"With offensive linemen, the last thing you want to do is let these guys get their own press agents and have their own world of compliments," coach Jon Gruden said. "We like to yell at them and keep them normal. They regulate the team. They're regular guys and they get no credit for anything."

Jeff Faine, the New Orleans Saints free agent, became the highest-paid center in NFL history when he signed a six-year, $37 million deal.

At 27, Faine is the newest and oldest member of a group that includes Davin Joseph (24), Arron Sears (23), Jeremy Trueblood (25) and Donald Penn (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 consistency, we can be as good as we want to be."

On the field, the offensive line was dominant at times last season. Tampa Bay finished 11th overall in the NFL in rushing offense, averaging 117 yards per game despite losing running backs Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman to injuries.

But like many young linemen, they struggled a bit in pass protection, allowing 36 sacks -- which isn't bad unless you consider that scrambling quarterback Jeff Garcia avoided many others.

Certainly, the Bucs' investment of high draft picks on the offensive line appears to be paying off. Joseph, a 6-foot-3, 313-pound right guard who was the team's first-round selection in 2006, has unlimited ability. But like many of his linemates, he has lacked the consistency to be considered a Pro Bowl player.

"This year I think will be my year," Joseph said. "Of course, I'm being optimistic. But consistency is our biggest challenge. Some weeks we'd run for 200 and something yards against a stellar defense and the next week we'd go on the road and really struggle."

Sears, a 6-3, 319-pound left tackle from Tennessee, was the Bucs' second-round pick last year and started all 17 games, including playing with an ankle sprain in the playoff loss to the Giants.

Several NFL scouts believe Sears has even more upside than Joseph and could beat his teammate to Hawaii.

"I liked several things. The number one thing was his unflappability as a rookie getting thrown in the action," offensive line coach Bill Muir said. "I think the other thing was he's so fundamentally sound. Obviously, that's a credit to the Tennessee football program. He has great instincts for the game. If I didn't tell you, if you didn't have a roster, you wouldn't think he was a rookie. He just gets it. Some people are like that. Some can play for years and don't. But he gets it."

Of course, Muir knows how expectations can disappear like a bag of Krystal burgers in his meeting room. "It's still a work in progress," he said. "Obviously, you can talk about 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 between linemen. Joseph and Trueblood, a tackle who was drafted in the second round from Boston College in '05, have been inseparable since starting as rookies. During the off-season, 'Blood cut out the fried foods, trimmed up and shaved his head into a mohawk that's growing out again.

When the season ended, he said he was bummed that there were no more games to prepare for. Clearly, that guy gets it, too.

The unheralded one is left tackle Donald Penn, an undrafted free agent who spent a year on the Vikings' practice squad. He took over in Week 4 when Luke Petitgout was lost with a knee injury.

"The thing that impresses me with these guys, at a really, really young age, they're really mature from an NFL standard," Faine said. "Sometimes I have to take a step back and really appreciate that they're playing so well and doing it at a young age."

On Wednesday, the Bucs' offense scored on four of six tries from the 2-yard line during a goal-line drill, including popping Earnest Graham across against the No. 1 defense.

"They're talking so good about us, so there's going to be a lot of pressure from other defensive lines and defenses that are so-called a better offensive lines," Faine said.

CAMP CALENDAR: The Bucs reported to the Celebration Hotel on Friday, July 25. The first workout was Saturday, July 26 at Disney's Wide World of Sports. The Bucs break camp Aug. 14.