Spotlight on offensive line |

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LAKE BUENA VISTA — Hide the preseason magazines. Disconnectthe cable. Plug the ear holes in their helmets. Try anything tokeep the Bucs' offensive line from catching wind of all the nicethings being said about it.
Talk about expectations.
By nature, offensive linemen prefer to work in the shadows. Morethan any other position, their success depends on the guy next tothem. Wins and losses are their only statistic.
"The last thing you want to do is let these guys get their ownpress agents and have their own world of compliments," coach JonGruden said. "We like to yell at them and keep them normal. They'reregular guys, and they get no credit for anything."
But lately, the offensive line has been getting more ink than JeffFaine's arms.
Faine became the highest-paid center in NFL history when he leftthe Saints to sign a six-year, $37-million deal with the Bucs inFebruary.
At 27, he is the newest and oldest member of a group that includesDavin Joseph, 24, Arron Sears, 23, Jeremy Trueblood, 25 and DonaldPenn, 25.
"On paper, we look good," Joseph said. "We're young, aggressive,smart guys; all kind of cut from the same mold.
"We don't like to lose. We love to win. If we can avoid injuries,if we can play consistently, we can be as good as we want to be."
On the field, the offensive line was, at times, dominant. Tampa Bayfinished 11th in the NFL in rushing offense at 117 yards per gamedespite losing running backs Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittmanto injuries.
But like many young linemen, they struggled a bit in passprotection. Their 36 sacks allowed tied for 14th most — whichisn't bad unless you consider that scrambling quarterback JeffGarcia avoided many others.
Certainly, the Bucs' investment of high draft picks on theoffensive line appears to be paying off. Joseph, a 6-foot-3,313-pound right guard taken 23rd overall in 2006, has plenty ofability. But like many of his linemates, he has lacked theconsistency to be considered a Pro Bowl player.
"This year I think will be my year," Joseph said. "Of course, I'mbeing optimistic. But consistency is our biggest challenge. Someweeks, we'd run for 200 and something yards against a stellardefense and the next week we'd go on the road and really struggle."
Sears, a 6-3, 319-pound left tackle from Tennessee, was asecond-round pick last year and started all 17 games, playing witha sprained ankle in the playoff loss to the Giants.
Several NFL scouts believe Sears has even more upside than Josephand could beat his teammate to Hawaii.
"I liked several things. The No. 1 thing was his unflappability asa rookie getting thrown in the action," offensive line coach BillMuir said. "I think the other thing was he's so fundamentallysound. Obviously, that's a credit to the Tennessee footballprogram. He has great instincts for the game. He just gets it. "
Of course, Muir knows how expectations can disappear like a bag ofKrystal burgers in his meeting room.
"It's still a work in progress," he said. "Obviously, you can talkabout potential and talent, but we've got to do it on the field."
Off the field, there already is a bond that will be tough to break.Joseph and Trueblood, a tackle who was drafted in the second roundfrom Boston College in 2005, have been inseparable since startingas rookies. During the offseason, Trueblood cut out the friedfoods, trimmed up and shaved his hair into a mohawk that's growingout again.
When the season ended, he said he was bummed that there were nomore games to prepare for. Clearly, that guy gets it, too.
The unheralded one is left tackle Donald Penn, who was undraftedand spent a year on the Vikings' practice squad. He took over inWeek 4 after Luke Petitgout's knee injury.
"The thing that impresses me with these guys, at a really, reallyyoung age, they're really mature from an NFL standard," Faine said."Sometimes I have to take a step back and really appreciate thatthey're playing so well and doing it at a young age.
"They're talking so good about us, so there's going to be a lot ofpressure from other defensive lines and defenses that are so-calledbetter offensive lines."
Now if only they can block out the applause.

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