Jul 25, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Tom Crabtree (84) and tight end Nate Byham (82) practice during training camp at One Buccaneer Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Training camp has just begun, but it’s never too early to start thinking about what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ roster will look like when the season begins in September. And while there may be injuries, further roster moves, or drastic changes based on game action in the preseason, this is how I see the roster breaking down to start the year.
Quarterback
| Depth Chart | Player |
| Starter | Josh Freeman |
| Backup | Mike Glennon |
| Emergency | Dan Orlovsky |
I don’t think Mike Glennon is ready to run an NFL offense yet, so Orlovsky will be around until Glennon is competent. He might be let go for a practice squad player eventually, but at first I suspect Orlovsky would be the quarterback to enter the game should a backup be needed.
Running Back
| Depth Chart | Player |
| Starter | Doug Martin |
| Backup | Peyton Hillis |
| Backup | Michael Smith |
| Reserve | Mike James |
| Fullback | Erik Lorig |
| Backup | Brian Leonard |
I think the Buccaneers have plenty of versatile talent here, so they’ll keep the roster loaded with a good amount of running backs. Mike James may struggle to make the active roster every week, but I think the team will try to develop him into a versatile backup. Leonard and Hillis are different enough, and good enough, to both merit a place.
Wide Receiver
| Depth Chart | Player |
| Starter | Vincent Jackson |
| Starter | Mike Williams |
| 3rd Receiver | Kevin Ogletree |
| 4th Receiver | Eric Page |
| 5th Receiver | Tiquan Underwood |
I feel like this is pretty straight forward, but Page might be the surprise. Lots of reports out of camp told tales of Page’s incredible speed and ease of moment on the field, and I think he’ll be the reliable slot receiver the Buccaneers want, with Ogletree and Underwood providing the veteran presence.
Tight End
| Depth Chart | Player |
| Starter | Luke Stocker |
| Backup | Nate Byham |
| Reserve | Tom Crabtree |
Crabtree might not make the team at this rate, as he’s not been showing much in the brief amount of camp. And while it’s overreacting to push him down the depth chart based on just camp performances, I believe the deficits are razor thin at tight end on this roster, and Nate Byham is ready to claim a bigger role in the offense.
Tackles
| Depth Chart | Player |
| LT Starter | Donald Penn |
| RT Starter | Demar Dotson |
| Backup | Gabe Carimi |
Easy. I think should anything happen to Penn, Carimi and Dotson would be most likely to take his spot. Even with as poorly as he played at RT for the Bears, Carimi would be a better option at tackle than Jamon Meredith.
Guard
| Depth Chart | Player |
| LG Starter | Carl Nicks |
| RG Starter | Davin Joseph |
| Backup | Ted Larsen |
| Backup | Jamon Meredith |
But Meredith is a fine backup right guard who could play right tackle in an emergency. And Larsen is a solid backup. Carimi could also play right guard.
Center
| Depth Chart | Player |
| C Starter | Jeremy Zuttah |
Larsen backs up here if needed, but Zuttah is the starter.
Defensive End
| Depth Chart | Player |
| Starter | Adrian Clayborn |
| Starter | Da’Quan Bowers |
| Backup | Aaron Morgan |
| Backup | Daniel Te’o-Nesheim |
| Backup | William Gholston |
I think Steven Means is a project for the future, so Gholston (with his incredible physical traits) makes the roster as the final defensive end. I think there’s a surprising amount of depth here, as Morgan has talent, and Te’o-Nesheim has a great motor.
Defensive Tackle
| Depth Chart | Player |
| Starter | Gerald McCoy |
| Starter | Akeem Spence |
| Backup | Derek Landri |
| Backup | Gary Gibson |
Straight forward position. Gibson is a stable veteran presence, but I doubt he’s going to keep Spence from claiming the starting job. Lanrdi is a great backup for McCoy, so the Buccaneers have solid depth here as well.
Linebacker
| Depth Chart | Player |
| SLB Starter | Dekoda Watson |
| MLB Starter | Mason Foster |
| WLB Starter | Lavonte David |
| Backup | Adam Hayward |
| Backup | Jonathan Casillas |
I feel like linebacker is the spot that can lose a depth chart spot to allow for the third quarterback and the stable of running backs. Considering that nickel packages are used more often than ever, I believe the Bucs can handle the season with just two backups. It helps when those backups are both incredibly versatile.
Cornerback
| Depth Chart | Player |
| Starter | Darrelle Revis |
| Starter | Leonard Johnson |
| Nickel | Johnthan Banks |
| Backup | Danny Gorrer |
| Backup | Deveron Carr |
| Backup | Anthony Gaitor |
| Backup | Michael Adams |
Danny Gorrer is a guy I have high hopes for, and I think he will be the most secure of the backup corners. Deveron Carr has a ton of raw talent, so I think he’s going to find a spot on the roster as well. And rather than keeping any more players lacking in experience, the Bucs would choose a pair of guys with experience to fill out the rest of the depth chart.
Safety
| Depth Chart | Player |
| Starter | Dashon Goldson |
| Starter | Mark Barron |
| Backup | Ahmad Black |
| Backup | Sean Baker |
Cody Grimm locked up his chances of making the team with offseason arrests, so I believe Baker will stand out in camp and make the team ahead of recent draft choice Keith Tandy. Call it a gut feeling.
Special Teams
| Depth Chart | Player |
| K Starter | Lawrence Tynes |
| P Starter | Michael Koenen |
| LS Starter | Andrew Economos |
Nothing special here. Tynes may feel some heat from Derek Dimke, but I suspect the Buccaneers will prefer the veteran kicker even with his inconsistencies.
And that’s it for the roster. What do you think, is this how you’d put it together? Let us know in the comment section below!