The 2010 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 35th in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Raheem Morris. The Buccaneers entered the season attempting to improve on their 3–13 record and last place finish in the NFC South in 2009, a feat they accomplished after only six games. The Buccaneers achieved the best turnaround in franchise history and became the first team since the NFL merger in 1970 to start 10 rookies and achieve a winning season. Raheem Morris spent his second season as head coach. The Buccaneers had the third overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft, with which they selected Gerald McCoy.
John McKay, the team's first head coach, became the second inductee into the Ring of Honor on December 5 during a game against Atlanta. McKay's son Rich, a former Buccaneers general manager, and current president of the Falcons, accepted the award for his late father. The Buccaneers wore throwback uniforms for the Falcons game.
Despite finishing the season with a 10–6 record (a seven-game improvement from the year before), the team failed to sell out any of its home games at Raymond James Stadium, and narrowly missed the playoffs. It is the second NFL stadium that failed to sell out any of the team's home games; the first stadium was Sun Devil Stadium back in 2005. This was the team's last winning season until the 2016 season.
Offseason
Personnel changes Alex Van Pelt joined the team as quarterbacks coach, taking the role over from Greg Olson so that he could concentrate on the offensive coordinator role. Eric Yarber joined the team as wide receivers coach, taking the role over from Richard Mann who left the team. Robert Nunn left the team leaving Todd Wash with the sole responsibility for the defensive line. Joe Baker moved from defensive backs coach to linebackers, taking the role over from Joe Barry who left the team. Jimmy Lake became defensive backs coach. Tim Holt joined the team as an offensive assistant coach. Chris Mosley became a defensive assistant coach, moving from the position of assistant offensive line coach.
Roster changes
Free agents Brian Clark WR – UFA – Signed with Detroit Lions in free agency Antonio Bryant WR – UFA – Signed with Cincinnati Bengals in free agency Matt McCoy OLB – UFA – Signed with Seattle Seahawks in free agency Will Allen FS – UFA – Signed with Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency Angelo Crowell OLB – UFA – Re-signed with Buccaneers Jermaine Phillips SS – UFA Jimmy Wilkerson DE – UFA – Signed with New Orleans Saints in free agency Donald Penn OT – RFA – Tendered 1st and 3rd – Resigned on first morning of training camp to 5-year deal. Barrett Ruud ILB – RFA – Tendered 1st and 3rd – Re-signed with Buccaneers Carnell Williams RB – RFA – Tendered 1st – Re-signed with Buccaneers Jeremy Trueblood OT – RFA – Tendered 2nd – Re-signed with Buccaneers Mark Bradley WR – RFA – Tendered 2nd – Re-signed with Buccaneers Maurice Stovall WR – RFA – Tendered 3rd – Re-signed with Buccaneers Rod Wilson OLB – Untendered RFA – Signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on 17 August Byron Storer FB – Untendered RFA – Taken place on Buccaneers coaching staff as assistant special teams coach, forced to retire due to injuries Clifton Smith RB – ERFA – Re-signed with Buccaneers Elbert Mack CB – ERFA – Re-signed with Buccaneers
Releases
Clifton Smith RB Derrick Ward RB B. J. Askew FB Mark Bradley WR Reggie Brown WR Michael Clayton WR Terrence Nunn WR Mario Urrutia WR Martin Rucker TE – Failed physical, released day after he signed Marc Dile OT
Xavier Fulton OT Shawn Murphy G Arron Sears G Donovan Raiola C Chris Hovan DT Dre Moore DT Maurice Evans DE Carlton Powell DE Angelo Crowell OLB Lee Robinson OLB
Brandon Anderson CB Torrie Cox CB Derrick Roberson CB Trae Williams CB Stoney Woodson CB Emanuel Cook SS De'von Hall FS Josh Bidwell P Dirk Johnson P Sam Paulescu P
Signings
Sean Jones SS Jon Alston OLB Keydrick Vincent G
Kregg Lumpkin RB Ted Larsen C/G Carlton Powell DE
Donovan Raiola C Martin Rucker TE Trae Williams CB
Trades Reggie Brown WR – Traded from the Philadelphia Eagles for a 6th round pick in 2011 draft
Cut during season Jerramy Stevens TE – Cut on October 25 after he was arrested for possession of cannabis with intent to sell. Keydrick Vincent Sabby Piscitelli Ryan Sims Chris Pressley
2010 draft class
After finishing the 2009 season with a record of 3–13, the Buccaneers picked third. The Buccaneers also had an additional second round pick from a trade that sent the late defensive end Gaines Adams to the Chicago Bears, a fifth round pick from the New England Patriots in a trade that sent tight end Alex Smith to the Patriots, and two additional seventh round picks; one from the Jacksonville Jaguars for quarterback Luke McCown, and one from the Baltimore Ravens for defensive end Marques Douglas. The Buccaneers traded their 2010 fifth-round selection and a 2009 second-round selection to the Browns for TE Kellen Winslow II.
+ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2010 NFL Draft selections Draft order Player name Position Height Weight College Contract Notes Round Choice Overall 1 3 3 Gerald McCoy Defensive tackle Oklahoma 2 3 35 Brian Price Defensive tackle UCLA 7 39 Arrelious Benn Wide receiver Illinois From Oakland Raiders 10 42Traded to Oakland along with the 134rd pick for the 39th pick. Originally acquired from the Chicago Bears 3 3 67 Myron Lewis Cornerback Vanderbilt 4 3 101 Mike Williams Wide receiver Syracuse 5 3 134Traded to the Cleveland Browns along with a 2009 2nd round pick for Kellen Winslow II 22 153Traded to Oakland along with the 42nd pick for the 39th pick. Originally from the New England Patriots 6 3 172 Brent Bowden Punter Virginia Tech 7 3 210 Cody Grimm Safety Virginia Tech 10 217 Dekoda Watson Linebacker Florida State From Jacksonville Jaguars for Luke McCown 18 225Traded to the Denver Broncos their 2011 5th round pick. 25 232 46 253 Erik Lorig Defensive end Stanford
Undrafted free agents After the draft many of the players that went unpicked are signed by teams to fill out their rosters and create competition for places on the roster. These undrafted free agents have a long shot of making the team for the start of the regular season but there have been some notable recent Buccaneer success stories such as Clifton Smith and Elbert Mack. The following were signed after the draft as first year players.
