As the NFL offseason
is in full swing, it’s a perfect opportunity to evaluate where each team was in
2017, and where they plan to go in the New Year. Let’s begin the review of
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
2017 Season Recap:
They hype train was real and traveling down the track as the Tampa Bay
Bucs found their way to signing and drafting offensive weapons that would make
the public believe they were ready to turn the corner. With Jameis Winston
planted as the starter and poised to take the next step in his progression,
what could stop the Bucs?
As Tampa Bay opened the season, their week one match was cancelled due to
a massive hurricane in the Florida area essentially giving them their bye in
week one. Opening the season against the Bears, the Bucs looked the part in dismantling
the lowly team from Chicago with former quarterback Mike Glennon. Dropping
their next contest to the much improved Minnesota Vikings, the Bucs followed up
that loss with a close victory to the New York Giants. Starting the year 2-1
gave the impression that Tampa Bay was indeed looking the part as a team that
would make noise for the 2017 season. As perception usually dictates and
provides false hope, the Bucs went on a five game losing streak dropping their
overall record to 2-6 while alarm bells began to ring. Losing Jameis Winston in
the process to injury during their week 8 loss to the Panthers, career
journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick was tasked with taking over the reins for the young
pivot. Winning their next two contests with Fitzpatrick at the helm against the
Jets and the Dolphins, provided more false hope that Tampa could turn their
season around in hopes to run the table. A short lived moment for this team, as
clarity of what this squad really was, finally became the reality. With six
games left on the slate, Tampa Bay lost another five in a row with saving face
in week 17 in a meaningless contest with the New Orleans Saints. Finishing the
season with a record of 5-11, a year filled with so much hope and promise, came
crashing down basically before it was able to take off.
It was extremely clear that this Buccaneers team didn’t play to the
levels that would be expected with a roster filled with great talent on both
sides of the ball. While the players will shoulder a lot of the responsibility,
the coaching staff should see their fair share of the blame.
2018 Offseason
Workbook:
Offseason Review:
With another failed season in the books, this time taking a step back in
the standings not being able to match the success from the 9-7 2016 campaign,
Head Coach Dirk Koetter was given a pass and was retained for another season by
management and ownership. Defensive coordinator Mike Smith has again proven his
scheme is completely outdated and no longer relevant to the way the NFL has
matured. With definite high-end pieces to work with, Smith was unable to get
the solid production from a unit that still employs a bend but don’t break style
- that saw its share of breakdowns over the course of the season.
This team offensively starts and stops with their young franchise
quarterback Jameis Winston. His overall performance wasn’t horrible as the
statistics can backup this argument. In 13 games played, Winston was able to
generate 3500 yards and 19 touchdowns while being sacked 33 times. It’s important
to note that while Jameis does have the luxury of having an overly talented receiving
core (with exception to Mike Evans), he hasn’t had the pleasure of having an
offensive line block for him and a running game that could take pressure off
and institute the play-action pass that would be very conducive to his
development. With Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson manning the outsides, Cameron
Brate and OJ Howard should’ve been able to find openings to make things happen.
Without a solid running attack, defenses were able to key in on the receivers
while playing more nickel and dime packages to stifle any attack that would
come their way. The Bucs offensive line is a definite problem not only with the
40 sacks they gave up to their quarterbacks, but the inability to create holes
for their sub-par running backs generating a league low 27th overall
ground attack (90.6 YPG). Having a major issue creating points ranking 18th
in the league (20.9 PPG), coach Dirk Koetter’s play calling in the redzone and
his inability to create explosive plays, was a great detriment to how this team
executed on the field. It’s extremely clear to us at ADF that Tampa Bay
requires more depth at the wide receiver position, primarily in the slot. Adam
Humphries does possess a decent skillset that could produce but isn’t a viable
talent that will draw defensive back coverage on a regular basis. With the
glaring need at running back and offensive line, the slot receiver position is
a place where a definite upgrade is warranted.
