BUCCANEERS 101

With free agency fast approaching, Buccaneers101.com is here to give you a position by position breakdown on what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have headed into it – and which players they should be targeting to help bolster the roster for 2012.

Let’s start with the most important position on the field – quarterback.

QB Position Overview:

The Bucs have their franchise quarterback – or at least they think they do. In 2010, which was Josh Freeman’s first full season as a pro, he was lights out. The young gunslinger from Kansas State posted excellent numbers, throwing for 3,451 yards with 25 touchdowns to just six interceptions. But something happened last season and Freeman’s play dipped dramatically. His mechanics broke down and he was a turnover machine with just 16 touchdowns to 22 interceptions. Freeman also lost five fumbles to bring his turnover total to 27. Still, he is only 23 years old and the sky is the limit for Freeman, who has already proven he can play at a Pro Bowl level.

But behind him the Bucs don't really have much and that will have to be addressed this offseason.

QB Position Needs:

Backup Josh Johnson is an unrestricted free agent and knows he will never be the man in Tampa Bay while the other Josh is around. Johnson wants a chance to compete for a starting job so he is going to test the market to see if there are any takers for his services.

Other than him, the only two signal callers on the roster are Rudy Carpenter and Brett Ratliff, both of which have virtually no real game experience other than in the pre-season.

Neither Carpenter or Ratliff are prepared to run this team if something were to happen to Freeman so look for the Bucs to add a veteran presence to backup up their starting quarterback headed into 2012.

Buccaneers101.com’s Free Agency Front Runners:

1. David Carr (6’3”, 212) – The former No. 1 overall pick is on this list for one reason and that is because of Mike Sullivan, the Bucs new offensive coordinator. Sullivan coached Carr in New York last season and he is familiar with Sullivan’s system. While Carr never panned out in Houston, he has made a nice career out of backing up other No. 1 picks (Eli Manning and Alex Smith) over the past four seasons. Carr, 32, will come cheap and he is capable of leading an offense if necessary for a period of time. With 14,433 passing yards and 65 touchdowns during his career, Carr is the perfect candidate to backup Josh Freeman.

2. Donovan McNabb (6’2”, 240) – McNabb doesn’t have much left in the tank at this point in his career, but he has the resume and skill set to really help Freeman – if he wants to. McNabb has been traded twice in the past two seasons and was cut after just six starts last season in Minnesota. Reports say McNabb became complacent and lazy, which led to his dismissal. If McNabb wants to continue his career, the man who led the Eagles to four NFC Championships and one Super Bowl will have to do it as a backup.

3. Josh Johnson (6’3”, 203) – The only way Johnson will re-sign with the Bucs is if he doesn’t garner the interest he wants from another team. Johnson is a unique talent that has been used sparingly in the Wildcat role over the past two seasons with Tampa Bay. Over the past three seasons, Johnson has started five games for the Bucs and amassed 1,042 passing yards with five touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 254 yards on 37 carries during that time. Johnson has yet to record a win in the NFL but he does have the talent to start, which is why Tampa Bay would like to keep him as a backup to Freeman if it can.

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