Score one for Joe predicting Carl Nicks would be the Buccaneer honored last night on NFL Network (aka The Man Channel) for being among the Top 100 players in the NFL for 2012.

The NFL players-only voting revealed Nicks grabbed position No. 76. Donald Penn checked in at No. 97 a couple of weeks ago.

The countdown continues next week from No. 70. Will Vincent Jackson get some love? Joe hopes so. The man just signed for gargantuan money. Davin Joseph? Oh, the drama.

Here’s the video of Nicks’ segment, great stuff for the many Bucs fans that don’t know much about him. Ironically, among other highlights, you get an NFL Films look of Nicks absolutely abusing Roy Miller and yet another jailbreak run against the Bucs.

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For the Bucs to turn around their defensive line, it's critical that Gerald McCoy stay healthy.

Anyone whose eyes have finally recovered, after they were singed watching what was disguised as a Bucs defense last year, knows that if the Bucs are to sniff a .500 record the Bucs must somehow stop the run.

The critical element in this is the Bucs’ front line. And eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune explains improvement on the defensive front has been a priority for the Bucs since the ghastly loss to the Dixie Chicks, extending the grotesque losing streak to 10 games last season.

Collectively, the group up front was ravaged on the ground as opposing clubs averaged 5.0 yards per carry. The defensive line failed to occupy blockers and running backs routinely broke through to the second level.

And when opposing running backs got to the second level, it was nothing less than a jailbreak. The way running backs ran through the Bucs’ second and third levesl, it reminded Joe of Steve McQueen on his motorcycle in “The Great Escape.”

The first step towards improved rush defense is for the front line to stay healthy. No matter how talented guys like Gerald McCoy and Brian Price are, if they can’t get on the field or are hobbled, it doesn’t help the team.

The bell cow running back debate is one that will burn within many Bucs fans from now through at least late August.

Who should and will carry the load in the Bucs’ run-first backfield? Will there even be the bell cow that Greg Schiano desires?

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik was pressed on this yesterday during an NFL.com podcast hosted by Steve Wyche and Jason Smith. Here’s how Dominik responded.

Host (paraphrased): Doug Martin, LeGarrette Blount, what’s your plan?

Mark Dominik: They’re going to complement one another. Let’em play with each other. Let them utilize their traits very well, and really kind of work together. I think most clubs, as we see around the league, have a multiple-back system, where guys can be on first-down or third-down, and short yardage or, you know, first-and-10. And I think that’s what’s so nice about adding a Doug Martin. You know because he has the hands, you know he’s really good catching the ball and real natural coming out [out of the backfield], runs really good routes, he’s under control as a runner but he has some top-end speed so he can get away. And what I like about him is he’s got some strength after contact to be able to break plays and get those hidden yardages, you know those yards after contact that are such hidden yards in the National Football League that are so important to sustain drives and give a chance to let your team win games.

Host (paraphrased): Will their use be situational, like the Giants have done in the past with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw?

Dominik: I think that’s the way the coaches are going to end up playing it out. And certainly the development of how fast, you know, Martin can pick it up. And certainly with LeGarrette now being here. And again, everybody’s got a fresh clean slate. Now with Greg Schiano, a new coaching staff, a new offensive coordinator very excited about the clean slate and really excited about some of the young players that have a chance to continue to step up and step through.

For those who love to read between lines, Dominik’s quotes above might satisfy you for at least a week.

Joe’s been known to examine tea leaves, and Joe finds it interesting that Dominik referenced Martin having to pick up the system — it’s new for Blount, too, and many fans allege Blount is an idiot that can’t figure out a playbook. Also, Dominik referencing the coaches’ excitement about a clean slate in a question about Blount is intriguing.

Regardless, Joe’s not worried about either one of the running backs. Joe’s concern lies in Mike Sullivan’s ability as a first-time offensive coordinator that has never called plays.