The largest concern for this Bucs squad is the inept play of this high
priced, vastly underachieving group. Employing fantastic talent in all areas of
this unit, it’s rather mind-boggling that this coaching staff can’t create a
scheme that would help them succeed. The obvious weakness of this group lays in
the defensive backfield as they were unable to cover a cold last season. Even
with the free agent addition of former Broncos standout TJ Ward, shoring up the
backend wasn’t something that occurred. Items of concern are real when evaluating
second year defensive back Vernon Hargreaves and his lackluster performance. He
hasn’t developed in a way the staff would’ve hoped, but keeping the faith that he’s
a young prospect that should be able to find his game as he gains experience.
Landing on the injured reserve put a massive dent in that development as he nearly
missed half the season. A glaring concern when discussing the defensive line
and how they aren’t able to create much pressure on opposing quarterbacks
leaves us shrugging our shoulders to understand what the issue is. Lead by all-star
defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and teamed up with high caliber players like
William Gholston, Robert Ayers, and Noah Spence, it definitely leaves you scratching
your head to how this unit could only produce 22 sacks on the season. Line backer
is an area of strength behind great talents like LaVonte David and Kwon
Alexander. This again provides the head scratching notion that this group possibly
saw the writing on the wall for a lost season early, and chose to call it a
wrap with less effort applied. Either way, the defensive play calling and
scheme requires a massive facelift, while general manager Jason Licht should continue
to add depth to the front seven and revamp the secondary unit in acquiring a
much needed supreme talent at defensive back.
Rostered Free Agents:
With key roster flaws
and a group built with young talent, the Bucs do possess a large sum of cap
space that would benefit them in adding to this group. Holding a healthy 62
million in space Tampa Bay does have a list of pending free agents that shouldn’t
break the bank. Being proactive, recent news broke that the Bucs have signed
star wide receiver Mike Evans to a 5 year 82.5 million dollar contract extension.
With a whopping 18.2 million dollar cap hit for 2018, the deal had to be done
to lock up one of the most productive receivers in the NFL. In reviewing the current
listing of free agents, Doug Martin has already been given his walking papers
to not return to the team as they look to upgrade the position. TJ Ward is
another player that likely won’t find his way back to Tampa Bay, but still has
upside at the age of 31 in the right situation. Outside of those players, the
listing of free agents is primarily depth talent that should be replaced from a
team that only managed five wins on the season.
Teams will always look
to shed salary regardless of their situation and knowing that Jameis Winston
will be coming up for contract in the next couple years, adding volume to their
cash flow is never a bad move. While LeVonte David is a key cog to the defense
moving forward, it might be a great move to re-ink the line backer to a new
deal making his current 8.75 million dollar salary more cap friendly for the
new year and moving forward. Having the great need to upgrade their offensive
line, Demar Dotson could be an easy cut candidate removing his 4.6 million off
the books. As mentioned with the youth of this roster, the remaining pieces do
house favorable contracts for the upcoming season as Tampa Bay does enjoy a nice
amount of positive money on the books.
NFL Draft:
Looking to round out
the rest of the roster, Tampa Bay enters the NFL draft with 8 selections to
their name. Primarily holding their original draft slate, they have added an
additional 6th round pick to the board. With many holes and many
options, the Bucs could realistically move in any direction in this draft. A
name that jumps off the paper to head to Tampa at the 7th overall
selection - is former Florida State safety Derwin James. With a massive need to
help bolster a unit that leaked oil like an old car, James would instantly
solidify the back end with great skill and ability. Finding an answer to their
running back problems could easily be rectified in the second round in a draft extremely
deep at the position. Rounding out their offensive line with a plethora of
talent at the guard position would also be something that should dictate the
front end of the Bucs draft class. As the later portions of the draft prolong,
Tampa should be able to find viable depth to help round out their struggling
yet uber-talented front seven.
Overall for 2018:
Depending on the moves made this offseason and the draft, we fully
expect the hype train to get back on track for the 2018 edition of the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers. We at ADF question the coaching staff and their ability to adequately
understand the pieces they employ and their upmost reluctance to build a system
that would promote success rather than stick to ancient formations that are no
longer productive. Coach Koetter should be on the hot seat as the season begins,
and it should only get warmer if he’s unable to create a winning formula for
this young group. Playing in arguably the most difficult division in football,
the Bucs will again have their work cut out from the in 2018.
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