Sunday, Sep. 07, 2008

Bucs ready to go against Saints

LaDainian Tomlinson has as many preseason carries since 2006 as Joey Galloway had snaps last month: zero.

Jeff Garcia played more in August than Tom Brady, and that was because Brady didn't get on the field at all.

"There are a lot of players in this league in similar situations right now," Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said.

Which is to say: There are a lot of players who will see their first significant playing time today when the NFL opens the regular season.

The Bucs, who open against the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, are high on that list.

Galloway didn't play at all. Garcia, limited by a strained calf, played in just one game. He will start today with a jammed pinkie on his right hand suffered during practice last week.

Earnest Graham, who will open the year as the feature back, went from Mr. August in previous training camps to nearly Mr. Invisible last month.

Big deal? Not to Gruden, who would rather his players were rested and healthy for the opener than nursing an injury or, worse, out for the season.

The Bucs already lost starting right guard Davin Joseph with a broken foot. Taking his place in the lineup is rookie Jeremy Zuttah, a third-round pick out of Rutgers.

Gruden didn't want to risk losing any more. He never does.

So, the defending NFC South champs find themselves opening the regular season on the road against a division rival hoping that when they flip the switch, the power comes on.

Conditioning will be a factor.

"I think it really is," Gruden said. "At the end of camp, some guys play 47 plays and some guys play 14 plays. It's not a big difference, but the sustained drives, the long pursuit plays, where you've got to chase a guy that has the ball on a screen play and then you've got to come back and rush the passer - it will take its toll on you. But our team is in good shape. We've just got to go prove that. There will be some guys challenged, no question."

The Bucs will be challenged all year simply by the history of the NFC South, which says no one defends their division title or returns to the playoffs.

"We haven't defended an NFC South title ever, and that's a challenge of ours," Ronde Barber said.

The Bucs, though, will try, and they will lead with their defense, which finished last season ranked second in the NFL.

Opening against the Saints in New Orleans will provide as good a gauge as any for the defense.

"We understand the weapons that they have on the offensive side of the ball," Derrick Brooks said. "Defensively, we have to be on top of our own details, just finish. We can't imagine trying to practice every play that's going to be thrown at us by Coach (Sean) Payton, but we have our rules within our defense, and our big focus is to go out and execute. I feel if we execute our calls and be where we are supposed to be, we'll have a great shot at winning."

The same can be said for the entire season. Garcia is back for his second year as the starter, which is a luxury in any offense. The running game will look different with the speed or Warrick Dunn and Michael Bennett. The passing game should be energized by the downfield threat of Antonio Bryant, who will start opposite Galloway.

The offensive line is young and improving.

But the Bucs' chances this season, as always, rest on defense.