Post Draft Update: The Young Core Offense

Yesterday we had a look at the future of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense.  Today it's the offense, and there is plenty to be excited about here as well.

We last reviewed the young core offense as part of our pre-draft team needs analysis. The "young core" is made up of the players on the 80-man roster with five or fewer seasons.

Bold is a 2010 draft pick, italics is 2010 college free agent, slashed is cut, and bold with italics is an  exclusive rights free agent not yet under contract.  The players are arranged by experience, nothing else:

WR - Maurice Stovall (5th Year), Terrance Nunn (2), Mario Urrita (1),  Mike Williams (0)
LT - Donald Penn (5), James Lee (3), Marc Dile (1), Derek Hardman (0)
LG - Jeremy Zuttah (3), Sergio Render (0), Arron Sears (3)
C - Johnathan Compas (2)
RG - Davin Joseph (5), Vladimir Richard (0),  Shawn Murphy (3)
RT - Jeremy Trueblood (5), Demar Dotson (2), Xavier Fulton (2). James Williams (0)
WR - Micheal Spurlock (3), Sammie Straughter (2), Arrelious Benn (0), Preston Parker (0)
TE - Ryan Purvis (1), Jeron Mastrud (0)
QB - Josh Johnson (3), Josh Freeman (2), Rudy Carpenter (2), Jevan Snead (0)
RB - Clifton Smith (3), Kareem Huggins (1)
FB - Chris Pressley (2)
PK - Conner Barth (3), Hunter Lawrence (0)
P - Brent Bowden (0), Sam Paulescu (1)
LS - Andrew Economos (5)

Another perfect position chart for the Buccaneers.  Competition at every position.  Some of these lists have all players at that position (QB, for instance) demonstrating the efforts put into the youth movement over the past two years.  The rebuilding process is also complete on this side of the ball.  Note also that, unlike the defense, there are still young players on this side of the ball who are not under contract for 2010 as yet. 

While some are completely confused by what they see on this side of the ball it is clear to me that the plan is in place, competition will be fierce, and there will be an offseason and preseason unlike anything in recent memory at One Buc Place.  The offensive line can still be a major strength of this team and will need to be for this team to improve over the 2009 season.

There will be some real battles at some of these positions this offseason.  There are only 22 positions on the two-deep for offense and some positions have up to 8 players competing (WR, T).  If the quality rises to the top and there is talent to back them up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could surprise some people in 2010.