Clifton Smith could get consideration. And don’t write off Cadillac Williams just yet. The former first-round pick is likely to recover at some point from his second patellar tendon injury in as many years.

The ground game will rely on a zone-blocking scheme that could initially pose problems for this ascending offensive line. All five starters are more powerful than mobile. That said, all five are capable of evolving. Right guard Davin Joseph is the best of the bunch. He’s fantastic in goal-line situations and his athleticism shines in pass protection. To Joseph’s right is tackle Jeremy Trueblood, a fourth-year pro who has recently blossomed since figuring out how to disguise his athletic shortcomings. Trueblood, while not slow, doesn’t have the quickest feet. But he’s a crafty fighter who truly understands the subtle positioning tactics that win one-on-one matchups.

The most intriguing tackle is Donald Penn on the left side. Also owning minimal raw quickness, Penn plays a game predicated on strength and technique. The 26-year-old has improved with each snap during his first three seasons and could be in line for a life-changing payday when his one-year max tender contract expires in spring.

Smart center Jeff Faine fights on every down as if his life were under attack. At left guard, post-concussion syndrome is complicating the development of third-year pro Arron Sears. It’s likely that last year’s third-round pick, Jeremy Zuttah, will assume this job. Zuttah is the more versatile and athletic of the two anyway.

Through the air, go-to wide receiver Antonio Bryant is the key, with new tight end Kellen Winslow serving as the spare. Severe attitude problems landed Bryant out of football in 2007, but in 2008 he posted career highs in catches (83), yards (1,284) and touchdowns (seven). It wasn’t a fluke. The 28-year-old is a tremendous route runner and gutsy inside attacker. Bryant wants a long-term contract like the one given to Winslow ($20 million in guarantees) but will first must prove himself under a $9 million franchise tag.

Winslow is only an okay blocker, which is why gifted but dishonorable Jerramy Stevens is still around, and why 257-pound John Gilmore remains in the mix. Aside from being a soft-handed interior presence, Winslow can also be the decoy needed to relieve pressure from shaky wideout Michael Clayton. Coaches hope that a new system will revive the possession receiver who caught 80 balls as a rookie in ’04, but Clayton hasn’t snagged more than 38 passes in a season since. He’d likely be gone if Dexter Jackson and Maurice Stovall were better players. Don’t be surprised if seventh-round rookie Sammie Stroughter, an electrifying slot receiver from Oregon, finagles a starting job at some point.

Defense

In short, Jim Bates doesn’t have the proper personnel to execute his power-oriented scheme. Defensive tackle Chris Hovan put on about 12-15 pounds to get up around 310, but he’ll never be a veritable blocker-eating force. Ryan Sims is more of a one-technique than gap-shooter, but he’s also more of a fringe backup than starter. Still, the Bucs are hoping Sims can keep a starting job ahead of squatty but strong third-round rookie Roy Miller.

Of course, if this pass-rush doesn’t pick up, Tampa Bay may not have to even worry about stopping the run. With teams likely to be eager to throw on this secondary, it’s time for third-year sensation Gaines Adams to translate his remarkable speed and agility into more sacks. Adams has the tools to dominate, he just needs some moves. Starting on the opposite side will be Jimmy Wilkerson, a solid finesse-oriented backup who will share snaps with Stylez White (formerly Greg White). Both veterans do a lot of things okay, but nothing exceptional. Also, fourth-round rookie Kyle Moore, who plays inside or outside, should see a few snaps a game.

Bates will have the speed he needs at outside linebacker, but maybe not in the middle with Barrett Ruud. Fortunately, Ruud is a smart, fundamentally-sound player who will rack up tackles anyway. He held out during some of the offseason to protest his expiring contract––something that’s not insignificant given the Bucs desperately need Ruud to fully understand this new system. After all, the inexperienced linebackers flanking Rudd are career-long special teamer Quincy Black (strongside) and longtime safety Jermaine Phillips (weakside). If Black can’t perform, speed-oriented vets Angelo Crowell or Geno Hayes will get a shot. The fascinating player is Phillips. After replacing iconic safety John Lynch in 2004, he now changes positions and replaces legend Derrick Brooks in 2009. Phillips can be a fast, fierce tackler, though he’s suffered four broken forearms in his career, including his left and right last season.

Assuming Phillips’s old strong safety position is Sabby Piscitelli, a third-year pro who must become more aware if he ever wants to play with authority. Free safety Tanard Jackson, another third-year pro, has star potential. The Bucs must let him be a playmaker. Former starter Will Allen and special teams standout Donte Nicholson present quality depth at this position.

Cornerback could be the defense’s Achilles heal. Specifically, Ronde Barber. A borderline Hall of Famer, Barber must adjust to playing man-to-man coverage after 12 spectacular seasons spent in zone. Most defensive backs who manage to stay in the league at age 34 do so by making the exact opposite transition (from man to zone).

Expect Barber to be tested. The corner opposite him, ’08 first-round pick Aqib Talib, is ideal for this system and has the type of playmaking instincts that scare quarterbacks. If either struggles or gets hurt, the Bucs are toast. The only experienced backup is Torrie Cox, a fringe nickelback at best.

Special Teams

Matt Bryant nailed three game-winning field goals last season, but coaches are concerned about his lack of range. He’s just 2/10 outside 50 yards in his career, and he doesn’t get great distance on kickoffs. For these reasons, former Jet––and disappointing second-round pick––Mike Nugent was brought in to compete for the placekicker job. Punter Josh Bidwell doesn’t have an awe-inspiring leg, but he’s solid in his placement. He left 27 balls inside the 20 last year. Second-year stud Clifton Smith is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he averaged 14.1 yards per punt return and 27.6 yards per kick return, scoring a touchdowns in each department.

Bottom Line

By now we should all know better than to resolutely declare any NFL team (outside Detroit) an absolute lock for a losing season. But if ever a team existed, this would be it. The Bucs are not bad, they’re just mired in a tough division and undergoing an intense transformation. Things might be different if there was clarity at quarterback. But even if the offense coagulates, Tampa Bay still has a defense littered with question marks.

Predicted finish: 4^th NFC South