At the height of Josh Freeman’s stud season in 2010, former Bucs center Jeff Faine revealed that Freeman was a Taco Bell junkie but predicted Freeman eventually would figure out he needed to change his diet.

Presumably, Faine was not referring to Saltines and anchovies, but rather Freeman switching to veggies and lean protein over Supreme Beef Gorditas and Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes.

It seems Faine was a sound prognosticator. While Joe’s already written about how Freeman has dropped some serious weight, now rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has weighed in on the body transformation of his franchise quarterback. Dominik detailed Freeman’s motivation during an NFL.com podcast.

Dominik said Freeman wanted more flexibility in his torso and launched a new fitness regimen on his own.

“You’ve seen a guy who’s completely committed to getting his season back on track and hitting the reset button and getting his game back to hopefully to more of what we saw in 2010 as a young 22-year-old,” Dominik said Wednesday on NFL.com’s “Cover Two” podcast. “The last couple years, he’s been playing around 255-260 (pounds). Right now, he’s sitting downstairs (at the team facility) weighing about 235-238.

“He’s getting his body right, working on getting more mobility and better conditioned and buying in, heart and soul, to how and what (the newly hired) Mike Sullivan is and wants to be as offensive coordinator.”

Dominik said that Freeman’s weight loss was completely voluntary, and no coach or trainer recommended he shed weight. Dominik added that Freeman has slimmed down mainly by changing his diet.

Joe figured there was a chance Freeman was still pounding the Chalupas, but apparently that’s out the window. Joe wonders whether someone inspired Freeman. Perhaps a young lady? Perhaps Raheem Morris’ fruit obsession was a factor.

Bucs fans heard all about Ronde Barber getting a look at safety during pre-draft, voluntary minicamp.

It was largely put out there that Team Schiano was simply exploring options. Well, per rockstar general manager Mark Dominik, it seems the Bucs have reached some conclusions on the Bucs icon.

During a NFL.com podcast today, Dominik talked about the team’s depth at cornerback in the event Aqib Talib isn’t available. He referenced Barber’s flexibility and said, “if we need to make the move to pull Ronde back from safety and down to corner, we can do that in a heartbeat,” Dominik said.

That got Joe sitting up his recliner, and Joe hit the rewind button to confirm.

It sure sounds like Dominik and Team Schaino already have Barber penciled in as a starting safety. If so, it’ll be fun to watch Mark Barron and Barber build chemistry, and see the Bucs get creative moving Barber around and using Cody Grimm.

Joe is just a little concerned about Barber’s durability in a bigger run-stuffing role.

If one takes out the microscope and really, really tries hard, there was a positive thing or two to come out of last season’s grotesque 4-12 record, replete with a heinous 10-game losing streak.

(And no, getting a fifth draft pick overall was not one of them.)

One positive was flashes that Da’Quan Bowers was as good as advertised.

Bowers, thought to be an early first round pick in 2011, plummeted to the second round because of his bum knee. But with his knee healed and becoming used to play in the NFL, Bowers, at times, was dominant.

One reason the Bucs had Bowers split time with fellow defensive end Michael Bennett was that it limited Bowers’ pitch count. The less wear and tear on that bum knee, the longer Bowers can be a productive player.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune is of the mind that Bowers could be seeing more playing time because of his development.

Q: Will Da’Quan Bowers ever be the same dominating force he was in college? Can you discuss your expectations of him for the 2012 season? Will he ever fully recover?

Joseph Sims, Howard, Kan.

A: Bowers was fully recovered late last season. And it showed. He was often a dominant force as a pass rusher and run stopper late in the season and was just beginning to develop a comfort level when the year ended. I think he will prove to be a pleasant surprise for the Bucs in 2012 and beyond. He’ll likely split time with Michael Bennett again, but he’s probably going to surpass Bennett within a year or two and become the leading left end on this team.

