The Bucs have gone 12-20 since winning Super Bowl XXXVII, and they don't
yet appear to have their ship righted yet by any means. Coach Jon Gruden never has been able to put together a running game since his arrival, never finishing higher than 24th. Last year Tampa was a dismal 29th in rushing in the league with an average of only 93.1 yards a game. That's well below the NFL average of 116.6 yards, but that could be changing with the drafting of Carnell "Cadillac'' Williams.

Gruden selected the drafted Auburn running back in the first round, and he is not only hoping to get consistent yardage out of him but also to use him to challenge talented but often troubled Michael Pittman to play more consistently. Even the signing of tight end Anthony Becht was designed more to help the running game than to improve the passing offense because Becht is a blocker, not a receiver.

Much of the fate of the offense will still fall on the shoulders of quarterback Brian Griese. Griese began his tenure in Tampa a year ago as a third-string afterthought, but he took over in Week 5 last season after Brad Johnson and Chris Simms faltered and he played consistently. That didn't result in many wins, but he completed nearly 70 percent of his passes and threw 20 touchdowns. The problem was he remained inconsistent in crunch time, just as he'd been in Denver. Griese finished with a quarterback rating of 97.5 but it was 102.5 in the first three quarters and a pedestrian 82.6 in the fourth quarter, where most games are won and lost.

Griese's receiving corps is in transition with the Super Bowl trio of Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicious gone. They've been replaced by young Michael Clayton, aging Joey Galloway and hard-to-understand Ike Hilliard. Hilliard has some skills, but somehow he managed not to score a single time for the Giants a year ago. What's up with that?

The defense has been in the top five for eight straight years and continues to be an asset, but it's not as overpowering as it once was. Age has begun to have its effects. The linebackers are still playmakers but are on average 32 years old, and a defense that was once all but unmovable allowed 123.3 rushing yards a game last year because the front four is not what it was. That doesn't mean the defense isn't still formidable. It still was the leader in pass defense after all, but when you're giving up that kind of rushing yardage, why throw against the Bucs? Teams most often didn't have because the offense averaged only 19 points a game and seldom put the opposing teams under much duress. If Griese and Gruden can ride a Cadillac to change that, the defense will be good enough to hold up its end of the bargain. If the offense can't score more, it's a third year of losing for Gruden and the questions being asked about him in Tampa by his critics who believe it was Tony Dungy's team that won that Super Bowl and not his will grow louder.

HOT SEAT: Anthony McFarland. He was supposed to replace Warren Sapp at the important under tackle position on the Bucs' defense last season, but injuries led to a disappointing outcome for McFarland. He missed eight games and reminded no one of Sapp in the other eight. This was the second time in three years McFarland suffered a serious injury and the Bucs are beginning to wonder if he can stay on the field. The pressure will be on him to evolve into the run stuffer and inside pass rusher they expected this fall. If he doesn't, the Bucs might give up on him, especially if newly acquired nose tackle Chris Hoven shows any ability to play the under position.

OVERHEARD: Gruden fancies the idea of using what he calls his "rocket package'' at times this season. That's a backfield with two halfbacks, Williams and Pittman, on the field at the same time. Gruden figures that gives him a lot of flexibility how to attack and a lot of guesswork for the defense. That's true but in the end there's still only one ball and one guy carrying it.

OUTLOOK: The defense will keep most games close and if the running game improves significantly, it could make the Bucs a darkhorse candidate to make things interesting in the competitive AFC South. But if Tampa continues to struggle running the ball and stopping the opposition from running with it they won't even be close to competitive again.

PREDICTION: Fourth.

NFL TRAINING CAMP PREVIEWS Click for the latest on your favorite teams (teams listed in predicted order of finish) AFC EAST Patriots Bills Jets Dolphins NFC EAST Eagles Cowboys Giants Redskins AFC NORTH Steelers Bengals Ravens Browns NFC NORTH Vikings Lions Bears Packers AFC SOUTH Colts Jaguars Texans Titans NFC SOUTH Panthers Falcons Saints Bucs AFC WEST Chiefs Broncos Chargers Raiders NFC WEST Rams Seahawks Cardinals 49ers

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Brady vs. Manning — who has the edge? Cimini: Patriots-Colts greatest NFL rivalry of 2000s     Slideshow: Peyton vs. Brady through the years   Video: Playing 'what if?' with Peyton's career Report: Raiders want to fire coach Tom Cable Eagles-Bears matchup will remain Sunday night game PFT: Rest of league is catching up to Broncos PFT: Tomlinson hints at retiring after this season PFT: Ex-Packer Brown rips McCArthy PFT: Quinn reportedly will start for Browns again NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: