How to Fix ‘em: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
By: Matt Harmon
Year in Review:
The Buccaneers started off the season hot, and looked poised to be a surprise playoff team. Well, the Bucs experienced an all too familiar second half of the season collapse and finished 7-9. Its worth wondering whether Greg Schiano’s college mentality began to wear on some players down the stretch. Though as I mentioned in their season preview power rankings segment, I do not think the Buccaneers are filled with the type of “Buccaneer Men” that Schiano wants on his team just yet. There are noticeable building blocks here, especially on offense where Doug Martin was the star of the show, but receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams were also amongst the best receiver tandems in the league. The offensive line is solid and the defense has some young core players. The elephant in the room is quarterback Josh Freeman. He started off strong, but he went down the drain in the second half of the season and was down right abysmal in several contests. Tampa Bay cannot definitively say that he is the answer as he has regressed tremendously since his stellar 2010 season. If Tampa Bay stick with Freeman, and he does not improve, all the other good players on this roster will not matter for much. An inconsistent Freeman would probably lead this talented roster to another 7-9 campaign next year, or worse.
Top Five Team Needs:
Offseason Moves:
(Image taken from: http://findlogo.net/show/detail/T/tampa-bay-buccaneers-logo#.UQiUbaVnL18)
Year in Review:
The Buccaneers started off the season hot, and looked poised to be a surprise playoff team. Well, the Bucs experienced an all too familiar second half of the season collapse and finished 7-9. Its worth wondering whether Greg Schiano’s college mentality began to wear on some players down the stretch. Though as I mentioned in their season preview power rankings segment, I do not think the Buccaneers are filled with the type of “Buccaneer Men” that Schiano wants on his team just yet. There are noticeable building blocks here, especially on offense where Doug Martin was the star of the show, but receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams were also amongst the best receiver tandems in the league. The offensive line is solid and the defense has some young core players. The elephant in the room is quarterback Josh Freeman. He started off strong, but he went down the drain in the second half of the season and was down right abysmal in several contests. Tampa Bay cannot definitively say that he is the answer as he has regressed tremendously since his stellar 2010 season. If Tampa Bay stick with Freeman, and he does not improve, all the other good players on this roster will not matter for much. An inconsistent Freeman would probably lead this talented roster to another 7-9 campaign next year, or worse.
Top Five Team Needs:
- Cornerbacks: Eric Wright was predictably a massive bust as a free agent signing, and Aqib Talib was dealt to the Patriots. None of the young players behind them really stepped up and showed they were potential starters in this league. I have to wonder if Eric Wright is brought back, given his poo play and suspension for PEDs, and even if he were the Bucs would be wise to add two starting caliber corners.
- Quarterback: Tampa Bay cannot go into next season with just Josh Freeman as their only viable starting option at the position. At the very least they need to add some competition for him, and I think they should actively look to add someone who is of starting caliber. Freeman looks like he is in full on regression mode. Franchise quarterbacks do not throw eight interceptions in two games, as Freeman did against New Orleans and St. Louis. Free agency looks pretty bare, but maybe a second or third round draft choice could be brought in to compete.
- Tight End: Dallas Clark did not contribute much last season, outside of his victory sealing touchdown against the Panthers. He is an over the hill free agent and the younger Luke Stocker has not shown he is anything more than a number two tight end. A reliable receiver at this position would go a long way in helping out whom ever the quarterback.
- Defensive line depth: Michael Bennett is one of the more underrated defensive linemen in the NFL, but he is up for free agency this offseason. Tampa Bay should put all its resources into bringing him back. Even if he returns Tampa Bay could use depth all across the defensive line. Adrian Clayborn is coming off an injury and Da’Quan Bowers hasn’t developed amidst injury issues. At tackle Gerald McCoy finally became a stud, but his running mate Roy Miller is a free agent.
- Right Tackle: Jeremy Trueblood is an ineffective player at this point, but he is a free agent anyways. His replacement, Demar Dotson, is just a marginal player. This offensive line player very well, even when it lost starters to injury, but an upper echelon right tackle would complete this unit.
Offseason Moves:
(Image taken from: http://findlogo.net/show/detail/T/tampa-bay-buccaneers-logo#.UQiUbaVnL18)
