Tampa Bay Buccaneers Initial 53-Man Roster

by Sander on Sep 4, 2011 8:00 AM EDT

LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 01: A Washington Redskins cheerleader preforms during the first half of a preseason game between the Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedExField on September 1, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have cut down to their first 53-man roster of the 2011 season. This isn't the final roster yet, as the Bucs are sure to add a number of players over the next days. Last year, the Bucs picked up eventual starters Legarrette Blount and Ted Larsen on waivers after the final roster cuts. They're sure to pick up a number of players in the next few days.

Meanwhile, the Bucs have a lack of players at some roster spots, and an excess of players at others. They have only two tight ends on the roster, while Greg Olson likes to run a tight-end heavy offense. The Bucs are likely to add a player there, while they have a massive surplus of defensive backs. They have five safeties and seven cornerbacks, and could surely stand to lose one.

Quarterback (2): Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson

Running Back (4): Legarrette Blount, Earnest Graham, Kregg Lumpkin, Allen Bradford

Fullback (1): Erik Lorig

Tight end (2): Kellen Winslow, Luke Stocker

Wide Receiver (6): Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn, Dezmon Briscoe, Sammie Stroughter, Micheal Spurlock, Preston Parker

Offensive Tackle (4): Donald Penn, Jeremy Trueblood, James Lee, Demar Dotson

Offensive Guard (4): Ted Larsen, Davin Joseph, Jeremy Zuttah, Derek Hardman

Center (1): Jeff Faine

Defensive Tackle (4): Gerald McCoy, Roy Miller, Frank Okam, Brian Price

Defensive End (5): Adrian Clayborn, Michael Bennett, Da'Quan Bowers, Tim Crowder, George Johnson

Linebacker (5): Quincy Black, Mason Foster, Geno Hayes, Dekoda Watson, Adam Hayward

Cornerback (7): Ronde Barber, Aqib Talib, E.J. Biggers, Myron Lewis, Elbert Mack, D.J. Johnson, Anthony Gaitor

Safety (5): Sean Jones, Cody Grimm, Larry Asante, Corey Lynch, Devin Holland

Punter (1): Michael Koenen

Kicker (1): Connor Barth

Longsnapper (1): Christian Yount (Andrew Economos on PUP)

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Comments

ppl who i think are likely to be cut.

Holland, DJ Johnson. We WILL add another tight end, and maybe add another linebacker for more depth

by Gage Tyler Bain on Sep 4, 2011 8:28 AM EDT reply actions

I think the keeping of only 2 TEs is the biggest surprise

by flimsy2147 on Sep 4, 2011 9:31 AM EDT reply actions

should have released parker

He’s done nothing this preseason to earn a roster spot, should have kept gant over him, and I didn’t see spurlock returning punts/kicks this preseason, does anyone know if he’s lost his return duties to parker?

by TonyBuc51 on Sep 4, 2011 10:43 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I doubt it, they probably just wanted to try out some other guys

Though he may have lost his punt return duties.

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by Sander on Sep 4, 2011 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree, releasing Gant was a mistake...

IMO he has way more upside than Stroughter, Spurlock, and Parker. Some team will scoop him up pretty quick. Johnson, Mack, and Holland should be gone as well. With that said, all of the guys I named except Stroughter has value as special teams players; maybe that’s why they managed to make the team. I’m just a bit bias towards Gant because he grew up in my old neighborhood down in Fort Myers; just wish we could’ve found a way to keep him. It is what it is, I’ll never question Rah and Dom when it comes to evaluating players they have a proven track record in that department. Gants has some good things on tape and will catch on somewhere else; hopefully it’s not in the NFC South.

by ctd1977 on Sep 4, 2011 11:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

It's quite possible Gant did nothing on special teams

I sure didn’t notice him. Can’t make a team that way.

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by Sander on Sep 4, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

That's what I meant...

