Ryan Sims News

Defensive tackle Chris Hovan and return specialist Clifton Smith did not participate in Wednesday's practice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Maybe Jimmy Wilkerson's career-high three sacks can do what cornerback Aqib Talib's career-high three interceptions a week earlier couldn't -- inspire a collective winning effort for the 0-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Among the many miscalculations by the Bucs entering the season - there were several - was overestimating the talent on their defensive line.

For more than a decade, defense defined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The names of their leaders read like a Hall of Fame ballot: Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, Barber.

As young as the rebuilding Tampa Bay defense has gotten, there is little evidence to suggest that a quick turnaround of the Buccaneers' fortunes is as imminent as they hope.

For better or worse, the Buccaneers' season will get off to a running start today.

Rookie DT Roy Miller can't wait for Sunday to make his pro debut - and face the team that dominated his formative years as a Texas native.

Roy Miller hasn't been around long enough to become a familiar name in the Bucs' defensive scheme, but the rookie tackle from Texas is doing his best to make his name known this preseason.

Aug 21, 2009 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' recently-concluded training camp had some surprises, like any camp, many of them pleasant.

There were times Saturday night when the Bucs defensive tackles seemed to be in a race.

As the Buccaneers wrap up training camp , they are one step closer to the regular season.

Roy Miller hasn't been around long enough to become a familiar name in the Bucs' defensive scheme, but the rookie tackle from Texas is doing his best to make his name known this preseason.

Defensive tackle Roy Miller, a third-round draft choice from Texas, has been one of the most impressive new players in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers camp.

Aug 05, 2009 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers battled each other and the weather on Wednesday at training camp, and in a way they also battled the Carolina Panthers.

Aug 05, 2009 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers battled each other and the weather on Wednesday at training camp, and in a way they also battled the Carolina Panthers.

Aug 01, 2009 - Here's what Raheem Morris found difficult about his first training camp practice as an NFL head coach: the high-fives. Morris led the Buccaneers through a 130-minute practice on Saturday morning in a rather aggressive heat that somehow seemed a little less oppressive than the Central Florida weather the team had become accustomed to ...

Yesterday, we took a glance at the Buccaneers' offensive lineup. Now, we'll look at the side of the ball that has a few more question marks: defense.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers concluded their final minicamp practice this afternoon with two players still not in attendance.

DT Ryan Sims has started just two games in two seasons with the Bucs, but the former first-round draft pick is preparing for a bigger role this fall as a starter and a team leader.

When tackle Chris Hovan looks around One Buc Place these days, he sees a sizable defensive hole he would love to help fill: the leadership gap left by the departure of linebacker Derrick Brooks.