Last year was one of resurgence for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After five consecutive losing seasons, the Bucs, under new head coach Dirk Koetter and second-year quarterback Jameis Winston, posted a winning record at 9-7. They still missed the playoffs, but after half a decade of futility, it showed the future is bright in Tampa, the strip club capital of America.
But will the football in mid-Florida going to be good enough to to surpass the entertainment value tanned, dancing naked women or Magic Mike XXXL? Let’s take a look at how Koetter and general manager Jason Licht put together this 2017 team.
Free Agents Kept
William Gholston, Defensive End
Joe Hawley, Center
Sealver Siliga, Defensive Tackle
Chris Conte, Safety
Jacquizz Rodgers, Running Back
Free Agents/Players Gained
Chris Baker, Defensive End, formerly of the Washington Redskins
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Quarterback, formerly of the New York Jets
Nick Folk, Kicker, formerly of the New York Jets
DeSean Jackson, Wide Receiver, formerly of the Washington Redskins
Garrison Sanborn, Long Snapper, formerly of the Buffalo Bills
J.J. Wilcox, Safety, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys
Robert McClain, Cornerback, formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers
Tavaris Barnes, Defensive End, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks
Free Agents/Players Lost
Mike Glennon, Quarterback, signed with the Chicago Bears
Bradley McDougald, signed with the Seattle Seahawks
Russell Shepard, Wide Receiver, signed with the Carolina Panthers
Akeem Spence, Defensive Tackle, signed with the Detroit Lions
Alterraun Verner, Cornerback, currently a free agent
Sean Renfree, Quarterback, currently a free agent
2017 NFL Draft
Round 1: O.J. Howard, Tight End, Alabama
Round 2: Justin Evans, Safety, Texas A&M
Round 3: Chris Godwin, Wide Receiver, Penn State
Round 3: Kendell Beckwith, Inside Linebacker, LSU
Round 5: Jeremy McNichols, Running Back, Boise State
Round 7: Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, Defensive Tackle, USC
Proposed Offensive Starters
QB: Jameis Winston
RB: Doug Martin
WR: DeSean Watson
WR: Mike Evans
WR: Adam Humphries
TE: O.J. Howard
LT: Donovan Smith
RT: Demar Dotson
LG: J.R. Sweezy
RG: Ali Marpet
C: Joe Hawley
Offensive Outlook
Winston’s break out season is likely just the beginning for him. He completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 4,090 yards, 28 touchdowns and 18 picks last season, living up to his status as a No. 1 pick. He’s smart enough to know he has an All-Universe wide receiver in the making in Mike Evans, and looks for him even when he’s covered. Evans caught 96 passes for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. It’s just the start of something great for him too.
As good as the offense played at times, there were still areas to improve and the Bucs spent their money there this off-season, bringing in DeSean Jackson to make life easier on Evans. In the slot, Adam Humphries is one of the exciting young players in the league. I’ve put O.J. Howard in at tight end even though Cameron Brate had a solid year in 2016. Howard is just too elite a talent and the most likely scenario is the Bucs use a two tight end set a lot.
Up front, the only change from last year’s starting line up is the health of left guard J.R. Sweezy. After signing Sweezy last off-season, the Bucs never got him on the field after he had back surgery.
Doug Martin’s on-again, off-again injury woes were on again last season. He’ll be back this year, but not until Week 4. He still has three weeks to burn on a PED suspension from late last year. I still have him listed as the starter, but Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers will carry the load for September.
Proposed Defensive Starters
DE: William Gholston
DE: Robert Ayers
DT: Gerald McCoy
DT: Chris Baker
OLB: Cameron Lynch
OLB: Lavonte David
MLB: Kwon Alexander
CB: Vernon Hargreaves
CB: Brent Grimes
FS: Justin Evans
SS: Chris Conte
Defensive Outlook
The Buccaneers’ defense was right in the middle of the pack in points allowed last season under first-year defensive coordinator Mike Smith. Up front, the Buccaneers are big and good against the run, but don’t generate a lot of heat in the pass rush. Gerald McCoy and Robert Ayers co-lead the team with 6.5 sacks last season. Gholston tallied just 3.5 and free agent addition Chris Baker had all of 4.5 with the Washington Redskins last year.
The linebackers are the stars of this defense with Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David making an argument as a couple of the best in the league. Alexander led the team in tackles last season with 145 to go with three sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, seven passes defended and one interception. David had 87 tackles as an outside linebacker, five sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one defensive touchdown. I’ve plugged in Cameron Lynch at the other outside linebacker spot, but this is anybody’s job to take and, for now, a real weak spot in the defense.
Vernon Hargreaves too lived up to his pick status in his first year at corner. He started every game and finished fourth on the team in tackles with 76 to go with one forced fumble, 10 passes defended and a pick. Losing Bradley McDougald in free agency is a blow, but one that hopefully second round pick Justin Evans can mitigate a little. Chris Conte returns and even dealing with some nagging injury issues last season, still posted 64 tackles to go with a fumble recovery, five passes defended, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown.
Grade: C+
The Bucs added a couple of starters in the draft and some low-rung starters in free agency, but anywhere this team goes this season will be determined by guys they already had on the roster. With a team this young, that’s not a real problem.
O/U wins: 8.5
Preseason Schedule
Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 3: Cleveland Browns
Week 4: Washington Redskins
Regular Season Schedule
Week 1: at Miami Dolphins
Week 2: Chicago Bears
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 4: New York Giants
Week 5: New England Patriots
Week 6: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 7: at Buffalo Bills
Week 8: Carolina Panthers
Key game: The Bucs get a trip through the AFC East and the rest of the NFC before their NFC South opener at home against the Carolina Panthers. Tampa Bay unexpectedly swept the Panthers last season and those two wins, specifically, put them over .500.
Week 9: at New Orleans Saints
Week 10: New York Jets
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 13: at Green Bay Packers
Week 14: Detroit Lions
Week 15: Atlanta Falcons
Week 16: at Carolina Panthers
Week 17: New Orleans Saints
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