The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made big splashes this offseason, doling out nearly $150 million in contracts to Vincent Jackson, Carl Nicks, Eric Wright, Ronde Barber and Dallas Clark in an attempt to turn around a franchise that went 4-12 in 2011 and enters this season on a 10-game losing streak.
The Buccaneers also added three highly-touted draft picks in safety Mark Barron and running back Doug Martin in the first round and outside linebacker Lavonte David in round two.
On the eve of his first preseason game as an NFL head coach, Greg Schiano told Joe Rose of WQAM in Miami that he hopes the Buccaneers' top three rookies earn starting jobs this summer.
"Sure hope so," Schiano said. "They've been doing very well in camp. I think they're really talented guys and they've picked things up very quickly, all three of 'em. So that's our hope, that's our plan, but you know, you can't make stuff happen. It's got to happen on the field, but I think it will."
Barron and David were listed as the starters on the Buccaneers' first depth chart of the preseason, while Martin was listed as the No. 2 running back behind LeGarrette Blount. Ultimately, it's hard to imagine Martin not starting, but two out of three rookies starting would be a good start to the Schiano Era. Especially if the third one doesn't happen because Blount, a 1,000-yard rusher just two seasons ago, steps up his game, on and off the field, to earn the right to remain in the starting lineup.
