The Bucs enter the 2022 season with plenty of hope, as they are built for a deep playoff run. There’s a reason many are talking about Tampa Bay potentially winning its second Super Bowl in three seasons. That’s almost the expectation, at least when Tom Brady is your quarterback.

However, the Bucs aren’t without their flaws. While they may have more strengths than weaknesses, the team’s weaknesses could be significant enough to prevent another trophy ceremony with red, white and pewter confetti falling from the sky next February.

After we took a look at Tampa Bay’s three biggest strengths, we now turn to the other side and dive into its three biggest weaknesses.

A Brand-New Interior Offensive Line

Bucs RG Shaq Mason and C Robert Hainsey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Offensive line has been one area the Bucs haven’t had to be concerned about in the last two years. The group of Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Ryan Jensen, Alex Cappa and Tristan Wirfs was as solid as any unit in the league. But now, the line looks awfully different — particularly on the interior.

Marpet retired in February, then Cappa left for Cincinnati in free agency. The Bucs essentially upgraded at right guard, replacing Cappa by acquiring Shaq Mason from New England. But the left guard position was a question mark entering training camp, and then Jensen went down with a knee injury that will keep him out for months. So now, the Bucs will be breaking in a new left guard, center and right guard in front of Tom Brady.

Mason should offer the least worries of the three. Robert Hainsey, stepping in for Jensen at center, will be getting his first meaningful action at the NFL level. The team likes him, but he’s still unproven. And at left guard, no one really emerged from the camp competition as a clear favorite. Rookie Luke Goedeke ultimately won the job and will get his first career start when Tampa Bay opens its season in Dallas next Sunday. The group may not be a bad one, but it’s definitely a question mark as of now. Smith and Wirfs are as good as they come, but the interior will be tested and can be considered a potential weakness until further notice.

Bad Injury Luck & Continued Injury Concerns

Every Super Bowl winner has an element of luck on their side. A large part of that is injury luck. Take the Bucs’ two championship seasons, for example. In 2002, the team had just one starter on I.R. The same can be said about the 2020 squad. And right now, there are plenty of injury concerns and question marks for the 2022 Bucs.

Chris Godwin is coming off of a torn ACL. Mike Evans, Russell Gage and Breshad Perriman all dealt with an injury at one time or another in training camp. Keanu Neal, Zyon McCollum, Giovani Bernard, Robert Hainsey, Nick Leverett and Tristan Wirfs all did as well. Not to mention, new additions Julio Jones and Akiem Hicks come with lengthy injury histories, which provides some cause for concern. And Ryan Jensen’s knee injury is a big one, too.

Tampa Bay is getting healthier ahead of its season opener. But can the team stay healthy enough to make a deep playoff run? Injuries stacked up late last year and kept the Bucs from securing a Super Bowl repeat. They’ll need some luck on their side to avoid that happening again this year.

Lack Of Proven Depth At Cornerback

Bucs CBs Sean Murphy-Bunting, Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs have a lot of depth on their roster. In fact, they might be deeper than they have been in past years. But their cornerback room lacks proven contributors behind Carlton Davis III. Todd Bowles said Monday that Jamel Dean will be the team’s No. 2. Dean has shown plenty of good things over the years. But behind Davis and Dean, the Bucs appear thin. Sean Murphy-Bunting will be the No. 3, but he has yet to show much consistency in the first three years of his career.

Zyon McCollum might have a bright future, but he’s still adjusting to the NFL as a rookie and is currently dealing with a hamstring injury. Dee Delaney had a great spring, but wasn’t as productive during training camp and the preseason. The addition of Logan Ryan — who can play in the slot as well as at safety — should help. Plus, Antoine Winfield Jr. is working at nickel cornerback.

But overall, the team’s cornerback group stands out as perhaps its biggest weakness. That’s not to say it’s a bad unit, as the team is stacked elsewhere. But the corners definitely have something to prove, and they’ll be looking to do so against the likes of Dak Prescott, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow this fall.