TAMPA (AP) -
Carl Nicks sees no reason the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shouldn't be able to light up the scoreboard this season.
The All-Pro guard was acquired in free agency to bolster an offensive line that figures to be one of the team's strongest assets, and he expects the unit to set the tone for quarterback Josh Freeman to re-establish himself as a rising young star.
"I think everybody has something to prove," Nicks said Saturday night after the Bucs' practice at Raymond James Stadium which was free and open to the public. "The record that we had last year wasn't acceptable and that was on offense, defense and special teams so I think everybody's gotta feel that pressure and everybody's gotta step it up."
The 6-foot-5, 343-pound Nicks spent the past four seasons as part of one of the NFL's most prolific offenses in New Orleans. The Bucs had one of the league's worst rushing attacks a year ago, when Freeman also took a step back in his ascension as a passer.
The arrival of Nicks could make Tampa Bay better on the ground, as well as through the air.
