Zuttah Will Add Depth To Bucs' Line Third-round draft choice Jeremy Zuttah is heading to training camp this summer to compete for a backup position on Tampa Bay's offensive line. And for Bucs fans, that's rather encouraging news. Zuttah, who graduated from Rutgers in only 31/2 years, projects as a reserve in 2008, backing up young guards Davin Joseph and Arron Sears and veteran center Jeff Faine, signed from New Orleans in the early stages of free agency. It wasn't long ago that any offensive lineman drafted in the early rounds by Tampa Bay would be expected to challenge for a starting spot. Times, and talent, have changed. A long-overdue blueprint for building a solid offensive line through the draft began in 2005. Since then, the Bucs have restocked up front by selecting five linemen within the first three rounds, with Sears, Joseph and right tackle Jeremy Trueblood each earning a starting spot. "It's a commitment that needed to be made," Jon Gruden said. "Heck, the No. 1 pick in the draft this year Jake Long is an offensive lineman. They're not available in free agency for the most part - you've got to draft these guys." By making their offensive line a priority in the past four drafts, the Bucs didn't feel compelled to use another premium pick up front last weekend. But the more they examined Zuttah as a potential pro, the more they were convinced he represented a value pick at No. 83. Zuttah started 40 games for Rutgers and provided many of the key blocks for 2,012-yard rusher Ray Rice last fall. He was a powerful presence at right tackle the past two seasons and his versatility made a distinct impression on Tampa Bay scouts and coaches. "We dress only seven offensive linemen on Sundays and if you're not a starter, you'd better be able to put your finger in a lot of leaks," said Bucs line coach Bill Muir. "Jeremy first caught our attention in the East-West game and the more tape we watched, the more we liked his physical, aggressive play." At 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds, Zuttah appears slightly undersized to play tackle at the NFL level, but he didn't yield a sack in his final two college seasons and was rarely overpowered at the line of scrimmage. "It was a lot of fun to coach him," said Kyle Flood, Zuttah's position coach at Rutgers. "Jeremy's very durable and the kid never even missed a practice. He's a perfectionist in everything he does and I know Bill Muir will bring out the best in him." The 21-year-old economics major is eager to join a young, emerging offensive line that helped the Bucs win an NFC South title in 2007. "Coach Muir asked me some tough questions at the NFL combine and I answered them. ... I think I impressed him a little," Zuttah said. "It's a privilege to play in this league and they wanted to make sure they got the right guy." Zuttah worked out at center during this weekend's rookie minicamp, but he's smart enough to know he will also get a long look at guard. He's smart, period. "Intelligence is one thing - football intelligence is another," Gruden said. "Zuttah can play center, guard or tackle and he loves football. Once you meet him, you see a guy who's all business. He wants to be a pro and he has professional traits. I look at him as a tenacious guy with position flexibility." The average SAT score at Rutgers is 1,300, according to Flood, and Zuttah treated his heavy academic workload as another opponent to be pancaked. "Believe me, it wasn't easy," he said of his accelerated graduation date. "I don't want to say that I put football ahead of academics, but it was something I felt I needed to do to get ready for the next level of football. Now I feel I'm ready for this challenge." Ira Kaufman, The Tampa Tribune 6 May 2008