— Woody Cummings

Well, since the Bucs have a Tom Coughlin disciple as a defensive coordinator, that tells Joe the second priority is to put heat on the quarterback, which is one reason you see new Bucs coach Greg Schiano loading up on defensive linemen.

(The first priority of the Bucs defense, to hear Adrian Clayborn tell Joe’s good friend “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, is to tackle.)

With an objective of getting a quarterback’s jersey dirty, it’s a good bet Bowers will see more playing time.

The can’t-miss Man Channel spring/summer feature, The Top-100 Players of 2012, is back for a new episode tonight at 8 p.m. when players 71-80 of the countdown will be unveiled and profiled.

Honorees are selected by the votes of NFL players only. Donald Penn checked in at No. 97 and, per Buccaneers.com, another Buccaneer will be revealed tonight.

(For those confused or slaves to Outhouse Networks, the Man Channel is NFL Network.)

Joe’s betting on Carl Nicks to grab this latest slot. Just a hunch.

It’s always a fun time watching Rays baseball at Hooters, but it gets a lot more special tonight. And it’s not just because the Rays are playing the hated Yankees.

Hooters at 4125 4th St. North in St. Pete will host an official Rays watch party, which means the Rays pregame and postgame radio crew will be there giving away all kinds of prizes and there will be food and drink specials, including $5.99 boneless wings and fries.

This is the place to be. Joe will be there enjoying all things Hooters girls, ice cold beer and baseball! The action starts at 6:30 p.m. and first pitch is 7:05 p.m.

Yesterday Joe touched upon what some Bucs fans perceive as a troubling pattern of new Bucs coach Greg Schiano signing a bunch of his ex-players from Rutgers.

Many fans brought up Steve Spurrier, who, in his only NFL coaching stint at Washington, decided to try to turn the Redskins into Gainesville north, only to see it blow up in his face.

The Spurrier analogy has also raised the antennae of Steve White. The former Bucs defensive end who appeared on the radio show of good guy Derek Fournier, “Old School” of WhatTheBuc.net fame, something called “Touch Yourself,” or some such thing heard Sunday mornings on WQYK-AM 1010.

Here, White admitted he’s trying to ignore all the Rutgers connections.

“I’m trying not to be concerned that we are targeting so many guys with personal ties to [Schiano]. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. Just because he played well for you at Rutgers doesn’t mean he will be a good NFL player. Maybe he will be, maybe [Schiano] can bring that out. But I remmber when Steve Spurrier had a former [Gators] quarterback and receivers and this guy and that guy and it didn’t work out. There is some precedence that shows that when an ex-college coach goes shopping for his ex-players in college” it doesn’t work.

Well, it’s not just his ex-players, but as White touched upon, it’s players who Schiano has personally known, whether it be players from West Virginia or Conneticut or even Leonard Johnson, who Schiano recruited out of high school. And he admits to having a strong bond with Johnson’s old high school coach at Largo, Rick Rodriguez.

It’s not just players either, but coaches. Joe’s lost count how many ex-Rutgers coaches are on the Bucs staff, not to mention Butch Davis who hired Schiano to be his defensive coordinator at Miami.

Again, Joe doesn’t believe Schiano is guilty of cronyism. What coach doesn’t surround himself with guys with whom he’s familiar or has a background with?

As for the Bucs turning into Rutgers south, well, there are 90 positions available. Most of these guys will be camp meat for this summer. If Schiano is able to push some of these guys’ buttons to be effective football players, it’s a win-win for the Bucs.

Of the 90 or so men on the Bucs roster, six are former Rutgers players, including newly signed wide receiver and former Patriots backup Tiquan Underwood. (Joe’s not including Eric LeGrand for this discusssion).

Here’s the list:

Gary Gibson DT
George Johnson DE
Derrick Roberson CB
Desmond Wynn OT
Tiquan Underwood WR
Jeremy Zuttah C

Some Bucs fans find this alarming. “Too many Rutgers players. Rutgers sucks!”

