If the Godfather said, its probably true....(Bucs on the rise)

[yungbull]

Panthers, Browns, Buccaneers among teams set to rise in 2013
By Gil Brandt NFL.com
Senior Analyst


Josh Freeman's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cam Newton's Carolina Panthers are poised for big things in 2013.
As the Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks have shown, it's possible to turn things around very quickly in the NFL. All three teams had losing records in 2011, and all three are making serious noise this season.



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With just two weeks to go this season, I thought I'd take a look at six down-and-out teams that are poised to engineer a similar turnaround in 2013. Of course, with plenty of coaching and front-office decisions yet to be made around the league, there are several variables that are impossible to account for at this point. But these six teams all have rosters that are stocked with talent and potential, and should be able to surprise some folks a year from now.

So here they are, ordered according to the likelihood that they'll become winners in 2013:

1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After drafting well (as evidenced by rookie running back Doug Martin's performance) and signing the right free agents (like receiver Vincent Jackson) over the past three years, the Bucs have a good, young roster. We saw things start to click for them during a 6-4 start, though they've fallen off since. Greg Schiano has done a terrific job in his debut season. In Year 2, he'll have a better understanding of the length of the NFL season, and he'll have a firmer sense of when (and how hard) to push his players.

The Bucs have given up a lot of passing yards (310.6 per game, worst in the NFL), and where they really need help is on the back end. Aqib Talib is gone, having been traded to the New England Patriots. Stalwart Ronde Barber, meanwhile, is 37 and might not come back for a 17th season. So they'll have some openings to fill. Can they find a way to keep defensive end Michael Bennett, who leads the team with nine sacks, from moving on as a free agent? They also might want to bring in a veteran quarterback (like Kyle Orton, say) to help mentor young signal-caller Josh Freeman, who has talent but has played hot and cold this season. Tampa Bay should have the cap space to do something.



http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000113764/article/panthers-browns-buccaneers-among-teams-set-to-rise-in-2013

[The Anti-Java]

http://www.pewterreport.com/Boards/index.php/topic,1301923.0.html

[caradoc]

 Greg Schiano has done a terrific job in his debut season. In Year 2, he'll have a better understanding of the length of the NFL season, and he'll have a firmer sense of when (and how hard) to push his players.

I disagree very strongly with the "did a terrific job" part, but the article does notice that he needs some work at least.  Next year is gong to be very interesting.  Does Rutgers learn and grow, or does he keep up his stubborn mule routine?  Hopefully the former.  He could be a good coach for a long time, if he doesn't get in his own way.

[bashear]

 Greg Schiano has done a terrific job in his debut season. In Year 2, he'll have a better understanding of the length of the NFL season, and he'll have a firmer sense of when (and how hard) to push his players.

I disagree very strongly with the "did a terrific job" part, but the article does notice that he needs some work at least.  Next year is gong to be very interesting.  Does Rutgers learn and grow, or does he keep up his stubborn mule routine?  Hopefully the former.  He could be a good coach for a long time, if he doesn't get in his own way.

Schiano has done a decent job coming into Tampa, ridding the Bucs of trash, and putting a competitive team on the field until last week. Cleaning up the mess from 2011 was an unenviable job and not one that would only take a year. We need better players, and, yes, to do some rethinking.

[DefenseWins]

Nice to feel like this team is finally looking to have a direction.

Longterrrrrrrm.

[Al Bundy]

Gil has forgotten more about football than anyone on this board has ever known, probably combined. I know he liked Freeman quite a bit when he came out.

[yungbull]

Hes done a great job when you put it into perspective.  By cleaning up the scumbag roster from last yr, we lacked even more depth at key positions.  Im not happy about the last months or so, but this team is going in a good direction.  With a few more solid drafts and added depth I see the Bucs being a consistent top 5 caliber team under Schiano.

[caradoc]

 Greg Schiano has done a terrific job in his debut season. In Year 2, he'll have a better understanding of the length of the NFL season, and he'll have a firmer sense of when (and how hard) to push his players.

I disagree very strongly with the "did a terrific job" part, but the article does notice that he needs some work at least.  Next year is gong to be very interesting.  Does Rutgers learn and grow, or does he keep up his stubborn mule routine?  Hopefully the former.  He could be a good coach for a long time, if he doesn't get in his own way.

Schiano has done a decent job coming into Tampa, ridding the Bucs of trash, and putting a competitive team on the field until last week. Cleaning up the mess from 2011 was an unenviable job and not one that would only take a year. We need better players, and, yes, to do some rethinking.

What Schiano did was not "terrific".  It wasn't a "disaster" either.  He has done an "OK" job so far.  Hopefully he grows into something good.