Tampa Bay Buccaneers release first 2011 depth chart - Mason Foster starts

by Sander on Aug 8, 2011 5:08 PM EDT

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have just released their first depth chart of the season. While this depth chart is far from final and there are some notable names on the list. Most importantly, Mason Foster is listed as the starting linebacker over Tyrone McKenzie. Foster will have to play very poorly for him to lose that job to McKenzie, as the team clearly wants their third-round draft pick to be the starter.

Another surprise comes at left defensive end, where Michael Bennett is the starter over second-round draft pick Da'Quan Bowers. We'll see whether that holds through the preseason, and it could just be a consequence of Bowers' injury. Continuing at defensive end, Alex Magee is listed as the fourth-string defensive end. Despite a solid showing late last season, he will have to really fight for a roster spot, but has been quiet in training camp so far. Kyle Moore may also be in trouble, as he is the third-string left defensive end, which would potentially leave him off the roster once the season starts.

A final note on defense: it appears Elbert Mack is already out of a job, as he is listed as the fourth-string right cornerback. Anthony Gaitor has gone ahead of him on the depth chart.

On offense, it appears the Bucs are giving Jeremy Trueblood the first shot at a starting position. Ted Larsen appears to have held on to his starting job at left guard. Interestingly, Earnest Graham is still listed as the starter at fullback, which would potentially limit his role on third down. Kregg Lumpkin seems to be beating out draft pick Allen Bradford for the backup running back role.

At wide receiver Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn remain the starters, while dezmon Briscoe and Sammie Stroughter are the main backups. Micheal Spurlock and Preston Parker are third-string receivers, while the undrafted free agents are listed as fourth-stringers. One final note: it appears that seventh-round draft pick Daniel Hardy has already secured his roster spot, as he's listed as the third-string tight end, ahead of Ryan Purivs, Nathan Overbay and Jose Cruz.

Hit the jump to see the full depth chart.

OFFENSE

Position	First-string	Second-string	Third-string	Other
WR	Mike Williams	Sammie Stroughter	Micheal Spurlock	Ed Gant Raymond Webber
LT	Donald Penn	Demar Dotson	Cory Brandon
LG	Ted Larsen	Brandon Carter	Marc Dile
C	Jeff Faine	Jeremy Zuttah	Matt Allen
RG	Davin Joseph	Derek Hardman	Thomas Claiborne
RT	Jeremy Trueblood	James Lee	Will Barker
TE	Kellen Winslow	Luke Stocker	Daniel Hardy	Ryan Purvis Nathan Overbay Jose Cruz
WR	Arrelious Benn	Dezmon Briscoe	Preston Parker	Jock Sanders Detron Lewis
QB	Josh Freeman	Josh Johnson	Rudy Carpenter	Mike Coughlin Jonathan Crompton
RB	LeGarrette Blount	Kregg Lumpkin	Allen Bradford	Mossis Madu Armando Allen
FB	Earnest Graham	Erik Lorig	Rendrick Taylor	Nick Reveiz

DEFENSE

Position	First-string	Second-string	Third-string	Other
LDE	Michael Bennett	Da'Quan Bowers	Kyle Moore	Alex Magee
DT	Gerald McCoy	Frank Okam	E.J. Wilson
DT	Roy Miller	Brian Price	Al Woods
RDE	Adrian Clayborn	Tim Crowder	George Johnson	Brandon Gilbeaux
SLB	Quincy Black	Dekoda Watson	Brandon Heath
MLB	Mason Foster	Tyrone McKenzie	Derrell Smith
WLB	Geno Hayes	Adam Hayward	Simoni Lawrence	Victor Aiyewa
LCB	Aqib Talib	Myron Lewis	DJ Johnson	Vince Anderson
RCB	Ronde Barber	E.J. Biggers	Anthony Gaitor	Elbert Mack
SS	Sean Jones	Corey Lynch	Dominique Harris	Devin Holland
FS	Cody Grimm	Larry Asante	Ahmad Black

SPECIAL TEAMS

Position	First-string	Second-string	Third-string
P	Michael Koenen	Robert Malone
PK	Connor Barth	Jacob Rogers
KO	Michael Koenen	Connor Barth
H	Michael Koenen	Robert Malone
LS	Christian Yount
PR	Micheal Spurlock	Preston Parker	Sammie Stroughter
KR	Micheal Spurlock	Preston Parker	Sammie Stroughter

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Comments

Trueblood over Lee?

