LG Zuttah working with first-team line

Second-year offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah, who started five games last season, said Tuesday he is working with the first-team offensive line during OTAs in place of returning starter Arron Sears.

"I'm working with the 1s right now," said Zuttah, who has focused in on left guard after learning all five line positions as a rookie.

This week's voluntary practices are closed to the media, but when asked if Sears was working with the team, Zuttah said he was not. It's unknown whether Sears' absence is injury-related or not.

"He's not here. We can't worry about who's not here," Zuttah said. "I'm just trying to go where I'm at. If I'm in, I'm in there."

Zuttah, who played in 12 games last season as a rookie, said he has dropped about eight pounds and now weighs 295 pounds, which helps in the Bucs' new zone-blocking scheme. Zuttah worked in a similar system at Rutgers and said the scheme suits his strengths as a lineman.

"I like it. They like the quick, athletic linemen for that scheme, and I feel like I fit very well into it," he said.

HOMETOWN BREAKOUT?: With each practice, it seems a new name arises as a potential breakout receiver behind proven veterans Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton. First-year tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts has been impressed with what he's seen from Brian Clark, a Chamberlain grad who caught one pass in nine games with the Bucs last season.

Roberts has known Clark since his high school days, having recruited him while working as an assistant at Florida Atlantic. Clark wound up at N.C. State, but in the past month of OTAs, Roberts has been reminded of why he liked him.

"He's the consummate pro," Roberts said. "He's shown a lot of promise. Early on, he's been diligent in working and finishing plays and making at least one wild play a day. He can absolutely get in (the mix)."

-- Greg Auman, Times staff writer

Comments

[Joe]

Greg,

Can you please find out what's up with Sears?

[Tom]

I am not completely shocked. I have been saying since last year that Sears is a bit of a disappointment. All the experts say that he has Pro Bowl talent and was expecting a break out year last year. But if you watch the film, Sears gets beat quite a bit in pass protection.

Davin Joseph and Faine are the real deal.

[Kurt]

I am not surprised with Zuttah and the first team, but I would have guessed he'd take Trueblood's place. He's the weak spot. Sears played well.

[Dspkable]

I like hearing that guys are rotating in with the first team starters, it means they need are trying to determine the depth at the position. Where Sears is though....that won't worry me until later this summer. I certainly am not counting him out as a starter because of one day of practice in June.

[ref813]

All but one of his starts last year were at right guard, so it may be Joseph who they should consider sitting or moving. That's hard to say given that he made the Pro Bowl last year. Maybe, he should go to LG and Zuttah should play RG. The line seemed better with Zuttah in. I was hoping it was Sears he was replacing, but it was Joseph as I thought. I had hoped he could bulk up a bit and compete at one of the T spots. If Joseph is better in zone and the Ts are pretty good, our line could be even better this year. I just don't know how a guy as good as Zuttah can sit. Someone said he lacked run-blocking strength. If you check the running stats from the games he started, they were very good. He played for Rutgers back when they had a strong running attack, too. I think that person was either misinformed or a poor evaluator.

[OAR]

The otherside of the ball is what concerns me.

[Vince]

Sear is recovering from injury.

[Vince]

First Stroud reports that the Bucs (despite an obvious youth movement) are interested in M. Harrison. Then Stroud chastises the readers (or twitters) for believing his report. Now, the Times reports the competition at guard, but does not mention that Sears is recovering from injury (reported by Pewter Report several days ago).

Way to go Times! Good stuff as usual.

[Itch]

I like to see some talent emering for the third reciever slot. Stroughter, Campbell and Clark sound like they are opening some eyes. A good lesser known reciever could have a big year as opposing Ds will focus on Bryant, Winslow, and Stevens. And they have to respect the running game. The third reciever could be the real benefactor. I would like to hear more depth on the reciever battles and skills.

We have a pretty good line, and some depth for rotation and injury. I think we will see a lot of running this year. Depth at the line and RB should make for a powerful running game.

[Drew]

Vince,

You didn't do that, did you! You promoted another website. Rick Stroud will hunt you down and banish you for life.

Rick,

Please show a little mercy. Vince is a good guy, a little misled, but a good guy.

[Drew]

This is how the Public is manipulated by the Media. A classic example is Orson Wells War of the Worlds broadcast. People actually committed suicide during the broadcast.

Moral of the story: Don't read too much into what you read.

[OAR]

Well, it's like Kellen Jr. says, "It is what it is."

[kris]

Proven veteran Michael Clayton?!?!?!?

Ahhhh hahahahaha... That's a good one

[Itch]

Drew. Seems like the moral of your story is that people are idoits.

[Itch]

I think Clayton is going to have a good year, he may actually get thrown to more often (as long as he catches it). He will be a surprise. He was a role player under Gruden, he might get freed up this year.

[twan]

Every week i see another article that says Michael Clayton is a proven veteran or a playmaker. He hasn't been a playmaker since his rookie season. Tired of hearing about a guy in almost every article who has accomplished nothing

[BucFandango]

Steve DUImig is reporting Sears has a concussion. I hope Aqib Talib isn't behind this. Not again...

[The Infamous Me]

Drew, don't hold your breath. The only way Stroud will find Vince is if another writer has already written about the way to his house. If not, chances are a lot better Stroud will make up an adress of his own and completely miss the mark.

[DR]

Man, you guys like to rip these reporters for no reason.
Anybody who would off their selves because of what they heard on the radio did the world a favor.
Let's not forget that these reporters are often misinformed by the players and coaches and report what they are told. As for the other sites, who gives a crap what they write. This is the St. Pete Times blog.

[Vince]

DR, the St. Pete Times is having a tough enough time already. Don't make it worse by becoming their spokesperson.

[Drew]

Itch, not at all. Just saying some people are easily misled by what they read. Having a tendency to over react without reading between the lines.

[Drew]

Vince, I wasn't implying you're easily misled. The point you and others are making are valid responses to this and other articles.

[OAR]

Just read the Bucs are very concerned with Sears. He has some sort of neuorlogical problem and has not been cleared medically to practice. This might be a huge problem.

[OAR]

Spin-DR, you never let me down. Now it's ok for the coaches and players to misinform(lie to) the media. You dogged the old regime for this. Go away and root for your Boys'.

[ref813]

That report didn't sound very promising. He may never play again. We'll see. We still have Mahan who is an adequate back-up. They better start training some of the back-up Ts to move inside just in case.

[Kurt]

If Sears does have some neurological problem, that is really sad. I hope for him the best. I am glad however, that our last coach was wise enough to realize that this game is won in the trenches. By understanding that, he made sure a high draft pick was on a lineman in every draft and our O-line has a solid starting unit and the proven backups to "back-up" this statement. If we lose Sears, it really will be a setback, but Zuttah is a solid replacement who can start in the NFL. Hmmm, did we draft a replacement for him this year? Didn't think so. More proof that the current regime doesn't understand the importance of the trenches and looking ahead to the future. I'm just sayin'...