2001 BUCS
	Warren Sapp led the Bucs with 16½ sacks last season.
	Head coach: Tony Dungy (6th year). 2000 record: 10-6. AFC East finish: 2nd. 2001 preseason: 1-2. Season opener: Sept. 9 at Cowboys. Schedule | Depth chart

The Buccaneers steadily have climbed into the NFL's stratosphere, and on paper, they've never been better. A dominant defense has gotten better with the addition of defensive end Simeon Rice, and a sporadic offense has added much-needed consistency with the acquisition of veteran quarterback Brad Johnson.

Then, as if to put more pressure on the coaching staff, the team addressed the one question it had going into the draft by trading up to select Florida left tackle Kenyatta Walker.

The Buccaneers have changed offensive coordinators in each of the past two offseasons, but in Clyde Christensen, the team has turned the reigns over to a member of the Bucs' family who is not only familiar with the players' preferences, but more apt to listen to them.

Gone is the close-to-the-vest play-calling in favor of an increased willingness to attack defenses through the air rather than pound them continuously on the ground.

With defensive end Chidi Ahanotu in St. Louis and FS Damien Robinson gone to the Jets, the Bucs oddly appear better off, despite the loss of the two starters. Defensive end Marcus Jones (13 sacks) moves to the left side, and Rice replaces Jones on the right. Dexter Jackson, who was pushing Robinson for playing time last year, is the new starting free safety. But as long as Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch are healthy, the Bucs' defensive nucleus remains intact.

Offense
Quarterbacks: The team is not ready to give up on local hero Shaun King, who led the Bucs to the NFC championship game in his rookie year. But King struggled with consistency in his second season and didn't make the strides many expected he would, so now he is the backup. What Tampa Bay coveted was a mature quarterback who still had some pop left in his arm to keep wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson happy. Brad Johnson is going into his 10th NFL season and provides the Bucs with a proven, consistent signal-caller. He will not have to duplicate the Pro Bowl year he had two seasons ago with the Redskins. All the Bucs need is for him to complete a high percentage of passes without too many risks. Some of his work habits have rubbed off on King and the Bucs' other quarterback project, former No. 2 overall pick Ryan Leaf. Since being waived by the Chargers, Leaf has swallowed a chunk of pride. Ironically, it is Joe Hamilton, fourth on the depth chart, who has looked extremely sharp in training camp. But it's hard to see Hamilton upstaging any of the others.
Grade: B-minus.

Running backs: With two running backs having been to the Pro Bowl, it's easy to understand why the Bucs want to run the ball with such fervor. In the second half of last season, Warrick Dunn proved he could handle the 20-carry-a-game role and produce 100-yard rushing efforts. Dunn will be the main man this year, meaning Mike Alstott, who at 255 pounds is one of the NFL's most imposing ballcarriers, will have to get his touches more as a receiver out of the backfield or as a tight end. Aaron Stecker and Rabih Abdullah were Dunn's backups last season but got few carries. That isn't likely to change. Abdullah has put on weight and moved to the fullback spot, where he will compete with impressive rookie Jameel Cook for limited snaps.
Grade: B.

Receivers: Keyshawn Johnson produced 71 catches for 874 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season with the Bucs, and he promises that those numbers will go up. They could if Brad Johnson and Christensen recognize that to keep the former Pro Bowler happy, the ball must come his way. But Keyshawn can't be the Bucs' only passing threat. Diminutive speedster Jacquez Green finished second on the team last season with 773 receiving yards but reached the end zone just once. Green, the team's deep threat, could blossom considering Brad Johnson's history of hitting the deep ball. Reidel Anthony, a former first-round pick who took a pay cut in the offseason to secure his place on the roster, was slowed early in camp by an ankle injury sustained in June. Last season he had 15 catches, but four of them went for touchdowns. The surprise might be little-known Frank Murphy, who spent the bulk of last season on the practice squad. Murphy has made significant strides and appears to be working his way into the regular rotation.
Grade: C-plus.

		The key for Tampa Bay will be the offensive focus of coordinator Clyde Christensen and head coach Tony Dungy. They now have their quarterback in Brad Johnson. Everyone knows what the Bucs' defense will do -- rate among the best in the NFL. Their receivers are pretty good, with Keyshawn Johnson and Jacquez Green, and I like tight end Dave Moore. But the focus of the attack must shift to Warrick Dunn. Johnson will keep defenses off balance with his ability to play-action pass. But if the Bucs allow Dunn to be their version of Marshall Faulk, Tampa Bay could very easily be playing in the Super Bowl.

Offensive linemen: Entering training camp with two new starters should be cause for concern for any team, but not the Bucs. The departure of right guard Frank Middleton, who signed with the Raiders, was a foregone conclusion, and Tampa Bay groomed former second-round pick Cosey Coleman to take over this season. Coleman appears ready and has made strides as a pass blocker. The arrival of Walker, who will start in the opener barring an injury, should solve the need at left tackle. Bucs coaches have been impressed by his aggressive nature and quick feet. Walker will have his growing pains, but playing alongside future Hall of Fame left guard Randall McDaniel and Pro Bowl C Jeff Christy likely will keep those to a minimum. (Christy could miss the season opener with a sprained left knee.) Right tackle Jerry Wunsch has renewed vigor after signing a new contract in the offseason. The Bucs drafted former Nebraska offensive guard Russ Hochstein in the fifth round and have seen encouraging play from second-year offensive tackle DeMarcus Curry.
Grade: C.

Defense
Defensive linemen: It's hard to figure a more imposing front line. Sapp is clearly the big dog, but Jones and Rice will have their say when it comes to racking up the sacks. Third-year DT Anthony McFarland had a tremendous camp and is on the verge of a breakout season. Some say he has progressed at a rate very similar to Sapp's. The Bucs also have some luxury on the bench, with former starter Steve White backing up Rice and dependable reserve defensive tackle James Cannida and rookie Ellis Wyms just happy to get on the field.
Grade: A.

Linebackers: During the 10 days of Brooks' holdout, Shelton Quarles was moved to the weak side, and Al Singleton was promoted from the bench. Singleton filled in admirably, as did former starter Jeff Gooch when asked to play Brooks' spot. But make no mistake, Brooks is the driving force. Since he is strong enough to stop the run and quick enough to cover receivers, the Bucs steer the ball toward Brooks, who has played every game for the team since 1995. While starter Jamie Duncan nursed a hamstring injury early in camp, second-year middle linebacker Nate Webster made a strong case for the starting role. Both will play a lot.
Grade: B-plus.

Defensive backs: The All-Pro Lynch is fully recovered from his offseason shoulder surgery, and Jackson is expected to provide a little more range and speed than his predecessor. At the corners, Donnie Abraham and Ronde Barber are coming off outstanding seasons and seem grounded enough not to let their success get to their heads. Abraham gets interceptions (seven last year), and Barber makes tackles (97 in 2000, including five sacks). Rookie Dwight Smith had a great training camp and will push fourth-year nickel back Brian Kelly for playing time.
Grade: B.

Special teams
Martin Gramatica is one of the best kickers in the game. He converted 5-of-7 field-goal attempts from 50 yards or more last year. But the loss of punter Mark Royals (knee sprain), Gramatica's holder, for most of the preseason may affect the kicking game a bit early in the year. While Karl Williams, Anthony and Murphy should handle the punt returns, the search remains for a consistent kickoff returner. The franchise does not have a kickoff return for a touchdown in its history.
Grade: B-minus.

Roger Mills covers the Buccaneers for the St. Petersburg Times.

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