Rounding Up the Latest Offseason Buzz

Rounding Up the Latest Buccaneers Offseason Buzz By Jason Kanno Jun 16, 2015 Chris O'Meara/Associated Press The Buccaneers are ready to turn the page to the next chapter of Lovie Smith's tenure as Tampa Bay's head coach. With less than three months until the start of the 2015 season, the Bucs roster is starting to take shape.After weeks of voluntary organized team activities, the Bucs mandatory minicamp begins this week, per the Tampa Bay Times' Greg Auman. While practices remain non-contact, every player is required to show up this week, though as of a few days ago, one player in particular seemed as if he may skip the mandatory practices.Offensive tackle Demar Dotson was absent from OTAs as he held out for a new contract. As thin as the Bucs offensive line is, they cannot afford to proceed without their starting right tackle.The Bucs are also exercising their top priority on the waiver wire. So far, they have claimed former Houston Texans safety D.J. Swearinger and former New England Patriots tight end Tim Wright. While each is a talented player, neither is guaranteed a roster spot.At the end of last season, it looked as though running back Doug Martin was guaranteed to have a roster spot anywhere but Tampa Bay. Heading into minicamp, Martin may have already turned his fortunes around.Rookie guard Ali Marpet could use a little fortune of his own given the odds stacked against him. The former Hobart offensive lineman has a lot of catching up to do if he wants to make an impact for the Bucs this season.There is plenty of offseason left to go before an actual game is played. Here is a look at some of the storylines to track heading into Bucs minicamp.Demar Dotson Ends Holdout, Reports to MinicampDavid Richard/Associated Press The last thing the Bucs need is more upheaval on their offensive line. Dotson's contract dispute threatened to throw a wrench in their attempted revamp of the line, but that looks to be a moot point now.After skipping voluntary OTAs, Dotson is expected to report to mandatory minicamp this week, according to Pewter Report's Mark Cook. The Bucs' starting right tackle believes he deserves a contract extension and a raise but apparently changed his mind about holding out for more money.Dotson is by far the Bucs best offensive lineman. He was consistently the Bucs best pass protector over the past two years, which is likely the reason he was moved to left tackle at the end of last season.However, the moves made by general manager Jason Licht over the past two years stripped Dotson of any leverage he might have. Drafting Donovan Smith and Kevin Pamphile as well as switching Patrick Omameh to tackle, per the Tampa Bay Times' Matt Baker, gave the Bucs options to fill Dotson's position.The Bucs may be satisfied starting these far less experienced players, but it is the last thing the Bucs should want. The offensive line is thin as it is, and none of these players can match Dotson's experience or level of play right now.Tim Wright Returns to Tampa BayStacy Revere/Getty Images For once, the pipeline from Tampa Bay to New England is flowing back to the Bucs.After his release from the Patriots, tight end Tim Wright returned to the Buccaneers, who plucked their former player off the waiver wire, per ESPN's Pat Yasinskas. Last year, the Bucs traded Wright to New England along with a fourth-round pick for guard Logan Mankins.Wright was a breakout star for the Bucs in 2013, catching 54 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns. In New England, he wasn't as prolific catching the ball, but he was more successful in the end zone, scoring six touchdowns on just 26 catches.Wright joins a crowded tight-end group including last year's second-round pick Austin Seferian-Jenkins and veterans Brandon Myers and Luke Stocker. Draft status guarantees Seferian-Jenkins' roster spot, while Myers and Stocker each signed on to stay with the Bucs through at least 2016.That doesn't mean there isn't a place for Wright in Tampa Bay. He might be the most natural pass-catcher on the team behind wide receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. Wright's main problem is his poor blocking ability, so he's unlikely to unseat a versatile blocker like Stocker.It's easy to forget that Wright began his NFL career as a wide receiver. While he isn't necessarily switching back, one of the Bucs wideouts may be in danger of losing a roster spot if Wright shows he's as dangerous a receiver as ever.D.J. Swearinger Runs with the Starting DefenseThomas B. Shea/Getty Images The Bucs will field an entirely new safety duo at the start of the 2015 season. One of those players could even be former Houston Texan D.J. Swearinger.The Bucs claimed Swearinger off the waiver wire after his release from Houston in May. Already, the third-year safety is running with the first-team defense, per the Tampa Bay Times' Greg Auman.Safety has been consumed by turmoil since last season. Last year's opening-day starters Mark Barron and Dashon Goldson were poor fits for Lovie Smith's defense. Despite their pedigrees in the draft and free agency, the Bucs cut them both loose.The Bucs collected several safeties who could replace Barron and Goldson. Major Wright and Chris Conte were both drafted by Smith, while Bradley McDougald emerged as a rising star last year.Swearinger impressed Smith with his football IQ at OTAs, per Auman. However, the practice field is very different from an actual game. If Swearinger were an indispensable player, Houston never would have released him. The former Texan may be better suited as a depth player than a starter.Doug Martin Works with the First-Team OffenseGrant Halverson/Getty Images Running back Doug Martin had a rough 2014 season. All indications are he's looking to bounce back in 2015.Despite talk of a possible trade, Martin has been lining up with the first-team offense during OTAs, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Joey Knight. Martin even earned a vote of confidence from Lovie Smith:"He's on the first team like he's always been. He's one of our guys. He's our running back, and he's showing up, and he's getting good work, so I think it's just as simple as that."It looked like Martin's time in Tampa Bay was nearing an end after the Bucs chose not to pick up his fifth-year option. Nevertheless, a trade never materialized, and Martin remains atop the Bucs' running back depth chart.The question remains whether this is truly a vote of confidence for Martin or a lack of confidence in second-year runner Charles Sims. The Bucs drafted Sims in the third round of last year's draft, but he proved an even less effective running back than Martin last season.So far, the Bucs' running back depth chart looks unchanged from last season. Only time will tell whether Martin can remain the Bucs' starter through training camp and into the regular season.Ali Marpet Adjusting to NFL SpeedJulio Cortez/Associated Press Every rookie experiences growing pains during his transition from college to the NFL. Coming out of D-III college Hobart, Bucs rookie guard Ali Marpet may need to turn the dial up to 11 just to keep up.Not only is Marpet adjusting to the NFL pace of life, he's moving from tackle to guard, and the difference in game speed is not lost on him, according to the Tampa Tribune's Roy Cummings.The Bucs traded up to take Marpet, who impressed at the combine and Senior Bowl practices. Despite his high draft status, the Bucs have to be patient with Marpet given his small-school origins. If the Bucs try to rush him, they would not only risk their investment in Marpet, but they would also possibly endanger rookie quarterback Jameis Winston.The Bucs are likely to hold an open competition for the right guard spot. They invested draft picks in Marpet and last year's fifth-round pick Kadeem Edwards, but given their inexperience, it's possible they start the season as backups.During OTAs, Garrett Gilkey lined up with the first-team offense, per Buccaneers.com's Scott Smith. Gilkey's experience may be the only thing going for him, as he proved woefully inadequate in one start and various spot action last year.The lack of certainty at the right guard spot should concern the Bucs. At this point, they can only hope Marpet is as good as advertised and quickly adapts to NFL speed during training camp and the preseason.link