Offense Starting To Get In Line Up Front Ira Kaufman, The Tampa Tribune, published 16 October 2006 While rookies Davin Joseph and Jeremy Trueblood enjoyed Sunday's homecoming, another young offensive lineman had reason for concern following Tampa Bay's initial victory. Second-year left guard Dan Buenning, arguably the club's most consistent lineman in 2005, was benched for much of the 14-13 triumph against Cincinnati. Sean Mahan played most of the way as Buenning stood on the sideline from the second quarter on, waiting in vain to re-enter the game. "We feel Sean is a good football player," Bucs offensive line coach Bill Muir said. "What was done was not in deference to Dan Buenning. Maybe, finally, we're starting to get some quality depth up front." Buenning, who has never missed a pro start when healthy, quickly bolted the locker room. He struggled in pass protection last week at New Orleans and was given an early hook Sunday while Trueblood and Joseph capably manned the right side of the offensive line. "I wasn't nervous at all," Joseph said after his first NFL start at right guard. "Hopefully, Jeremy and I can play together for a long time around here. I feel like I've been waiting too long. The last time I played a real game was back in December." The first-round pick out of Oklahoma missed the first three games with a sprained knee. Joseph played sparingly last week as Trueblood made his initial start at right tackle. "Nothing was given to me," Joseph said. "I had to earn my position when I got back." Trueblood followed his solid effort against the Saints with another good game as the Bucs ran for 126 yards and maintained possession for 35:07. "Davin and I played a lot together in the preseason and I'm very comfortable next to him," said Trueblood, a hulking second-round pick from Boston College. "We have our tendencies pretty much down." Trueblood and Joseph helped provide Bruce Gradkowski decent protection and both made critical blocks on a 38-yard run by Cadillac Williams that set up Tampa Bay's first score. "To be honest with you, it's not much I did," Williams said of his third-quarter burst. "It was a misdirection play. Trueblood and Davin cut out the back side." Veteran center John Wade was impressed with Tampa Bay's young guns as the Bucs snapped Cincinnati's eight-game winning streak against NFC opponents. "They both played well and showed how hard they worked in the spring to be ready for this moment," Wade said. "They both have the physical skills to play in this league, and they are doing very well in the mental aspect of the game, too." Assistant offensive line coach Aaron Kromer suggested Sunday's joint effort was only the start of a beautiful relationship. "It's Game 5 for us, but really Game 1 for Davin," Kromer said. "He's physical, he's nasty, he's strong and he'll only get better. I thought Jeremy was very solid again at right tackle."