PewterReport.com began a new offseason feature this year, giving readers an opportunity to get their questions answered about the Bucs by the PR staff. Today, Mark Cook answers five questions taken from Twitter submissions and our message boards using the hashtag #PRMailbag.

Question: What does Jameis need to do to become number one in yards for a two-year guy?

Answer: If you mean to set the NFL record for most passing yards in his first two seasons, then the number is 790 over the next three games. Andrew Luck currently holds the record (8,196) followed by Cam Newton(7,920) then Peyton Manning(7,874). Barring an injury I think there is a very good chance he sets set the mark by the season’s end. He will need to average 264 yards in the last three games, and he is almost averaging that this season. I think he is due for a big game passing wise, and all three of these games will most likely be meaningful, and with the run game struggling, I expect him to sling the ball more to close the season.

Question: Does Javien Elliott continue to see the majority of nickel snaps once Jude is back next week?

Answer: Well it might be hard to win the job back. Elliott played all 40 snaps when the Bucs defense was in nickel against the Saints. And from what we have heard from the team, they have full confidence in him. I thought he played well on Sunday and didn’t seem to be out of position, at least from my untrained eye. And I was impressed with his toughness and willingness to take on players that outweighed him considerably. Mike Smith expects his cornerbacks to be physical, and that was one of the reasons why they drafted Vernon Hargreaves. Elliott is still raw, but is working very hard by all accounts.

Question: OT Donovan Smith is not getting better. Should the Bucs move on next season?

Answer: He certainly hasn’t made the jump that many, myself included, expected. Dirk Koetter defended him last week during a press conference saying he has been fine, and goes against premiere pass rushers week in and week out. And Koetter is correct. I still believe Smith is a serviceable left tackle and shows flashes of being very good at times, but consistency is something lacking, but to be fair, is also one of the toughest things to accomplish. I mean of any position on a football team, a starting offensive linemen can’t afford to take a play off. Not a single one. However, the good ones are paid handsomely, so no one is feeling sorry for them. 

As far as moving on, what is the game plan if you do that? Who is better on the roster, and if the Bucs are picking say 20th, is there one worthy of being picked that high, and do you neglect positions that the team probably feels are more critical? You can look free agent wise, but be expected to dish out more than they did for Anthony Collins, who turned out to be awful. And teams just aren’t going to part ways with a premiere left tackle. I would be very suspect of a starting caliber left tackle reaching free agency.

I think the Bucs stick with Smith and hope he continues to develop more consistency and figures it out. And for the record I think his overall play is good enough to win a lot of football games. 

Question: Based on how the season has progressed, what are the three biggest needs for improvement this offseason via draft or FA?

Answer: Kicker of course! Kidding. Kind of.

Well with the improvement of the secondary play, and the emergence of Keith Tandy as of late, safety may have dropped a little bit, at least compared to what it was earlier this season. I still think the Bucs look to upgrade that position, especially with Chris Conte and McDougald on one-year deals. It wouldn’t surprise me to see both brought back, at at least attempted to be re-signed, but I wouldn’t expect any big-money, long-term deals just yet. 

To me the obvious upgrade needed is in the receiving corps. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tampa Bay sign a least one free agent then circle back in the draft and add at least one more. Maybe even in the first round. I think getting Winston some additional weapons will be a priority this offseason. But also having better depth. I am not knocking Freddie Martino or Josh Huff, but if Mike Evans were to go down this team is done. And the year is only one hamstring pull away from an 8-8 season.

Finding and developing tackle depth would also be something I wouldn’t mind seeing as well. Cherilus is most likely finished after this season, and Dotson is the elder statesmen of the offensive line. While he probably has a couple years left, it’s never too soon to start looking to the future. 

Question: How do our OT’s penalty numbers look compared to other OT penalty numbers around the league?

Answer: I can’t find a specific stat for that, but I would guess it is about average. I know it might seem like it is worse, but that it is because we are focused on this team and rarely pay attention to other team’s flaws. I am more concerned with the silly mental errors that plague the line though. Two false starts in the first half by Donovan Smith? Cherilus forgetting to report eligible like he did a couple weeks ago? Holding penalties happen, and really could be called a lot more often, but not knowing the snap count, at home, is really poor and very frustrating to Dirk Koetter. Five yards is hard to get in this league, and giving them up for free can be back breakers when you go from third-and-6, to third-and-11.