NightHawkTH32
All-Star
2018 Buccaneers Season Preview
Tampa, FL -- The 2018 NFL season brings new hope for a struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise. After another disappointing season in 2017, new management was brought in to direct this franchise to the contenders that they once were in the early 2000s when they got their lone Super Bowl victory. The Bucs haven't tasted the playoffs since the 2007 season and the new staff is committed to putting and end to that drought. Things started off quick in the off-season by filling holes through free agency and the draft, highlighted by free agent Bradley McDouglad and highly touted rookies Bradley Chubb and Derrius Guice.
Let's take a look at the 2018 Buccaneers Offense. Starting with the field general and offensive captain, Jameis Winston. Winston has vastly improved in his 2 seasons in the league and is coming off a season in which he threw for 3784 yards and 28 Touchdowns. However, he struggled at times and ended the season with 24 interceptions thrown, a number he hopes to significantly decrease in 2018. With the only backup being Ryan Griffin, the Bucs signed former Buffalo QB E.J. Manuel in free agency to provide a solid backup and similar game play to Jameis Winston.
At running back, things got real interesting during the draft when the Bucs took LSU running back Derrius Guice in the second round. It was a surprise that Guice fell in to the second round and with the injury concerns to Doug Martin, it seems the Bucs have committed to their future back in Guice. Martin underwhelmed in 2017 with only 740 yards rushing from scrimmage. Guice is a true 3 down back and it will be interesting to see how Tampa Bay uses him early on in the season. Early word is that he will back up Martin and get short yard carries with Charles Sims III taking the passing downs but it is clear that the Bucs view Guice as their future.
At wide receiver, the Bucs return their top two receivers in captain Mike Evans and veteran DeSean Jackson. Evans and Jackson put up very similar numbers in 2017 with Evans scoring 6 touchdowns on 789 yards and Jackson pulling in 4 touchdowns on 774 yards. 2017 slot receiver Adam Humphries was not re-signed in the off-season as Tampa Bay moved 2nd year man Chris Godwin into the WR3 role, allowing Jackson to play more slot in 3 wide receiver sets. Godwin had minimal exposure last season, but gathered 2 touchdowns on 395 yards receiving. Look for Godwin to have a breakout season for the Bucs as the second year man out of Penn State looks to be a consistent contributor for this Tampa offense. The tight ends are a strong point for the Bucs offense as they have 2 very solid and dangerous receiving tight ends in OJ Howard and Cameron Brate. Brate will resume the backup tight end role but should see a lot of snaps because of the scheme that the new staff plans to run. Howard is a threat through the air and is a solid blocking tight end, pulling in 5 touchdowns as their 3rd leading receiver in 2017 with 665 yards. Brate s a great route runner and poises problems for opposing defenses because of the linebacker match-up. Look for the tight ends to provide Winston with some pressure release and confidence early on.
The offensive line has a lot of questions surrounding the group as it has been the weak link on this Tampa attack. Led by center Ali Marpet, the offensive line looks to improve on a disappointing 2017 season and provide Winston with time and the running backs with holes to run through. After a preseason position battle, the left tackle job has been won by Donovan Smith, edging out Terren Jones. At left guard, the Bucs have a new face after signing Xavier Su'a-Filo to a 3-year deal. At right guard, J.R. Sweezy returns for his 6th NFL season. At right tackle, the Bucs return bulldozer Demar Dotson, one of the more steady 2017 contributors. In the draft, the Bucs attempted to improve this group by drafting tackle Jamarco Jones and Center/Guard Will Clapp. I think those two need a year to develop but should be household names on the offensive line in a year or two.
Moving on to defense, the Bucs are a young group sprinkled with a couple savvy veterans. During the draft, the defense seemed to be the focal point of the day as the staff knows that their is a lot of offensive firepower in the NFC South. Starting on the defensive line, the Bucs are led by their defensive tackles, All-Pro Gerald McCoy and Chris Baker. In 2017, McCoy led the team with 19 sacks and Baker provided 8 of his own. With these 2 clogging the middle, it should provide a nice foundation for the defense to control the trenches. On the outside of the defensive line, we have Left Defensive End William Gholston after winning the position battle with Noah Spence and Robert Ayers Jr. Gholston provided 7 sacks but the pass rush wasn't good enough. In the draft the Bucs selected All-American Bradley Chubb from North Carolina State with the 8th overall selection to provide an improved pass rush. Chubb is an athletic freak with a combination of speed and power that will keep offensive lineman guessing.
At the linebacker position group, the Bucs are led by defensive captains Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander.
David will start at the right outside linebacker position after collecting 64 tackles in 2017 and Alexander will start in the middle of the group after collecting 74 tackles in 2017. At the left outside linebacker position, the young Kendell Beckwith will get the starting job. The 2nd year man out of LSU looks to build on his rookie season, where he split time at the position. The line-backing core will be key to the defensive success this season as they look to provide more help to the secondary in pass coverage.
The defensive secondary is the group to watch this season for the Bucs as they brought in some new faces through the draft and free agency to improve on the struggles the group endured in 2017. At corner, the Bucs return starting corners Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves. The group did not produce enough turnovers last season as they only intercepted opposing QBs a combined 3 times. Hargreaves, however, was a rookie and has improved much in the off-season and Grimes is one of the more underrated cover corners in the league. With Grimes hitting 35 this season, the Bucs went out of drafted Alabama corner Anthony Averett and USC corner Iman Marshall. While Averett will get the starting nickel job, Marshall should see a lot of field time and provide good depth at the position as Grimes playing days are nearing an end. At free safety, the Bucs signed Bradley McDougald, who spent the year with the Super Bowl Champion Seahawks after playing for Tampa previously. McDouglad gives Tampa a solid free safety with a lot of confidence that can mentor 2017 draft choice Justin Evans, who the staff feels needed some more development. At strong safety, the Bucs return the dangerous T.J. Ward, who was signed prior to the 2017 season after spending time with the Denver Broncos. Ward provides big play ability for the secondary, but age is also playing a factor. The Bucs have Keith Tandy to provide depth at the position and drafted safety Trey Marshall out of Florida State in the 6th round to possibly be the future starter at the position.
As for the special teams, the Bucs return kicker Nick Folk and punter Bryan Anger. DeSean Jackson will be returning punts as a dangerous return specialist and will partner with free agent acquisition receiver Bruce Ellington to return kicks.
During the season preview, the writers picked the Bucs to finish second in the NFC South behind defending South champs and powerhouse Carolina Panthers. They also selected RB Derrius Guice to win the offensive rookie of the year award. Well there you have it Bucs nation, a new look team bringing new hope to a hungry fan base. Expect bigger and better things from these guys in 2018 as they hope to make Tampa proud. Be excited! These Bucs are ready. They will kick off the season on Prime Time as the travel to AT&T Stadium to take on America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys as PX1's Game of the Week. Stay Tuned for more team news. Let's make 2018 a great year! Go Bucs!