2019 Prediction: 6-10
As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into the 2019 NFL season, the franchise finds itself at a crossroads — resign Jameis Winston or not. The team is clearly investing in the quarterback’s success, as they have brought veteran coach and Winston advocate Bruce Arians out of retirement, but with his off-field track record and poor record on-field the question remains.
Arians is tasked with getting the organization back on track after three underwhelming years with Dirk Koetter at the helm. “On track” may be a bit of an understatement as the Buccaneers haven’t made the playoffs in twelve years, and Arians didn’t take long to put his stamp on the team. In May, the new head coach cut veteran defensive tackle Gerald McCoy — one of their most decorated players in franchise history — in a move that drew much ire from player and fans alike.
If Winston finally emerges under Arians, perhaps he is resigned, but with a strong quarterback class ahead for the 2020 draft anything less than a winning season could spell the end of Winston. Before we break down the rest of the 2019 season, lets flash back NFL 100 style to what is, of course, the franchise’s finest moment…
Best Moment: Super Bowl XXXVII
This game is proof that defense wins championships. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers forced five interceptions, returning three for touchdowns, and registered five sacks in an utter thrashing of the Oakland Raiders.
Best Uniforms: The Creamsicles
The teams original uniforms are a thing of beauty. No jersey in football history has better radiated the day and age of the team’s founding (late 70s) than the Bucs’ creamsicles. The great thing about the team’s vintage looks is that it’s always in style, with the Bucs last wearing them in 2013.
Now on to more pressing matters — the fate of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 season. We have them down for six wins, but can Arians take this squad to the next level like he did in Arizona? Here are four things we are looking at…
A Secondary Success?
During OTAs, Arians said that the teams defensive secondary was now “totally fixed”. One can only hope after the unit ranked 26th in pass defense. Starting holdover’s Vernon Hargreaves, Carlton Davis, and Justin Evans will need to make more plays in 2019. The team posted just nine interceptions in 2018.
Where additions that led to Arians “fixing” the unit comes in the shape of rookies. Three of the Buccaneers’ first four draft picks were spent on the secondary — cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean, and safety Mike Edwards. As if they weren’t expected to produce early, more pressure has been applied to the youngsters as veteran Ryan Smith was hit with a four game suspension for PEDs.
Pass-rush Puzzle
A big help to the secondary would be an improved pass rush. The team is switching to a 3-4 system under defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Bowles, has a history of building productive defenses, but things will be tricky in Tampa. Star pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul fractured a vertebra in his neck during a car crash this offseason. Doctors have said he can continue to play football as early as October, but with an injury like this who knows when the Pro Bowler will return.
So who is left to pick up the slack? Top candidates are Carl Nassib, Noah Spence, and Shaq Barrett. Nassib has a decent season with 6.5 sacks in 2018, but he’ll be moving to a new stand-up edge roll in this new scheme. If he can excel in this new role will be worth watching. As will Noah Spence’s development. After a promising rookie campaign in Spence has failed to progress. This is a make and break year.
Peyton Barber vs Ronald Jones
Last season the Bucs had the fourth worst running game in the league…and the Buccaneers did nothing to address it. Clearly Arians thinks his scheme can open up all sorts of possibilities for the rushing attack. Barber, was the lead back last season and had a commendable 871 yards and five touchdowns, but more is needed.
None more so than from Ronald Jones. Last year, the Buccaneers’ second-round draft pick totaled just 29 carries for 44 yards and a single touchdown. Arians recently had strong praise for Jones, saying the running back was “going to make big plays” for the team in 2019. Time will tell, but much will be expected from the versatile player.
Wide Receiver Depth
There are no questions about where the production will come in the Bucs’ passing attack. The top targets will be Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, along with the tight ends Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, yet the question remains — who will be in the slot?
Last year Adam Humphries had a tremendous impact from the slot, but signed on with the Tennessee Titans in the offseason. One player to watch is Breshad Perriman. The former first-round pick was a bust for Baltimore, but that was not completely his fault as Perriman was repeatedly bitten by the injury bug. The size and speed of Perriman, should he stay healthy, could provide the Bucs with a valuable target.
BREAKOUT: Chris Godwin, WR
You could say Godwin made a big jump in 2018, as he totaled 59 receptions for 842 yards and seven touchdowns, but I believe there is another level that Godwin can get to. With so much production in just five starts, the 2019 NFL season will be Godwin’s first as a full-time starter and with Humphries gone, there could be a lot more targets heading his way.
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