2011 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS PREVIEW:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers surprised everyone last year, going 10-6 and just narrowly missing out on a playoff berth. With a strong core of young talent that led the way last year, there's no telling how high the ceiling on the Bucs is this year, and it would not be surprising to see them playing in the postseason.
The biggest reason for Tampa Bay's success last year was the steady play from quarterback Josh Freeman. He'll be under center once again, and looking to build on an already-solid foundation. Freeman will be joined by second-year receiver Mike Wililams, who had a breakout rookie season, as well as running back LeGarrette Blount, who surprised everyone by running for 1,000 yards last year.
Although the offense received much of attention last year, the defense was just as reliable. The secondary is led by veteran cornerback Ronde Barber, who will be back for his 14th season with the team. As for the front seven, the Bucs are expecting big things out of their first round draft pick, defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn, who was among the most fearsome defenders in the Big 10 last year.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS INFORMATION:
Founded: 1976
Location: Tampa, Florida
Stadium: Raymond James Stadium
Conference: NFC South
Rivals: Carolina Panthers
Owners: Malcolm Glazer (1995)
Team Nicknames: The Bucs, Tampa Bay Bucs
Notable Players: Lee Roy Selmon, Vinny Testeverde and Derrick Brooks
See Also: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Playoff tickets
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play in the South Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL). The Tampa Bay Bucs were founded in 1976 along with the Seattle Seahawks as part of that year's NFL expansion. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did find some early success with a tough defense led by Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon. That success was short lived, however, and after 1982, Tampa bay wouldn't make the playoffs again for 14 years. In 1996, with the arrival of coach Tony Dungy, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made their big turnaround. Dungy made the team a playoff contender again also by building a strong defense. When Dungy was hired as head coach in Indianapolis in 2002, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers essentially traded players and draft picks for Jon Gruden, head coach of the Oakland Raiders. Gruden would lead the team to a Super Bowl win in his first year against his former Raider squad - a game that was dubbed “the Gruden Bowl”. The team is still a strong contender if they can stay healthy.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play home games Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Raymond James holds up to 75,000 spectators. Opened in 1998, Raymond James Stadium was not long ago considered the "crown jewel" of NFL arenas. Buy Tampa Bay Buccaneers tickets and watch the Buccaneers play in sunny Florida and fight to regain control of the NFC!
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Preview History
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ticket Information:
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