Funny thing is, this time a year ago we were probably more sure about the chances of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being a playoff team than we are today, and look how that turned out.
Of course we had no idea that the Bucs greatest player mystery descent of all time in Josh Freeman would occur. The Defense last year was an average one, coming in between 12th and 14th in most categories. The highest Category the Bucs came in last year with was turn over ratio, a Plus 10. Imagine how bad the losses would have been if the defense didn’t create so many turn overs, or if Mike Glennon had turned the ball over more.
Still, Tampa Bay did give us a glimmer of hope last year in a nice 4 out of 5 game winning streak, but for the Bucs to win in 2014 a lot of things are going to have to come true and happen:
1)Josh McCown needs to be the next Rich Gannon. Gannon was a journeyman QB who played all over the league ala Trent Green. Good enough QB but never consistent enough to stick around. But when Gannon found Jon Gruden and vice versa, it just CLICKED for him. Gannon became an star QB and it was no fluke.
Last year Josh McCown says he too had his “the lights came on” moment, but now he is with another team. Still, there were a number of Chicago Bears fans who did not want Jake Cutler back at Starting QB. Thats how good the Bears offense was under Josh.
The Fact is, if before the 2013 season when Freeman was first starting to show signs he needed to go, if anyone had said “We need to prioritize signing Josh McCown” you would have had a free ticket to the nearest MRI. But after throwing 66% w/ 13 Touchdowns and only 1 Interception, his status has changed. His stats show an incredible turnaround for his career which has been quite ordinary at best. If the old Josh McCown shows up, the Bucs do not have a viable option at this time, and would have to turn the offense over to the QB who ran the NFLs worst offense last year; Mike Glennon.
2) The offensive line needs to come together and excel. Going into the last several seasons, the Bucs were said to have one of the best Olines in all of football. But Davin Joseph was but an echo of his former self after an injury, and Carl Nicks was still revenged by MRSA. Add to that Donald Penn under-performed at the result was a 4-12 mess.
The Bucs went out and addressed the Offensive Line with Free Agency and the draft. Someone from the draft needs to step up and become the next Ian Beckles or Davin Joseph, because a guard or two are needed. Basically every position except Center is going to have to prove himself. Evan Dietrich-Smith is a Free Agent Center brought in from the Green Bay Packers, he is solid at Center. Anthony Collins was brought in from Cincinnati where he was solid at the left tackle spot, WHEN he played there. This is a case of a talented player stuck behind a more developed veteran. You never know what your going to get when you give him the reins. He’s been in the league 7 years now, he is 28 and in his prime shape. He did not allow a single sack or commit a holding penalty in any of the 7 games he started, nor the other games he came in for relief. Highest pass blocking efficiency of anyone with min. 25 % playing time. The Question is, can he do it for 16 games?
Demar Dotson was a good Right Tackle and was in fact being groomed to take over the left tackle spot from Penn. The Bucs are in good hands here, but will he just be good, or can he turn into a Solid RT? Jamon Meredith is a capable backup who can start too.
The real mystery with the Bucs offense will be who plays at Guard. Is Carl Nicks going to be able to go? How will he be with mostly two years off? Nicks was so dominant even an 80% version is better than 100% of the others. Unless one of the draft picks turns into a Beckles or Joseph, two former Guards drafted by the Bucs in different eras. Kadeem Edwards was drafted in the same round Beckles was back in 1989. Andrew Miller was brought in after the draft. Oniel Cousins is a 7 year veteran who played in all 16 games last year for the Cleveland Browns. He started the first four. Jason Foster, Patrick Omameh are the other two guards on the roster who will compete.
Guards are needed for a strong running game, the Bucs lack of them could be what hurts the team the most.
The Defense is expected to be better, and in fact be the heart of this team. Lovie Smith will return the Bucs to the Tampa Two style of defense, but this won’t be a Raheem Morris type version. Lovie was there at the creation of the thing, and has mastered it every step of his career from Rams DC to Bears Head Coach. Gerald McCoy is the motor behind the madness, he plays Warren Sapps role. Will the Bucs have edge rushers that can get to the QB?
Tampa Bay will blitz less, unless that is a wrinkle of Lovies T2, we won’t know until September. The Linebackers are strong, with Lavonte David taking on Derrick Brooks’ role while Mason Foster will play the part he was originally drafted for, the Mike linebacker; the QB of the defense. He will have one of the best to ever play that position as his coach, Hardy Nickerson.
The secondary will have the corners and safety talent needed, and though the questions are not as urgent, they to are important.
- Can Mason Foster play the Mike?
- Will there be enough pressure from the Bucs Defensive Line?
- Will the secondary be enough to counter the WR threats of the Saints and Falcons?
- How will Connor Barth respond in game situations after missing a year?
It’s these questions and more that make it so hard to predict what will happen in 2014. One thing is for sure, you can bet the Bucs will be a well coached team; you can expect the penalties to be down, the turnovers to come on defense, and the team to learn from the staff.
How fast they learn, how quickly they respond will be the difference between starting out 3-3 or trying to dig out of a 1-5 hole.
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