Q: Roy, how is Ben Troupe doing in camp? Will he be playing in any of the preseason games?
- Calvin Jones, Nashville
A: Ben Troupe missed a couple days with a concussion and is now nursing a sore foot. Looks like he’ll miss this weekend’s exhibition against New England. He should return for next week’s game against Jacksonville, but there’s no guarantee of that.

Q: In the backup QB race, it looks as if Griese is entrenched and Johnson almost has to be kept based on his potential. This leaves Simms and McCown. Who stays and who goes? Would it be a mistake to let Simms go? McCown could never hurt us on another team, but Simms just might. Your thoughts???
- BigBucFan, Sarasota
A: I’m not sure that McCown could never hurt the Bucs playing for another team. He’s very athletic and if he ever figures out how to sense the rush he’s going to be dangerous. I still think he wins the backup job out of camp, but who plays behind him is really anyone’s guess. The Bucs won’t take a chance on placing Johnson on the practice squad, but I’m not sure they can afford to keep him as a third. My guess is that Simms goes, but he hasn’t played any worse than anyone else. This is clearly the most difficult decision the Bucs will have to make when it comes time to cut the roster down. Because of that I think they’ll wait until the last minute to make a move and hope the move is made for them ... if you know what I mean.

Q: Hey Roy, thanks for letting me pick your football brain for a minute. I’ve been wondering how Paris Warren is doing after the bad injury he suffered last preseason?
- Rocky, St. Petersburg
A: My pleasure; now, as for Paris, he hasn’t really had all that impressive of a camp. He does appear to be healthy, but he really hasn’t exploded onto the scene the way Jon Gruden likes. The Bucs are expecting him to shine brighter in games but he’s only got three more chances and the pack of players ahead of him has been very impressive.

Q: Roy, what has been holding Maurice Stovall back from really making an impact? Is it route running, dropped passes, something else?
- Joseph C. White, Port Charlotte
A: I think Maurice just needed a little more time to adjust to the NFL. He needed to pay a little more attention to details such as route running and that kind of thing and now that he’s done that he seems fine. He also seems a lot more confident.

Q: Roy, with Jeff Garcia inching ever closer to the Big 4-0, Tampa should probably be thinking about who’s next. So, is that guy already on the payroll, or are we still looking? McCown, maybe?
- Shawn Golan, Los Angeles
A: You’ve got to say at this point that McCown is the QB of the future here. Josh Johnson is probably next on that list, but he has a long ways to go to be an NFL caliber player. You also have to factor in the fact that Jon Gruden’s offense is best run by an experienced player. It doesn’t have to be a 35-year-old veteran but something along those lines is what usually works best for him. Having said that, the Bucs QB of the future is probably a player who will be cut sometime between now and the start of free agency next year.

Q: Didn’t the Cowboys release WR Terry Glenn? Although he has had a couple of knee surgeries, what’s the likelihood of him coming to the Bucs? If so, will that be a wise move? Thanks.
- Ray, Houston, TX
A: We have asked several times about Terry Glenn, and the response has always been rather cool. I really don’t get the sense the Bucs are interested. I’m not sure what it is the Bucs don’t like about Glenn, but I have a hard time believing he’ll be a Buc.

Q: How do you think Dexter Jackson is panning out, and what is his most likely role? Also, who do you think our top two tight ends are right now? Thanks!
- Sean, Orlando
A: Dexter Jackson is having a nice camp. He should be an option in the return game, and if he does that the Bucs will work with him on his receiving skills. The problem is that he’s very small, so he’ll have to work outside the numbers. The Bucs will have to come up with some plays that are designed specifically for him. By that I mean they will have to come up with plays that get him into situations in which he can excel. He’s not going to win any physical battles, but if the Bucs can get the ball in his hands in an open area and let him use his legs, he can be a weapon.

Q: I know Jon Gruden has said good things about C Jeff Faine, but could that be partly because they paid him so much to come here? Have you seen a lot to think that he’s going to make the difference that the Bucs seem to expect?
- Kevin, Peachtree City, GA
A: As far as Faine is concerned, I’ll put it this way: I haven’t seen anything that makes me think he won’t be an impact player. He’s an upgrade over John Wade, who was a darned good center. He works well with the two guards here and he’s mean. When a guy like Chris Hovan hates playing against you, that’s a sign you’re pretty good.

Q: What’s happened with Eugene Wilson? The guy played for a championship team, but looked like a rookie out there some of the time against the Dolphins. I know he’s changing positions, but he may only be good at safety.
- ref813, Memphis
A: Wilson has not had a particularly impressive camp. It may be that he’s pacing himself, but I have heard that he was barely hanging on to his job in New England for several years before being let go. I doubt that he gets cut in the end but he definitely has to step his game up to keep pace with the younger DBs. My regards to the Mid-South and Beale Street.

Q: The Bucs sure took a lot of heat for picking up Jerramy Stevens, but he seems to be at least saving his actions for the field now. What’s your take, Roy? Do you think he’ll end up being a distraction? To me, it seems so far, so good.
- Andy, New Orleans
A: As long as Jerramy Stevens stays out of trouble and plays hard he will not be a distraction. One thing to keep in mind with him is that all the information that came out about him this past offseaason was well in his past. He’s not real happy that all of his past mistakes are dredged up again, but that’s what happens. Those things tend to follow you.

Q: What have coaches said so far about Aqib Talib’s development and do you think he will challenge Buchanon for a starting spot any time this year?
- Khedric, Orlando
A: Buchanon’s contract is up after this year so it’s possible Talib takes over for him very soon. My guess, though, is that the Bucs will stick with Buchanon at least through this year. As long as Buchanon is playing well the Bucs can take their time and develop Talib. That’s probably the best approach.

Q: Roy, I hear great things about the O-line, but I am concerned about the defensive line. They are on their 4th coach in 4 years. Outside of Gaines Adams, they haven’t invested many high picks on the line, and I am not sure that he is going to live up to being the 4th overall pick.  If you can’t beat out Kevin Carter, how good can you be?  Is the line the weakest unit on the defensive side?  Are we going to see more blitzes from linebackers and safeties to produce pressure?
- Niraj, Newark, DE
A: Well, we did see a lot of blitzes against the Dolphins, didn’t we? I know for sure that Monte Kiffin would rather not blitz and my gut tells me he wont’ have to. I think Adams will be fine and I think the Bucs D-line will really hum once Jovan Haye gets back in there. I;m a little concerned about Greg White’s ability to make a go of it on the left side but I believe the Bucs have done a good job adding pieces to the line. Jimmy Wilkerson and Marques Douglas are not slouches. They’ll push others to be their best.