NFL Preview: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 


Key Additions:
DE Adrian Clayborn (draft)
DE Da'Quan Bowers (draft)
LB Mason Foster (draft)
P Michael Koenen (FA)


Key Departures:
RB Cadillac Williams 
TE John Gilmore
LB Barrett Ruud 
DE Stylez G. White
C Dominic Raiola 


Report:

The Buccaneers are ready for a new season. Last year, Tampa Bay had a surprising 10-6 record, and they are ready to make the big step to the playoffs. QB Josh Freeman is the cornerstone for this up and coming franchise. After a disappointing try in his rookie year, he broke loose and became one of the NFL's brightest young stars. Another surprise was undrafted rookie RB LeGarrette Blount. Blount rushed for 1,007 yards, became a force, and showed he can do this. Wide Receiver may be an issue for Tampa Bay. Other than Mike Williams they don't have a player who puts fear into a defense. WR Arrelious Benn needs to step up if the Buccaneers want to be a playoff team. Tampa Bay also has TE Kellen Winslow to relieve the pressure on some of the wide receivers and Josh Freeman. The offensive line is stout with T's Donald Penn, Jeremy Trueblood and G Davin Joseph. 


Tampa Bay has definitely improved their defense from last year. In the draft they gobbled up DE's Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers. They should vastly improve the defensive line which was average and didn't gain much pressure. DT Gerald McCoy will be asked to improve on a disappointing rookie season. Defensive leader LB Barrett Ruud has left and must be replaced. Rookie LB Mason Foster out of Washington will be asked to join Quincy Black and Geno Hayes to sure up their run defense which was 28th in the country last year. The strength of the defense was the secondary which ranked 11th against the pass a season ago. The reason for that was the improvement of CB Aqib Talib paired with veteran CB Ronde Barber. At safety they have Sean Jones and Cody Grimm to defend against the air attack. 

Tampa Bay went out and grabbed a punter in free agency. Michael Koenen is the player that they hope will be the answer at punter. At kicker Connor Barth is an average kicker who can make long kicks. KR Michael Spurlock gave Tampa Bay their first ever return touchdown for the franchise.


Review: 
After a 10-6 season this team's next goal is the playoffs. Josh Freeman is the leader and a rising star. Blount and Williams are out to prove that their rookie season were not one year wonders. The defense will be better with a better pass rush, but they must find a way to replace their leader. This team will have to win a wild card to make the playoffs because of the division that they are in. In the end, I don't see this team having the success they had last year, but the future is bright for this team and I see playoffs in their future.


Division Finish: TBA