The Tampa Bay Buccaneers stumbled to a 4-12 record for the second time in three seasons, and it resulted in the firing of Greg Schiano. The Bucs haven’t reached the postseason since 2007, and they haven’t won a playoff game since their Super Bowl run in 2002.
Schiano was replaced with Lovie Smith, who took Chicago to the playoffs three times in nine seasons, but he had an 81-63 record in the regular season and during those playoff runs, the Bears went to the Super Bowl once, as well as the NFC title game. He’ll have his work cut out for him in Tampa Bay, however.
Strengths
Smith is familiar with Josh McCown from his time in Chicago, which likely had something to do with the 35-year-old pivot getting $10 million over two years from the Bucs. He knows what McCown can and can’t do, and at least McCown has some weapons around him. Vincent Jackson lines up outside and rookie Mike Evans will start right away, giving Tampa Bay two big-play receivers, while running back Doug Martin looks to be healthy after playing just six games in 2013. After rushing for 1,454 yards in his rookie season, the Bucs need Martin to get back to that level, or at least close to it.
The Bucs’ defense was decent last season, and Smith is known as a sound defensive mind, not to mention they brought in former Minnesota head coach Leslie Frazier to be the coordinator. Between these two, Tampa Bay’s defense should improve. They have a pair of stars in the front seven in Gerald McCoy (whose rookie contract is up after this season) and Lavonte David, and the safety duo of Dashon Goldman and Mark Barron can anchor the team if they stay healthy.
Weaknesses
Hitching your wagon to Josh McCown doesn’t seem like a smart thing to do, especially at 35 years old and if 24-year-old Mike Glennon can’t beat him out for the starting job, that says a lot about the state of the quarterback situation in Tampa Bay. The offensive line isn’t that good either, so the starting quarterback might not get much time to throw downfield, and Martin might have to make his own holes.
The health of the aforementioned safeties is going to be an issue as Smith is bringing back the Tampa 2, a physical type of defense in which the safeties are very active going both ways. Goldson is hoping to be healthy for camp, while Barron had knee surgery in January, so that has to be watched.
Schedule
The Bucs are 19th in the league in strength of schedule, and they have six games against Atlanta, New Orleans and Carolina; last year’s 1-5 divisional record could be in danger of being equaled. Elsewhere, the Bucs play the NFC North, which Smith obviously knows very well, and will be on the road in Chicago and Detroit. A three-game road trip to Atlanta, Pittsburgh and New Orleans early in the seson could sink the Bucs before they get started.
Outlook
The Bucs’ record last season was slightly misleading as they lost their first eight games, but five of those were by eight points or less and they took the mighty Seahawks to overtime in Seattle. However, they have a win total of seven, so Tampa Bay is counting on Smith’s hiring and McCown to be worth three wins. They might get close, but not yet.
Pick: Under 7 (-115)
