Tampa Bay Buccaneers - wyrmreaver

[wyrmreaver]

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Owner: Shane Falco - After building his boat cleaning business on the back of his brief stint as a scab player during the late 80's labor dispute into a multi million dollar nautical empire it only seemed fitting that Shane would buy into the nautically themed Buccaneers down in Tampa. Shane will reportedly bring a hands on approach that will include a fair amount of control over GM and coaching decisions from the owners box

Offense: Kansas City Chiefs - Our offensive strategy is "death by paper cuts" where we use the running game and short, quick release passing game to make sure that the couple of shots we take down the field are unpredictable.

Defense: San Francisco 49ers (3-4) - We primarily run a zone base scheme in order to limit big plays and force the opposing offense to go through their reads as we look to capitalize on their mistakes. Our infrequent switches to man coverage and to big blitzes are meant to be surprise attacks looking to catch the offenses anticipating zone coverage and time to make their reads.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Season 1 Preview - QB

Projected Depth Chart
1. Jameis Winston (82 OVR)
2. Mike Glennon (71 OVR)
3. Ryan Griffin (62 OVR)

Early word out of camp is that Winston may actually be available on the trade block which would be a tremendously odd move for the teams new management. Its also a move that may have difficulty acquiring league approval and may have financial penalties too large to swallow. Assuming that Winston remains in Tampa the Bucs seem to be set for the foreseeable future with the second year former #1 overall at QB. Winston is young (22), durable (97 injury) with a big arm (95) and enough athleticism (78+ speed/agi/ac) to scramble occasionally or run a read option play here or there to keep the defense on its toes. Behind Winston is Mike Glennon. If Glennon is forced into the lineup, he brings a big arm (93) to the mix but is more or less a statue in the pocket which would limit the offense.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Season 1 Preview - HB

Projected Depth Chart
1. Doug Martin (90 OVR)
2. Charles Sims III (82 OVR)
3. Mike James (71 OVR)

Starter Doug Martin is coming off a great year where he ran for over 1400 yards, taking the pressure off of the teams rookie QB. Martin is a tough runner who can wear teams down between the tackles with enough speed to make a big play if you aren't disciplined in pursuit. Still young enough at 27, the Bucs will count on Martin to continue to be a focal point for this offense. Charles Sims III is the #2 HB. Sims lacks Martin's power and is a bit more of a finesse runner but with his pass blocking and receiving skills he can serve as more than just a change of pace option for this offense.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Season 1 Preview - WR

Projected Depth Chart
1. Mike Evans (86 OVR)
2. Vincent Jackson (82 OVR)
3. Louis Murphy (71 OVR)
4. Adam Humphreys (67 OVR)
5. Russell Shepard (65 OVR)
6. Donteea Dye Jr (64 OVR)
7. Kenny Bell (63 OVR)

With Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson both at 6'5" and 230+ we will look for size to counteract our lack of blazing speed in the WR corps. Evans is coming into just his 3rd year in the league with over 2,000 receiving yards and 15 TDs in his first two years and he should fit nicely into the #1 WR role. Jackson on the other hand is a skilled veteran with just another year or two left in the tank. After Evans and Jackson the skill level drops pretty dramaticaly with journeyman Louis Murphy slated in the slot. Early reports from camp are that Donteeya Dye Jr or Kenny Bell may get reps as the slot WR to try and inject a little more speed underneath.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Season 1 Preview - TE

Projected Depth Chart
1. Austin Seferian-Jenkins (78 OVR)
2. Cameron Brate (75 OVR)
3. Luke Stocker (73 OVR)
4. Danny Vitale (69 OVR)

Tight end isnt really a position of strength or weakness for this club. Seferian-Jenkins is young with a great combination of size and athleticism while Brate and Stocker are serviceable players. The wildcard at TE is Danny Vitale out of Northwestern, the kid is a tremendous who played HB, FB, TE, and lined up in the slot in college. It remains to be seen if he can develop into an impact player for the Bucs, but given his versatility he is certain to find a home somewhere on the roster.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Season 1 Preview - OL

Projected Starters
LT - Donovan Smith (77 OVR)
LG - JR Sweezy (76 OVR)
C - Evan Smith (75 OVR)
RG - Ali Marpett (77 OVR)
RT - Demar Dotson (78 OVR)

This is a mediocre unit that will need a few upgrades, particularly at center and right tackle where the starters are over 30. On the upside, Donovan Smith and Ali Marpett are both only second year players who the team could build around up front. The coaching staff will have to be aware of elite pas rushers and scheme around shortcomings or it could be a long year for this group.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Season 1 Preview - Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle

Projected Depth Chart
1. Gerald McCoy (92 OVR)
2. Clinton McDonald (77 OVR)
2. Akeem Spence (73 OVR)

When healthy, Gerald McCoy has been one of the elite 4-3 DTs in the league. With the Bucs transitioning to a 3-4 the question is will McCoy be able to hold up as the Nose Tackle. If McCoy can hold up vs the run and still generate a pass rush from the middle he could be invaluable. If McCoy isn't up to the task he could see time as a 3-4 end or even be on the trade block. Akeem Spence is similar to McCoy athletically and could be a player without a home in the new scheme as well.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Season 1 Preview - Defensive Ends

Projected Depth Chart
1. Robert Ayers, Jr (84 OVR)
2. William Gholston (78 OVR)
3. Jacquies Smith (74 OVR)
4. Noah Spence (71 OVR)

Ayers and Gholston are both solid run stoppers from a traditional 4-3. Both players could play well in the 3-4 if given the chance while more athletic guys like Smith and rookie Noah Spence are likely to be used as situational pass rushers or given a shot at an OLB position.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Season 1 Preview - Linebackers

Projected Starters
1. Lavonte David (86 OVR)
2. Daryl Smith (82 OVR)
3. Kwon Alexander (76 OVR)
4. Jeremiah George (68 OVR)

This unit boasts a star in Lavonte David who is a freakish athlete that can pursue sideline to sideline along with an athletic youngster with a ton of upside in Kwon Alexander. What the group lacks is pass rushers to make the transition to the 3-4. Coaches are likely to use a number of different situational combinations to try and get the right mix and the early word is that the team could be targeting linebackers via trade or free agency if they are able.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Season 1 Preview - Cornerback

Projected Depth Chart
1. Brent Grimes (85 OVR)
2. Vernon Hargreaves III (77 OVR)
3. Alterraun Verner (75 OVR)
4. Josh Robinson (75 OVR)
5. Johnthon Banks (71 OVR)

Tampa Bay native and Florida Gator alumni Vernon Hargreaves III will be expected to start immediately and develop into a #1 corner for this defense. Hargreaves doesn't have prototype size but is athletic and skilled. The team brought in skilled veteran Brent Grimes to mentor Hargreaves and be a stop gap while the team waits for Alterraun Verner to cash in on his considerable potential. Verner's falling stock has left the door open for the athletic Josh Robinson to compete for the nickel corner position on the depth chart. This is a group that is vulnerable and will need to add some talent in the draft or free agency in the offseason if they hope to keep up with the athletic WRs they will face week in and week out.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Season 1 Preview - Safety

Projected Starters
SS - Chris Conte (76 OVR)
FS - Bradley McDougald (77 OVR)

The coaching staff is not thrilled with what they have at the safety positions. Conte is a veteran but cant really be considered to be more than a stop gap player. McDougald on the other hand has adequate athleticism and good size, but needs to develop if he wants to be the starter long term. This is one of many positions that you can expect the team to be looking to upgrade.

 

[wyrmreaver]

Updated OP with my season 1 playbook selections