Defensive line is in the spotlight

TAMPA - In two days time, Buccaneers Head Coach Greg Schiano will make his NFL debut.

Good news:  It’s a rehearsal game against the Dolphins.

We were hoping to get a rundown of how he planned on divvying up playing time, but Schiano wouldn't divulge his plan.

He has one, and emphasized he won’t vary from it, no matter how the game goes.

Schiano said today that the hardest hurdle he faces Friday night is making sure there are 11 men on the field.

He wants to give everyone a look, a fair chance to make this team.

Schiano has gone so far as to limit the type plays the offense will run as well as the defensive scheme.

He wants no excuses when reviewing the tape.  Whatever offense they run or the defense they play, ALL players should know their assignments.

Word we get from down in Miami is the Dolphins want to make a good first impression under new head coach Joe Philbin.

The starters may be given more playing time than what the Bucs have planned on their end.

I would have to believe that their players are as sore and tired as the Bucs players are at this point in camp.

Actually, from my experiences covering training camp, I’ve been more accustomed to seeing players “hit the wall” a week or two down the road.

In any case, here’s what I’ll be looking for on Friday night.

For those of you that followed me through the years, I usually pick one or two areas the first exhibition game, areas I believe need improvement from a year ago.

That leads me directly to the defensive line.

I am looking for the front four to put pressure on Fins QBs David Garrard, Matt Moore and Ryan Tannehill.

Pressure has been a sore subject for years with the Bucs' front four.

Personally, I believe they will upgrade their status at some point this season.

If that doesn’t happen, well, ... precious time for what I expect to be a potent Bucs offense will be lost, and so will games.

Outside of the defensive line, all I look at is how the team flows.

From the coaches calling plays, to platoon of players, to penalties.

I want to see how Coach Schiano and his staff work.

I also want to see, as tired as some of these players are, minimizing costly penalties that plagued them a year ago.

That’s it.

Not worried about Josh Freeman, or the RB battle between Blount and Martin, or the third receiver battle.

I’m comfortable with all those areas right now.  My focus is on the defense, and the front four.

Looking forward to Friday night.  Big night for the new-look Bucs.