Joe finds that mindset ridiculous this early in the offseason. (Now if Ray Lucas shows up for a comeback, Joe will freak out.)

First off, Zuttah and Gibson are established professionals and were unquestionably sound and wise free-agent signings. Johnson started his career with the Bucs in early 2010. So he was already here. That leaves Roberson, Wynn and Underwood as Rutgers guys one could say are only here because the head coach trusts them.

Big deal. Joe doesn’t see this as a repeat of Steve Spurrier hauling ex-Gators, including his quarterback, to the Redskins.

A primary mission of Greg Schiano is to transform the bad habits of the Buccaneers that reached peak ugliness last season. To do that, the head coach needs players he’s sure will exemplify the practice and training habits of the New Schiano World Order. Roughly 40 percent of the current roster won’t make the team come opening day. So why not bring in a few guys that have some talent but definitely will deliver the proper work ethic and subsequently make those around them better Buccaneers?

Every coach — good and bad — does the same darn thing. Heck, Raheem Morris snatched “the driving force of our football team” from the scrap heap, a guy from his hometown and 1-AA alma mater.

Many Bucs fans were quick to knight the Bucs offensive line as one of the best in the NFL when Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik landed All-Pro guard Carl Nicks in free agency.

This allowed the Bucs to move left guard Jeremy Zuttah to center and wave goodbye to former starting center Jeff Faine.

But Evan Silva of Rotoworld.com isn’t ready to jump on the bandwagon quite yet. Though impressed with Nicks, he believes Dominik is not getting the most bang for his buck with his offensive line and barely grades the Bucs offensive line in the top third of the league at No. 10.

Overview: Meet the NFL’s most expensive O-Line. Over the past three years, the Bucs have devoted an unprecedented $168 million in combined contracts to their five starters, including this offseason’s Nicks ($47.5M) and Zuttah ($16.3M) deals. So far, the group has been overpaid. Nicks is the lone truly elite lineman, and he’s yet to play a down for Tampa. There are reasons to believe this unit is destined for a big leap, though. New coach Greg Schiano is installing a run-heavy attack, and that philosophy plays to the strengths of this power-blocking group. Nicks’ presence allows Zuttah to kick from left guard to center, turning last year’s biggest negative into a positive. The addition of a running back with power and wiggle in first-round pick Doug Martin will naturally make the blocking look better. Though not quite as good as its price tag suggests, Tampa’s offensive line was still a top 15 or 18 unit in 2011. It should be top ten in 2012.

The key to the offensive line lies with two people, both tackles: Donald Penn and Jeremy Trueblood.

Though in a NFL Network special on the Top 100 players of2012 Penn was ranked by current NFL players at No. 97, Penn seemed to become disinterested late last season, gaining weight and losing his edge as one of the dominant tackles in the NFL.

Trueblood is a pretty damned good run blocker but he struggles against the pass. Two years ago James Lee pushed him aside for a starting job and defensive ends ran past Trueblood ease.

If Penn can stay sharp all year and Trueblood can improve his pass blocking, there is no reason to believe the Bucs will struggle on the offensive line.

In between brutal workouts, embracing lubricants and watching Little Mermaid reruns, everyone’s favorite eight-figure defensive tackle took 400 of his Twitter fans to see The Avengers the other day.

The bubbly Rachel Ramirez captured all the hoopla for Buccaneers.com. Here’s the video: 

Gerald McCoy said he wanted to embrace the family atmosphere among Bucs fans. It’s the second time McCoy has taken fans to the movies; this time it was on a grander scale and more formal. As for the movie itself, McCoy is a big fand and said, “The Hulk is my man.”

No word on whether Greg Schiano issued a proper protocol for eating popcorn or insisted that the two-drink rule apply at the theater.

Joe thinks all this player-fan bonding is very cool.

