Earlier today we discussed the offensive players for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and predict one of three outcomes: Improve from last year, Stay the same, or take a step back. This obviously does not count any free agents.
Gerald McCoy- Improve ++! Have you seen Mr. McCoy this offseason? This Bucs team should benefit from the offseason workout program McCoy has worked on. Lets not forget he was starting to come on last year before he got hurt. McCoy is going to benefit from new Defensive Line coach Keith Millard who will be a stark contrast to last years version who taught Bucs lineman to read and react. This was because he was hired by the Bucs during the Jim Bates experiment. The Bucs drafted McCoy and Brian Price for their tenacity to rush the QB hard. Expect that to happen this year.
Ronde Barber- No player should stay the same like No.20, who uses smarts to play in his 15th season.
Aqib Talib- So much depends on what happens with Commissioner Roger Goodell, but the most Talib can be suspended for is 4 games because he had a one game last season for the Cabbie incident. Talib has a habit of coming back off a poor outing or performance. Expect Talib to improve his play in 2011 and will be a sure pro bowl invitee this season.
Tanard Jackson- Improved; Like Talib, Jackson will be playing with many many Keebler sized chips on his shoulder. This season, Tanard Jackson will be part of one of the best secondaries the Bucs have ever put together. Next year, in 2012, no one knows, but for 2011, T-jack will be back. After week 2 of course.
Cody Grimm- Again, the secondary is going to be unbelievable in 2011, and one reason is the emergence of safety Cody Grimm last season. The Bucs defense was a sieve against the run, but when Grimm was in the game, the numbers were actually respectable. The part, is Grimm in his second game starting did what John Lynch never did once at a Buc; return a pick for a TD. Hard to believe huh?
Defensive Line- The unit itself will be improved, but don’t expect too much in the first half of the seaon. It is going to take time for the rookies to do anything, and this line will be made up of a lot of them. The veterans, Roy Miller and such will help out until the youngsters are ready to contribute at a high level, probably end of the year or in 2012.
Special Teams:
Connor Barth should be solid once again at FG Kicker, and the Punt and KO return unitls should be solid with Michael Spurlock; despite having a new special teams coach.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
