TAMPA - Michael Bennett lit up the preseason, running 45 times for a team best 203 yards and catching 10 passes for 52 more.

His reward for that outstanding effort? It looks like it will be a seat on the bench.

Though plenty could change between now and kickoff for Sunday’s opener at New Orleans, Bennett doesn’t see himself getting much playing time against the Saints.

In fact, he’s under the impression right now that he may not even dress for that game.

“You know [you’re not going to play] when you got to practice and basically get no reps or nothing,’’ Bennett said Wednesday.

Bennett said he believes the Bucs plan is to dress two tailbacks (Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn) and two fullbacks (B.J. Askew and Byron Storer).
If that proves to be the case the Bucs will be without the player who was easily their most productive during the preseason. That’s nothing new.

For years Graham dominated the preseason and then sat when the regular season got going. Unless Graham or Dunn gets hurt, Bennett may do the same.

In another offensive notE of interest, Ike Hillaird said plans call for Antonio Bryant to start at flanker opposite Joey Galloway on Sunday.

Hilliard started 10 of the 15 games he played last year but he and the other flanker candidates are likely to get plenty of playing time.
The Bucs make regular use of three and sometimes even four wide receiver sets so Hilliard, Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall will all get their share of work.