If I were to tell you that Tampa Bay is on the verge of becoming a power house offense, I believe that many of you would agree with me.
This offense is filled with young, up and coming players that made significant contributions to the offense in 2010; players like QB Josh Freeman, WRs Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn, and RB Legarrette Blount, are young guys that the Buccaneers organization are looking forward to build this team around.
With all the focus on the young guns, its pretty easy to forget one of the most important players to not only the offense, but to this team and that’s Tight End, Kellen Winslow.
Its safe to say that Kellen Winslow, 27, is a special player. A former first round pick of the Cleveland Browns, Winslow has talent that not many players are blessed with. A sure fire pass catcher, a great route runner, and a phenomenal run after the catch guy, Kellen Winslow can most likely play WR if he truly wanted to.
The Bucs should think about it though. I’m not saying move him to WR, but flank him out more as a receiver to exploit mismatches on slower line backers, smaller corners, and safeties to maximize his 6’4” 240 lb frame and talent. This would benefit both the Bucs and Kellen because even though Winslow is a great pass catcher, his run blocking is not that good and is almost a liability on running plays.
Setting his run blocking abilities to the side, Winslow should be able to get over 1000 yds this season and even score about 7 tds. Those would be amazing stats for any player, but for a TE, that would be insane. The keys to this type of production are going to be dependent upon three things;
1) Miike Williams and his fellow receivers to continue to build off their 2010 season and produce at a high level to allow Winslow to work the underneath area and create plays after the catch.
2) Legarrette Blount has another big year running the football, allowing the Bucs to run off play action and get Kellen in open space.
3) Kellen Winslow must stay healthy. Period.
If these three things happen, then there is zero doubt in my mind that Kellen will break 1000. To Winslow’s credit, he has played in all the games the past two seasons even if he was in a lot of pain and he has already turned in an 1000 yd season, racking up 1106 yds and 5 scores his 3rd year with the Browns.
Winslow is a tough player, a fierce competitor, and has been very productive for the Buccaneers, leading them in every receiving stat with 77 rec for 884 yds and 5 tds, his first year and following up with an almost identical season with 66 rec for 730 yds and 5 tds his second year. He didn’t lead the Bucs in receiving tds or yards as that belonged to rookie wide out, Mike Williams, but he did lead the Bucs in receptions with 66, one more than that of Williams’ 65 receptions.
If the Bucs are smart with Winslow in 2011 and can protect him from un-needed hits on the line of scrimmage, he will continue to produce at a high level this year and for the next 3-4 years. With the development of all the young players, especially that of Josh Freeman, sky’s the limit for Kellen Winslow as he enters the prime of his career.
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