Gant didn’t do enough on special teams allah Maurice Stovall to make himself more valuable to the team. While guys like Spurlock, Parker, Holland, etc had value a ST players which helped them stick (for now). No hard feelings about Gant, I love the Bucs regardless I’m hoping we can add some quality players to the roster over the next couple days. O-line was my biggest worry going into the draft/FA and we decided to ride with the guys we had on the roster. With that said, I’m still worried about O-line play going into the season. Hopefully those guys up front can stay health and play well enough for us to make a run at the playoffs.

by ctd1977 on Sep 4, 2011 11:54 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm still worried about O-line play..

I second that.

by Titankillah on Sep 4, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm hoping we pickup some O-line talent

Oline are low profile by nature so not sure who’s good or not, but that’s Marks job anyway.

by Pirate25 on Sep 4, 2011 1:28 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Stroughter is clutch though.

by NewLogic on Sep 4, 2011 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Can't really compare Stroughter and Gant

Very different in terms of the role they’ll have on the team. Stroughter is a slot receiver only, while Gant can only work on the outside.

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by Sander on Sep 4, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Bears sign Meriweather

So we can put that discussion to rest.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6930159/brandon-meriweather-agrees-chicago-bears-day-new-england-patriots-cut-him

by jMagic09 on Sep 4, 2011 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

Brandon Tate I believe is still floating around out there, and a speedster like him could really help our receiving corps and give us a very nice deep threat, with speed that Regis Benn just can’t match. I’d much rather see Tate with one of our WR roster spots than Stroughter or Parker, because he has far more use in the passing game, and I believe he also has quite a bit of experience returning kicks if I remember correctly.

Would’ve loved to have Merriweather, but since the Bears have apparently put the kibosh on THAT idea, I’d settle for another Pats playmaker.

by KRoa on Sep 4, 2011 12:30 PM EDT reply actions

I hope we bring in..

LB Mario Harvey
RB Nic Grigsby
WR Ricardo Lockett
CB Kendric Burney, Jamar Wall

by flash_kiley on Sep 4, 2011 12:52 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I agree...

I like everyone on that list.

by ctd1977 on Sep 4, 2011 1:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

LB Mark Herzlich

was also released by the Giants… He could be a great pickup for LB depth

by Mathew K on Sep 4, 2011 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

Mark Herzlich actually made the Giants' final roster

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by Sander on Sep 4, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude we need to pick him up

I don’t care what ppl say or his stats indicate, I think he definately could become someone down the down..

Marques Colston was picked 3 picks ahead of mr.irrelevant.. look how that turned out.

by Titankillah on Sep 4, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Um...

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/giants/post/_/id/6647/herzlichs-parents-overjoyed-by-news

by jMagic09 on Sep 4, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

no idea who the cheerleader is, but

i’m a bucs fan now =)

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Sep 4, 2011 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

She's a Redskin cheerleader

But ours are better.

by originaldiscokid on Sep 4, 2011 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Like i said above...

Ricardo Lockette was cut. He is a little raw, but has track speed. Good be another Blount, Briscoe like guy.

by flash_kiley on Sep 4, 2011 4:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

On the practice squad with the Seahawks

No real room for him on the current roster

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by Sander on Sep 4, 2011 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Sucks Ahmad Black never got much of a chance

I’m not surprised he was cut, but I am disappointed.

by aakks on Sep 4, 2011 6:26 PM EDT reply actions

I'm suprised they kept 2 te

by Titankillah on Sep 4, 2011 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Very surprising...

I really didn’t think they’d keep Bradford, Holland, or Parker (I also preferred Gant). I’m glad they decided to keep Gaitor, George Johnson, and DJ Johnson. Besides Gant, i really thought they would have kept Hardy at TE. We could have also let go of Barth and Koenen and kept Rogers to take both spots although financially that would not have made much sense….

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

by LABucsFan on Sep 6, 2011 1:11 PM EDT reply actions

Never mind,

it looks like George Johnson and DJ Johnson were both cut as well but can be signed to the practice squad to join Carpenter, Ahmad Black, Will Barker, Daniel Hardy, Ed Gant,Collin Franklin, Mossis Madu, and Derrell Smith.

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

by LABucsFan on Sep 6, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions