Last Year: 

Record: 6-10

Offense: 375.9 YPG (5th), 21.4 PPG (20th)

Defense: 340.4 YPG (10th), 26.1 (26th)

The Bucs made big strides last season as it relates to their future. Jameis Winston, whom they selected 1st overall in the 2015 draft, had a pretty good season for a rookie and appears to be the real deal. Doug Martin bounced back and finally resembled the guy he was his rookie year. And Mike Evans is continuing to develop. Offensively, Tampa was able to move the ball very well finishing in the top 5 in yards per game on offense. However, as expected with a young team, they found actually scoring points to be more challenging only managing to finish 20th in points scored. Between Winston throwing 15 interceptions and losing a fumble and Martin losing 4 fumbles, that was 20 combined turnovers from the starting backfield last season. Ball security definitely wasn’t a strength of this team last season and it cost them points. Defensively, they were also able to finish high in the rankings yards-wise but unable to translate that on the score board. The 26 points they allowed per game was 1 of the worst marks in the NFL. Their biggest issues were in the secondary. Cornerback play was horrible as Alteraun Verner grossly underachieved and Jonathan Banks just simply doesn’t appear to have the ability to be a starting corner in this league.

Offseason: 

Key Acquisitions: DE. Robert Ayers, CB. Brent Grimes, CB. Patrick Robinson, G. J.R. Sweezy, LB. Darryl Smith

Key Loses: OG. Logan Mankins

2016 Draft Picks

2016 Outlook

Coaching Staff

HC: Dirk Koetter

OC: Todd Monken

DC: Mike Smith

ST: Nate Kaczor

 

Projected Depth Chart

Offense

QB. Jameis Winston, Mike Glennon

RB. Doug Martin, Charles Sims

FB. Dan Vitale

WR. Mike Evans, Adam Humphries

WR. Vincent Jackson, Dontea Dye

WR. Louis Murphy, Kenny Bell

TE. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Cameron Brate

TE. Luke Stocker, Brandon Myers

LT. Donovan Smith, Kevin Pamphile

LG. J.R. Sweezy, Garrett Gilkey

C. Joe Hawley, Evan Smith

RG. Ali Marpet, Caleb Benenoch

RT. Demar Dotson, Gosder Cherilus

Defense

DE. William Gholston, Noah Spence

DT. Gerald McCoy, Davonte Lambert

DT. Akeem Spence, Clinton McDonald

DE. Robert Ayers, George Johnson

OLB. Daryl Smith, Josh Keyes

MLB. Kwon Alexander, Adarius Glanton

OLB. Lavonte David, Jeremiah George

CB. Brent Grimes, Josh Robinson

SS. Keith Tandy, Major Wright

FS. Brad McDougald, Chris Conte

CB. Alterraun Verner, Jonathan Banks

NB. Vernon Hargreaves

Special Teams

K. Roberto Aguayo

P. Bryan Anger

Breakdown

Offense: 

Offensively, I expect the Bucs to be able to move the ball the way they were able to last season. However, this season I expect it to result in more points on the score board. With Winston entering his 2nd season at QB I expect him to be more polished and make fewer mistakes. Tampa has 1 of the best running back situations in the NFL with 2 starting caliber backs in Martin and Simms. I expect another 1000-yard season from Martin and I expect Sims to be an all-around offensive weapon that contributes in both the run and passing game. With a lack of proven talent to play in the slot we could see the Bucs utilize Sims more there. He has the skills to play receiver as well as RB. Though it is unclear who will be the team’s 3rd receiver, there is no doubt they have the guys they need on the outside. Evans and Jackson are 1 of the biggest duos of receivers in the league as both players tower at 6’5. When all else fails, Winston can always just throw it hope in the hopes of 1 of them just going up and getting it. At tight end more, is expected of Seferian-Jenkins. He doesn’t need to be Gronk, but he’s got enough talent to produce more than just 21 receptions and 338 receiving yards as he did last season. His development could be key in this team’s passing game truly going to the next level. Jackson is getting older and less effective and Evans is just 1 man. Winston needs another reliable option to throw to and it’ll be interesting too see if Jenkins can develop into that guy. The offensive line isn’t great, but it isn’t bad either and they have the potential to be even better in 2016. They found 2 gems in the 2nd round in Smith and Marpet who ended up starting at LT and RG and should be even better this season.  Dotson is a huge player at RT and newcomer Sweezy is solid at LG.

Defense: Defensively, Tampa tried hard to address it’s biggest weaknesses from a year ago which were secondary play and lack of a pass rush. To fix the former, they were very aggressive in free agency signing Grimes and Robinson despite already having given a big free agent contract to Verner the year before. Then they used their 1st-round pick to draft another corner so it’s going to be very interesting to see how they use all those corners they have now. At safety, the Bucs pretty much bring back the exact same group, but I expect them to start the 2 younger guys and let the 2 former Bears in Wright and Conte come off the bench. At linebacker, Tampa has a lot of talent headlined by Pro Bowler Lavonte David, who is probably the best player on the defense and the roster period. Alexander was another steal from their 2015 class. The 4th-round pick emerged early in training camp, ultimately took Bruce Carter’s job, and was the team’s MLB all of last season. I expect even more from him in 2016. And the addition of veteran Daryl Smith can’t hurt either. I said earlier the Bucs had 2 big flaws a year ago. The other was pass rushing and to address that, Tampa went out and signed former Giants DE Ayers to a big free agent contract and drafted Noah Spence in the 2nd round. If both players pan out, they might finally have quality edge rushers. On the inside, Gerald McCoy is still around as 1 of the elite interior pass rushers in the game. Overall, the Bucs should be able to do a lot better than giving up 26 points per game, but it still remains to be seen just how effective as a unit this defense can be.