Jevan Snead QB – Released Carlos Brown RB – Released LeGarrette Blount RB – Claimed off waivers after roster cuts, on 53 man roster Rendrick Taylor FB – Released Damola adeniji wr – Released Shawn moore wr – Released Dezmon Briscoe WR – Practice squad Chris Brooks WR – Released Preston Parker WR – Made initial 53 man roster Jeron Mastrud TE – Released Will Barker OT – Practice Squad Derek Hardman OT – Practice Squad Rob okeafor ot – Released James williams ot – Released Lee grimes og – Released Sergio Render OG – Released Vladimir Richard OG – Released Michael shumard og – Released Jeff Tow-Arnett C – Released Matt featherston de – Released Brandon gilbeaux de – Placed on Injury Reserve George Johnson DE – Practice Squad James Ruffin DE – Released Rico McCoy OLB – Released Darrell pasco cb – Released Dennis rogan fs – Released Matt O'Hanlon SS – Waived due to injury Vince Anderson SS – Released Hunter Lawrence K – Released Chris Bryan P – Claimed off waivers after roster cuts, on 53 man roster Chris mauriello ls – Released
Staff 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff Front office Owner/President – Malcolm Glazer Co-Chairman – Bryan Glazer Co-Chairman – Edward Glazer Co-Chairman – Joel Glazer General manager – Mark Dominik Director of college scouting – Dennis Hickey Director of football administration – Digger Daley
Head coaches Head coach – Raheem Morris Associate head coach/special teams coordinator – Richard Bisaccia Assistant to the head coach – Jay Kaiser
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Greg Olson Quarterbacks – Alex Van Pelt Running backs – Steve Logan Wide receivers – Eric Yarber Assistant wide receivers – Tim Berbenich Tight ends – Alfredo Roberts Offensive line – Pete Mangurian Assistant offensive line – Tim Holt Defensive coaches Defensive line – Todd Wash Assistant defensive line – Chris Mosley Linebackers – Joe Baker Defensive backs – Jimmy Lake Assistant defensive backs – Dwayne Stukes
Special teams coaches Assistant special teams – Byron Storer
Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – Kurt Shultz Assistant strength and conditioning – Chris Meenan
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason The Buccaneers preseason schedule was announced on March 31, 2010.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 14 at Miami Dolphins L 7–10 0–1 Sun Life Stadium Recap 2 August 21 Kansas City Chiefs W 20–15 1–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 3 August 28 Jacksonville Jaguars L 13–19 1–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 September 2 at Houston Texans W 24–17 2–2 Reliant Stadium Recap
Regular season The Buccaneers' schedule was announced on April 20, 2010.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 Cleveland Browns W 17–14 1–0 Raymond James Stadium Recap 2 September 19 at Carolina Panthers W 20–7 2–0 Bank of America Stadium Recap 3 September 26 Pittsburgh Steelers L 13–38 2–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 Bye 5 October 10 at Cincinnati Bengals W 24–21 3–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 6 October 17 New Orleans Saints L 6–31 3–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 7 October 24 St. Louis Rams W 18–17 4–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 8 October 31 at Arizona Cardinals W 38–35 5–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 9 November 7 at Atlanta Falcons L 21–27 5–3 Georgia Dome Recap 10 November 14 Carolina Panthers W 31–16 6–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap 11 November 21 at San Francisco 49ers W 21–0 7–3 Candlestick Park Recap 12 November 28 at Baltimore Ravens L 10–17 7–4 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 13 December 5 Atlanta Falcons L 24–28 7–5 Raymond James Stadium Recap 14 December 12 at Washington Redskins W 17–16 8–5 FedExField Recap 15 December 19 Detroit Lions L 20–23 8–6 Raymond James Stadium Recap 16 December 26 Seattle Seahawks W 38–15 9–6 Raymond James Stadium Recap 17 January 2 at New Orleans Saints W 23–13 10–6 Louisiana Superdome Recap
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers began the 2010 season against the Browns. In the first quarter, Jake Delhomme completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Mohamed Massaquoi for a 7–0 lead. Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth made a 49-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 7–3. In the second quarter, the Browns increased their lead with a Peyton Hillis touchdown run. Josh Freeman completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams for a 14–10 halftime score.
The Buccaneers took the lead in the fourth quarter with Freeman's second touchdown pass, this time to Micheal Spurlock. The Buccaneers held the Browns scoreless in the second half and won their first opening day game since 2005.
Week 2: at Carolina Panthers
The Buccaneers took a 7–0 lead after a 14-yard touchdown pass from Josh Freeman to Earnest Graham. Carolina tied answered with Matt Moore completing a 37-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith. Tampa Bay scored a 35-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams to take a 14–7 lead into half time. Connor Barth scored two field goals in the second half, and Tampa Bay won 20–7.
The Buccaneers defense dominated Carolina, holding Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams to 43 and 54 yards rushing, respectively. Matt Moore completed only 6 of 16 passes with one interception, while being sacked four times. Moore was benched in favor of rookie Jimmy Clausen, who was unable to rally the Panthers. Josh Freeman passed for 178 yards and two touchdowns. With the win, Tampa Bay improved to 2–0.
Week 3: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers