POSTED 7:06 a.m. EDT, August 1, 2006

PFT PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS:  NO. 10

We return to the process of listing the 32 NFL franchises from bottom to top by realizing that . . . we've still got to do ten more of these damn things.

So here's the first step in the final ascent to the top of the heap.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs were surprisingly strong in 2005, winning one of the toughest divisions in the league. 

But how?  The offensive line is average, at the absolute best.  The quarterback is average, at the absolute best.  Rookie running back Cadillac Williams was great out of the gates but then took a step back after missing two games due to injury.

Receiver Joey Galloway was an unexpected bright spot in the passing game, and the defense continues to be solid, if not the dominant unit that helped transform the franchise from chronic laughingstock into perennial contender.

The team doesn't look to be much better, or much worse, in 2006.  Chris Simms is the clear-cut starter, even if it's only for a year.  Williams is still young, and his legs are fresh.  The offensive line added a couple of bodies, but won't be confused with the Cowboys of the early 1990s.

The most intriguing newcomer is receiver David Boston.  Once one of the top receivers in the game, Boston has been trying for the past few years to recapture the form that landed him a huge contract with the Chargers.  Galloway is still fast enough to draw double coverage, so Boston could see plenty of balls this year.

Are we blown away by the roster?  No.  But coach Jon Gruden is one of the best in the business, and he'll routinely put the team in position to overachieve.

Still, even if they overachieve in 2006, they'll do about what they did in 2005 -- a berth in the playoffs, and a relatively quick exit.

Now for the fantasy grades.

Quarterback:  Chris Simms is another guy who'll be drafted higher in most leagues than he should, due to name recognition.  At best, he's a guy we'd pick up as a No. 2, in the event that his numbers take off.  He gets a C.

Running back:  Cadillac Williams was the hot rookie with the cool name in September.  The full season showed that he was solid, not spectacular.  He gets a B.

Receiver:  Joey Galloway is a name that many owners might overlook.  But he's still good for well over 1,000 yards and as many as 10 touchdowns.  He'd be a great No. 2 receiver on a fantasy team.

Tight end:  Alex Smith looked to be the darling of the rookie class with two touchdowns in the 2005 regular-season opener at Minnesota.  Over the next 15 games, he had . . . none.  The team's decision to move rookie wideout Maurice Stovall to tight end (as reported by our friends at PewterReport.com) could be the end of the line for Anthony Becht, who averaged 1.0 catches per game in his first year with Tampa.

Defense:  Still one of the elite units in the NFL.  They get an A-.

Kicker:  Ranked near the bottom in total points for kickers, Matt Bryant doesn't figure to get many more opportunities in 2006.  We give him a D.