Practice Squad Promotions: New Blood for 2010

The first new blood for 2010 has been added to the roster.  On Friday, January 8, 2010, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed six practice squad players to offseason contracts.  Those players are: CB Brandon Anderson, S Emanuel Cook, OL Marc Dile, DE Maurice Evans, LB Lee Robinson, CB Stoney Woodson.  According to the official announcement, five of these players were waiver wire pick-ups during the 2009 season.  The sixth player, Marc Dile, was signed in the Spring of 2009.

It is worth noting that five of the six men signed play on the defensive side of the ball starting what is anticipated to be a major theme of the 2010 offseason.

All these are players have less than 2 years experience making them part of the "young core" of the Buccaneers.

Signing Marc Dile adds one player to the young, core offense along the OL.  Since the 2009 season is now over, we can give everyone another year of experience.  In addition, players who received significant playing time and contributed statistically are highlighted with italics:
WR - Maurice Stovall (5th Year), Mario Urrita (2), Terrance Nunn (1)
LT - Donald Penn (5), James Lee (3)
LG - Jeremy Zuttah (3),  Arron Sears (4), Shawn Murphy (3)
C - Johnathan Compas (1)
RG - Davin Joseph (5), Marc Dile (1)
RT - Jeremy Trueblood (5), Demar Dotson (1), Xavier Fulton (1)
WR - Sammie Straughter (1),  Brian Clark (4), Micheal Spurlock (4)
TE - Ryan Purvis (1)
QB - Josh Freeman (1), Josh Johnson (3), Rudy Carpenter (1)
RB - Clifton Smith (3), Kareem Huggins (2)
FB - Byron Storer (4), Chris Pressley (1)
PK - Conner Barth (3)

Twenty-Five players make up the young, core offense and many of them earned important experience playing and contributing this past season.  This is a group that just needs time to keep getting better together.

The free agent signings also added 5 players to the young, core defense.  The years of experience here are also increased and contributing players are in italics:
LE - Kyle Moore (1), Micheal Bennett (1)
DT - Roy Miller (1)
DT - Dre Moore (2)
RE - Stylez White (4), Tim Crowder (4), Maurice Evans (1)
SLB - Quincy Black (4), Adam Hayward (4), Lee Robinson (2)
MLB -
WLB - Geno Hayes (3), Rod Wilson (4)
LCB - Aquib Talib (3), Derrick Roberson (2), Brandon Anderson (1)
RCB - Elbert Mack (3), E.J. Biggers (1), Stoney Woodson (2)
SS - Sabby Piscatelli (4), Corey Lynch (3), Emanuel Cook (2)
FS - Tanard Jackson (4), De'von Hall (1)
P - Sam Paulescu (3)

Twenty-Four players now make up the young, core defense.  A significant number of them are high on the depth chart and posted significant contributions to the team.  Unfortunately, the defense also was not a strong unit this year, so no doubt more young talent will be added here during the upcoming offseason.

The void at Middle Linebacker continues to exist.  Black, Hayward, and Hayes are shown at their established positions.  Lee Robinson played OLB at Alcorn State so the assumption is that he will be at Strongside Linebacker (SLB) for Tampa Bay.  Rod Wilson played at South Carolina -- as a safety.   So there still does not appear to be a young apprentice behind Barrett Ruud.  It is unlikely that this void will be filled by a free agent, so I expect a selection (or two?) here during the 2010 draft.

These two "squads" total 49 players of a potential 80-man 2010 offseason roster with draft choices to follow.  So what do we know?  Over half the Tampa Bay preseason roster will be players with less than five years of NFL experience.  The youth has arrived!

(Updated:  Some Additional Insights)