We asked Raheem Morris today whether Sammie Stroughter would start opposite Mike Williams in Saturday's preseason game against Kansas City, and his answer was quite interesting.

Basically, he said no. But, in effect, he said a lot more.

"In the preseason, we kind of know what we've got in Sammie," Morris said. "And Sammie probably can give you more. We want to see about Reggie a little bit. We want to see about some of these guys we don't know as well, Arrelious Benn and some of those people. . . You don't want to play Sammie too much."

From where I sit, this pretty much indicates Stroughter is viewed by the team as a starter. This is something that reflects everything that's been suggested to us privately by coaches and people inside One Buc Place.

Stroughter isn't a prototypical flanker, a job that is usually fulfilled by a big-body receiver. But the Bucs are looking for ways to work around Stroughter's lack of size, like putting him in motion and using him much like the Patriots use Wes Welker -- another undersized No. 2 receiver who excels at running underneath routes.

Whatever the case, it looks right now like Stroughter will be in the starting lineup come opening day.