Second-year quarterback Vinny Testaverde was the opening-day starter in 1988, and he provided a boost to the Bucs' passing attack along with fellow 1987 draftees Bruce Hill (1,040 yards) and Mark Carrier (970). However, Testaverde was also intercepted 35 times in 15 games and the Bucs improved only marginally to 5-11 in Ray Perkins' second year at the helm. It took two wins in the last three weeks to get to that mark after the team had endured a six-game losing streak in the middle of the season. The NFL's youngest team included a rookie at left tackle, as fourth-overall draft pick Paul Gruber began a Buccaneer career that would eventually land him in the team's Ring of Honor. Tampa Bay's defense ranked 13th in the NFL and was particularly stout against the run but only managed to record 20 sacks in 16 outings.
