2011 NFL Season Preview: Tampa Bay Buccs
By Editorial Staff
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Front Office:
Owner: Malcolm Glazer
GM: Mark Dominik
B+: Management did not like the direction Gruden and company were headed, so they stopped production and changed on the fly. They rebuilt quickly. Mark Dominik seems to be a competent GM but I am unsure of his risky drafting this past draft. Time will tell if it was prudent to take two very talented DE’s who are both major injury risks.
Coaching:
HC: Rasheem Morris
OC: Greg Olson
DC: None
B+: I would never advise a new HC to also be a coordinator. Morris chose to be both HC and DC and has done a remarkable job. He is the man who will get the Buccaneers back into prominence. Morris has done so with a young team. Olson has done a solid job spoon feeding and developing Freeman. I like this coaching staff to keep improving the Buccaneers.
QB: B+
Do I think the Buccaneers are one of the more over rated teams in the league? Yes, do I believe that Josh Freeman will eventually lead this team to greatness? Yes. Freeman is an amazing talent and leader. He is big, strong, fast, and has all the intangibles you would want. I thought he would take longer to develop and I like many others were proven wrong quickly.
RB: C
LaGarrette Blount is a power running back who, like Shonn Green, will always be limited. I love Cadillac Williams comeback but he is nothing special anymore. This team needs to complement Blount in order to be productive. This unit is over rated and it remains to be seen if Blount can stay on the straight and narrow and be motivated year in and year out.
WR/TE C+
MikeWilliams showed he can be an elite WR. Problem he has is he already has shown he can quit on a team if things aren’t going well. Williams fell in the draft due to that and lost a lot of money. Is he motivated by money and to prove people wrong or just money? Arrelious Benn showed glimpses of being a solid #2 WR. Sammie Stroughter is an okay slot WR when healthy. Kellen Winslow and Luke Stocker form a solid TE duo. Time and patience will be needed with this group of youngsters.
OL: B-
This unit is good enough to not be a weakness, but it is far from strength. RT Jeremy Trueblood is a solid run blocking RT but struggles vs. Speed rushers. He will be competing againstJamesLee who actually slightly improved the position last season when taking over for Trueblood. LT Donald Penn is a solid LT. RG Davin Joseph is a pro bowl caliber OG when healthy. Jeff Faine is a solid center but age and injuries are limiting his effectiveness. The Buccaneers have a hole at LG and they lack any kind of depth. This is a unit Morris will need to spend more resources on in the near future.
DL: C
This is a group that will struggle this year. They have talent but it is all in rookies and 2nd year players. Difference between the Buccaneers DL and the Lions DL is experience. It is widely know that 1st and 2nd year players on the DL usually struggle. With no talented veterans to teach and allow young players to develop I see an inconsistent year from the DL. Plus their youngsters have not shown the ability to stay healthy either. Now in a year’s time this could be a solid unit but as of this moment it is what it is.
LB: B-
Feels their whole unit was FA’s. Buccs were able to resign Quincy Black but chose not to resign Barrett Ruud. The Buccaneers drafted Mason Foster who should claim the MLB position. I really like this kid and think he will be special. Geno Hayes is very inconsistent. His speed and athleticism are off the charts but he plays out of control. Dekota Watson is a sleeper who will push Hayes.
DB: C
Will Aqib be in jail? It appears he has put it off till 2012. Must be nice to be a NFL player and be able to do this. Aqib’s talent was never in question, but his off the field antics were. Buccaneers are hoping Ronde Barber has one more season left and that Myron Lewis can step up in year 2. At safety they have only bodies since Tanard Jackson is routinely in trouble. Buccs are hoping Ahmad Black can be a steal at SS. He is small but knows how to play the game.
2011 NFL Draft
I love risk…but only so much. Taking Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers was a huge gamble. I do not think the Buccaneers are in a position to make huge gambles. They are on the cusp of being elite and selecting more stable draft picks early on would have been wise, but this regime certainly knows way more than me so time will tell. I love Mason Foster and believe he will be very productive at OLB or MLB. Luke Stocker was an okay pick that provides TE depth. I did like the selection of Ahmad Black and believe he will be a solid SS one day. B-
Offensive/ Defensive Sleepers
Arrelious Benn will take a step forward in year 2. I think he complements Williams well. He can work the slot and the middle of the field well. Once he gets more consistent he will capitalize on his potential. I can see 50 rec, 700 yards, and 4-5 TD’s.
I believe Myron Lewis will step into the starting CB and do well. He has good size and instincts. He also has the ability to play safety as well. He can get 3-4 interceptions and not be a weakness for this team.
Season Preview: 7-9
The Buccaneers are better than they were last year but will fail to win as many games. A harder schedule and too many young players will make them take a step backward in order to take 2 forward next season.