Key to Bucs season lies in the play of the Defensive Line

      It all started last year when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Gerald McCoy and Brian Price the 3rd  and  35^th overall pick in the NFL draft. It continued this past April with the drafting of Adrian Clayborn and Da’quan Bowers. Others additions such as Roy Miller, Michael Bennett, Frank Okam, and Alex Magee were aimed at trying to awaken a pass rush that has been dormant for quite a few years now. The Buccaneers haven’t had a person with double digit sacks since 2005 when Simeon Rice had 14. Finally it appears for the first time in a long time that the Bucs have a franchise quarterback that they can lean on during crunch time. Many believe that as Josh Freeman goes so do the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but it’s my belief that if the Bucs are to make the jump from a good young squad to an elite team in the NFL it will fall on the shoulders of the defensive line and the pass rush and run stop that they are able to create.

The sack department last year was not a stat that Bucs fans want to see rolled out. The leader in sacks last year was a man no longer with the Bucs;  Stylez G. White with 4 ½. The next closest was linebacker Geno Hayes with 4. After that Gerald McCoy had 3 and he only played a half a season. The Bucs only managed 26 sacks last year and that is just a completely unacceptable number for any NFL team. The Bucs brought in new defensive line coaches Keith Mallard and Grady Stretz to help turn around a defensive line that was one of the worst in the league. So far through camp players and media alike have raved about the duo and how their energy and up tempo coaching style and attention to detail have helped this young Bucs defensive line. Many including Raheem Morris are saying that Gerald McCoy is primed for a breakout year after rehabbing a major biceps injury because McCoy has learned like some of the other young linemen to play the run on the way to the quarterback and stop being so gap minded and just go be disruptive. Another reason why the Bucs are a bit more confident in there pass rush is not only the two young stud defensive linemen Bowers and Clayborn but the recent emergence of third year pro Michael Bennett. Bennett arrived a little late to camp but arrived in a big way and was able to make a splash right away. Bennett ended the season last year as the starting right defensive end but will most likely move back to the left side either behind or in front of rookie Da’quan Bowers.
PLEASE CLICK ON READ MORE BUTTON BELOW… 
—

Finally for the first time in a while the Bucs will have some quality depth along the defensive line and hopefully be able to make a major impact in the coming season. A player who could really make a difference is someone I haven’t mentioned yet, Brian Price the 2^nd rd pick of the 2010 draft. Some Bucs fans are already calling Price a bust of a draft pick and have labeled him lazy and downright fat. I’m not quite sure what Price is going to become but if there is any way he is able to get healthy and in shape enough to make an impact it could be scary. According to some people inside One Buc Place Price is downright unblockable and if healthy could become the best defensive linemen we have. I’m not holding my breath on that, but it will be something to see once Price looses weight and plays more. Just like every defensive line, injuries will play a huge role in how good the Bucs pass rush becomes and it is absolutely paramount that Players like McCoy, Miller, Clayborn, Bennett, and Bowers stay healthy and on the field on Sundays.

Quarterback play in the NFL is a huge indicator of how well an NFL team will do especially in the post season. Josh Freeman is well on his way to becoming an elite qb in this league and will absolutely get the job done I believe in the coming year. But in a division as tough as the NFC South with quarterbacks like future Hall of Famer Drew Brees and Atlanta’s young gun Matt Ryan getting after the quarterback is now more important than ever and how well we do or don’t do against those quarterbacks will dictate whether the Bucs take the next step towards being a playoff team and beyond or if they continue to stay in the nice young category.