Those outside the football world were of the opinion that Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik reached to draft Alabama safety Mark Barron at No. 7. Those inside of football don’t believe that is so.

Take Daniel Jeremiah for example. Who? Jeremiah is a respected former NFL scout who puts out a lot of solid football information on Twitter on a regular basis.

Jeremiah scouted for the Browns, Eagles and Ravens, and he believes that Barron is so versatile that new Bucs coach Greg Schiano to play Barron at linebacker in some formations.

@MoveTheSticks: Barron is going to be a fun toy for TB to use in their nickel package..He can cover TE’s, play LB, blitz or roam from the hash

If Jeremiah is to be believed, this explains why Dominik didn’t draft many secondary players where the Bucs are razor thin. Sounds as though Barron is a physical corner the way Jeremiah describes him.

And if Barron can play linebacker a little bit in some crazy defensive alignment, Joe simply applauds this. Imagine both Lavonte David and Barron lining up at linebacker for the Bucs?

It simply couldn’t be worse than what the Bucs trotted out there for linebackers last year.

It was Adam Caplan, a credible source who works for the Philadelphia Eagles and multiple radio outlets, who first broke the story that free agent defensive tackle Amobi Okoye signed with the Bucs.

And speaking this morning to Bobby Fenton on WDAE-AM 620, Caplan said the Bucs targeted Okoye from the opening bell of free agency and they pegged him as “a nickel pass rusher.”

That was interesting to Joe. Do the Bucs see Brian Price as more of a two-down lineman?

Then there’s the angle that new DT Gary Gibson is known as a first- and second-down guy only. Perhaps Okoye and Gibson are the complete backup plan if Price isn’t healthy.

Perhaps Joe’s just paranoid about Price’s health. But without any new information, it still feels like a longshot that Price can get back to 100 percent.

It’s always a fun time watching Rays baseball at Hooters, but it gets a lot more special on Wednesday. And it’s not just because the Rays are playing the hated Yankees.

Hooters at 4125 4th St. North in St. Pete will host an official Rays watch party, which means the Rays pregame and postgame radio crew will be there giving away all kinds of prizes and there will be food and drink specials, including $5.99 boneless wings and fries.

This is the place to be on Wednesday. Joe will be there enjoying all things Hooters girls, ice cold beer and baseball! The action starts at 6:30 p.m. and first pitch is 7:05 p.m.

The Bucs kept the dream alive for many of the guys at rookie minicamp/tryout camp last weekend. Several others were sent packing.

One of the more interesting players to stick is De’Anthony Curtis, a former running back, fullback, wide receiver and cornerback at Arkansas. Bobbby Petrino called him “the ultimate team guy.” (Insert your own joke.) Curtis also plays special teams and averaged 5.9 yards per carry for the 11-2 Razorbacks last year.

Speedster seventh round draft pick Michael Smith might have some competition. Curtis clocked a 4.36 40 yard dash.

Here are all the latest Bucs moves released today by the team.

SIGNED COLLEGE FREE AGENTS 
DE Quintin Anderson – Wagner 
S Sean Baker – Ball State 
RB De’Anthony Curtis – Arkansas 
P Eric Guthrie – Iowa 
T Jermarcus Hardrick – Nebraska 
QB Jordan Jefferson – LSU 
FB Antonio Leak – Henderson State 
DT Jordan Nix – North Carolina 
TE Danny Noble – Toledo 
C Moe Petrus – Connecticut 
DT Myles Wade – Portland State 

SIGNED VETERAN FREE AGENTS 
CB Derrick Roberson 
DE Hilee Taylor 

WAIVED 
WR Luther Ambrose 
LB Ryan Baker 
LB Mike Balogun 
QB Zach Collaros 
S Ron Girault 
C Chaz Hine 
DT Donte’e Nicholls 
T Trevor Olson 
G Chris Riley 
K Jake Rogers 
CB Quenton Washington 
T Rocky Weaver