F*&% that…….

by _Knives_ on Aug 8, 2011 5:42 PM EDT reply actions

I second that

If I could wear a bucs shirt with a noles hat for the rest of my life, by golly I would be the happiest man in the world.

by cazmoney1 on Aug 8, 2011 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Has Bennett really outplayed Bowers?

What’s the story there? If we start the season that way, is it more about maximizing our DE depth?

by jMagic09 on Aug 8, 2011 5:46 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Bennett has reportedly played very well in camp so far

But who knows? Could be any number of reasons. May just be that they’re still limiting Da’Quan Bowers reps because of the injury. Don’t read too much into this stuff, it’s just the first depth chart.

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by Sander on Aug 8, 2011 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

All for the best guy getting the starting gig

Sure Bowers will get his this preseason. Will be interesting to see what kind of attention McCoy and Clayborn will attract and how that’ll impact the entirety of the D line.

by jMagic09 on Aug 8, 2011 6:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

According to Raheem its just that ...

He said Bennett was the starting LE last year, and came into practice this year playing very hard. He said it is going to be a competition between him and Bowers all training camp long, but right now Bennett has the edge.

On a side note, he said he is going to have packages for the both of them no matter what, but it’s a competition to see who is the starting end. My money is still on Bowers though.

by IBleedPewter on Aug 8, 2011 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

It'd be great if Bennett becomes a menace now too...

Cream rises!

Go Magic/Bucs/Gators/Rays!

by chiefs_55 on Aug 8, 2011 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

We'll get to see Bowers and Price together in the 2nd half.

I wouldn’t be suprised if they are putting Bowers in with opportunity to play extensively in the 2nd.

by Brooklyn Buc on Aug 8, 2011 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

just cant wait

i know its only preseason but im stoked to see these youngries go at it. I live in oregon so i see very few bucs games, cant wait. GO BUCS

by Jason Meyers on Aug 8, 2011 7:15 PM EDT reply actions

I live in Boston..

I feel your pain.

If I could wear a bucs shirt with a noles hat for the rest of my life, by golly I would be the happiest man in the world.

by cazmoney1 on Aug 8, 2011 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I live in Pennsylvani

I feel both your pain.

We want the ball, and we're gonna score!

by anthonyh60 on Aug 8, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I live in bf Tennessee

I feel ya’lls pain..

Nasty pirate zombie.. Arrgg!

by Titankillah on Aug 9, 2011 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I live in KY

I feel your…. err… Well I got Sunday Ticket. Still sucks not being able to go to games though!

by RuudAwakening on Aug 9, 2011 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions

I live in Tampa and don't get to see many games either

by tjbrays on Aug 9, 2011 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

If it wasn't for Sunday Ticket i wouldn't see any games...

i just wish it wasn’t so expensive

Still waiting for the day that the NFL comes back to LA...

by LABucsFan on Aug 9, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Sunday Ticket

Is absolutely AWESOME, it is literally the ONLY reason I have DirecTV I will never be without it as long as it is available. However, it is rediculously expensive. It sucks Direct has a corner on the market for it & that is why it is so expensive. IT sucks but you gotta pay to play as of now.

by RuudAwakening on Aug 9, 2011 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

U in LA?

Shoot, me too. I’m comin over, lol.

by King J77 on Aug 12, 2011 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Im from WV

You can’t have too many good D-Lineman. Look at the giants and their 2008 super bowl run.

by BUCSwillDOMINATE on Aug 8, 2011 11:26 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

2007

I rather not discus how 2008 ended.
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I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Sex is like math. Add the bed, Subtract the clothes, divide the legs ... And pray to god you don't multiply!!

by Troy O on Aug 9, 2011 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I knew we found our Holder, great job Dom

I focus on money my hands touch
If that right there don’t add up
I gotta let you know your math sucks
You don’t ever talk to a calculator
You don’t get caught with an ounce of paper
Every convo is about a favour

by 4QB on Aug 9, 2011 1:31 AM EDT reply actions