Sources told PewterReport.com today that the search for a new Buccaneers defensive line coach to replace Todd Wash is nearing the end, but no names of any candidates were passed along to us. What we were told is that Tampa Bay's new D-line coach will likely come from the college ranks and that he would probably be a younger, energetic guy along the lines of wide receivers coach Eric Yarber or defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake.

Both of those coaches are positive, upbeat, high-energy individuals that can appeal to the youth in their respective rooms. Yarber, who had previous NFL experience, but came from Arizona State University in 2010, had to coach four rookies in Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn, Dezmon Briscoe and Preston Parker, in addition to a second-year player in Sammie Stroughter. Maurice Stovall and Micheal Spurlock were the lone veterans in the wide receivers room in 2010.

In the secondary, aside from 14-year veteran Ronde Barber, seven-year vet Sean Jones and third-year pros Aqib Talib and Corey Lynch, Lake, who came to Tampa Bay from Montana State in 2006, had to deal with plenty of young players in rookie cornerback Myron Lewis and rookie safeties Cody Grimm, Larry Asante and Dominique Harris, as well as second-year corners E.J. Biggers and D.J. Johnson last year.

Tampa Bay's new defensive line coach will inherit second-year players in defensive tackles Gerald McCoy, Brian Price and Al Woods, second-year defensive ends in Doug Worthington and George Johnson, and third-year linemen Alex Magee, Michael Bennett and Roy Miller – not to mention the new defensive linemen added through the 2011 NFL Draft. Having a coach that can relate and motivate young players will be a key as head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik make their selection, which is expected to come this week.

The only known candidate for the defensive line vacancy was Minnesota defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, who was retained by the Vikings. Tampa Bay's last three primary defensive line coaches have all come from the college ranks. Rod Marinelli (1996-2005) came from the University of Southern California in 1996, as did Jethro Franklin (2006) in 2006. Wash joined the Bucs in 2007 after coaching at North Dakota State.