One week down, two to go.  Since Simeon Rice's release, the focus has been on Offensive Tackle Luke Pettigout and Quarterback Chris Simms.  In my estimation, the Pettigout "back" injury has been ridden into the ground, mainly because there's nothing else but Simms to report that has some controversy linked to it.  Yeh, Pettigout has a chronic back problem. If he's on the sidelines two weeks from now, then it become's a bonified problem.  As for Simms, he's still not right.  His arm might be getting better but his mechanics are off.  I will say this, Luke McCown is taking this opportunity to move up the depth chart seriously.  I'll let the coaches assess his progress, but I will tell you first hand in the conversation McCown and I had at camp, this guy is ready mentally in case Jeff Garcia gets hurt.

     On the field, Davin Joseph has really impressed me.  He's a rock.  Second round pick Left Guard Aaron Sears showed me he's got a little mean streak to him, standing up to Linebacker Cato June in a little shoving match this past week. 

     Wide receiver has me concerned.  Joey Galloway is his usual self..  Ike Hilliard hasn't gotten much "pub", but he's as steady as they come. After that, inconsistency abounds.

     Michael Clayton and David Boston have had their good and bad days.  And I'm not liking the body language I'm seeing out of Clayton.  His confidence, to me, looks down. 

     The real difference in this football team, from my perspective will be on defense.  Being able to change their defense from a 4-3 front to a 3-4 on any given play will make opposing offensive coordinator's go nuts.  This move is probably two years coming.  The "cover 2"  defense is too easy to game plan against these days.  God only hopes, that this diversification in the defense will eliminate those opposing 3rd and 6, 3rd and 7 conversions we saw WAY TOO MUCH OF last season.  Plus, the addition of DB Coach Morris and DL Coach Coyer, the Bucs have two bonified teachers there now.  Burns and Franklin were both busts in those respective positions a year ago.

     I'll have more for you next week.  If you have any questions, e-mail me.  I'll try and get them answered for you at camp. 

     Tom Korun