NFL Team Previews: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With the fourth and final team in the NFC South, I will be previewing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coached by Dirk Koetter and with general manager Jason Licht at the helm. The Tampa fans must be getting rather excited about what is going on down there, and although the team was 6-10 last year, it was a major improvement from a team that selected 1st overall the year prior. Jameis Winston acted mature and played like the real deal, and this season the hope is strong in west Florida.
DRAFT RECAP
The first pick in the draft by the Bucs, number 11 overall, was CB Vernon Hargreaves, who went to Florida, and rounds out what was a position of need in the offseason. He was the best corner in the draft going in, and Tampa is lucky to have had him slip to them. They then selected LB/DE Noah Spence, who will probably be playing more at defensive end with the linebacking trio pretty well covered. At the moment, he will be backing up William Gholston, but with this kid's raw talent and athleticism, he could be starting at the end of the season. He also could be a bust. The part about the draft I don't get at all, and this is regarding the entire NFL draft, is selecting K Robert Aguayo in the second round, and trading up to get him. Did they really think they couldn't get him later? He might end up being the best kicker in the NFL at some point, but you can find quality kickers who can hit a 50 yard field goal on the street. Or in the 7th round.
FREE AGENCY
The Buccaneers rather quietly went about filling in the needs of the team in free agency. DE Robert Ayers from the New York Giants, CB Brent Grimes from Miami and LB Daryl Smith from Baltimore should all contribute and probably start right away on defense. Ayers had 9.5 sacks in 12 games (which would have led the team), Grimes had 4 picks (which would have led the team), and Smith had 121 tackles and 3 sacks. Then, you bring in CB Josh Robinson from Minnesota as the projected dime corner, and you have a defense that looks as good as it has been in years. Offensively, the only transaction was signing G JR Sweezy from Seattle, and he should be able to provide stability as well as playoff experience to that offensive line group. The Buccaneers also have a new punter in Bryan Anger, the former Jacksonville Jaguar.
PLAYERS LOST
The Buccaneers basically lost a bunch of players who are likely to be backups or cut wherever they go. The Bucs really did not lose anything notable.
STRONGEST POSITION
I'll go with linebacker here, and it starts with the stud Lavonte David. Last season, his stat line consisted of 147 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and a touchdown. And he's still relatively unknown, which is a shame. Then, you have the newly signed Daryl Smith from Baltimore on the other side of the defense. Then, you have second year player ILB Kwon Alexander, who only played in 12 games but almost recorded 100 tackles, had 3 sacks as well and 2 picks. It's almost going to be like there are not enough tackles to go around here, which is definitely a good thing.
WEAKEST POSITION
Wide receiver, outside of Mike Evans, is a relatively weak position. Vincent Jackson is getting older and nobody behind him has really stepped up their game yet. If Austin Seferian-Jenkins gets hurt again, tight end would be a clear weakness. They also need to sort out the starting right tackle, the defensive tackle that is not Gerald McCoy, and the safety next to Bradley McDougald. But they have decent options at each of those positions. In other words, the Buccaneers have a small hole here, another one there, but overall this team looks like it could take the next step forward.
FIVE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS TO THE BUCCANEERS SUCCESS
QB Jameis Winston, RB Doug Martin, WR Mike Evans, DT Gerald McCoy, LB Lavonte David
With all of the defensive talent that the Buccaneers brought in, the two most important guys are the two mainstays: Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David. Both of these guys are among the best in the NFL at their respective positions, and are some of the leaders on this football team. QB Jameis Winston needs to progress, because as good as this defense could be, this team won't get very far if he doesn't play well. A lot of that hinges on Mike Evans, a third year player who had a bit of a sophomore slump last season (mostly just with regard to his touchdown total) and is the main threat in the passing game. Finally, RB Doug Martin showed up again last season after disappearing for the previous few seasons, and he also takes pressure off Winston.
PREDICTION
I like where Tampa Bay is going, but I don't like them winning the division, or even making the playoffs. I think they have a real shot at being better than New Orleans and Atlanta, and going 9-7 is not out of reach by any means.
