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Joe Bussell of NFLPhilosophy postesd a pre-season review of the Bucs (based on the preseason). Can be found here: http://nflphilosophy.com/2014-nfl-season-preview-nfc-south/ I think it's quite interesting based on what we're currently seeing, and I'm a fan of his analysis particularly of the Bucs given how many games he watches in depth. I'm posting it below, but a couple notes: Of particular note is the disparity he talks about in the offensive roster compared to what the Bucs are trying to accomplish. In essence, this is a carbon copy of Lovie's Chicago roster, yet running a different style of offence.
Tampa Bay BuccaneersAdditions: QB Josh McCown, TE Brandon Myers, OT Anthony Collins, G/OT Oniel Cousins, C Evan Dietrich-Smith, DE Michael Johnson, DT Clinton McDonald, ILB Dane Fletcher, CB Alterraun Verner, CB Mike Jenkins, S Major Wright.Draft Picks: Rnd Pick# Pos. Player College1 7 WR Mike Evans Texas A&M2 38 TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins Washington3 69 RB Charles Sims West Virginia5 143 G Kadeem Edwards Tennessee State5 149 OT Kevin Pamphile Purdue6 185 WR Robert Herron WyomingLosses: QB Dan Orlovsky, FB Erik Lorig, WR Mike Williams, OT Donald Penn, G Davin Joseph, G Gabe Carimi, C Jeremy Zuttah, C Ted Larsen, OLB Dekoda Watson, OLB Adam Hayward, CB Darrelle Revis. Analysis:I’m still confused on what the Bucs are doing with the roster but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It’s just not how I envisioned it and I’m not sure I see the big picture of it but that should become clearer after the first couple of weeks. The offensive personnel mirrors Lovie’s setup in Chicago with big receivers, a suspect offensive line, and even his former Bears QB Josh McCown. What doesn’t make sense is that the roster was built to fit his offense in Chicago but new OC Jeff Tedford indicates he’s running a different system. Basically, there seems to be a disconnect in what the personnel is built for and what the scheme is. That rarely leads to good results.The offensive line was atrocious in the preseason. Big free agent signing Anthony Collins looked more suspect than like a wall on the left side. He’s likely going to be streaky all year long with some very good games and some bad games. The trade for Logan Mankins helps solidify the interior but there is still zero depth. The right guard spot is questionable at best and I’m still not sold on Evan Dietrich-Smith as a good center. Demar Dotson is the holdover from last year that looked really good on the right side in the preseason. He could end up being the best OL on the team by year’s end.Vincent Jackson is a more versatile receiver than he gets credit for. He’s not just a jump-ball winner. He runs solid routes and displays strong hands. Opposite him, rookie Mike Evans seems like a carbon copy that hasn’t developed to VJax’s level yet. Evans will show big time flashes of talent and will likely run some wrong routes early in the season as he’s still learning a new offense. The trade of Tim Wright takes a receiving threat away but allows Brandon Myers to step up to the plate. Lookout for rookie Austin Sefarian-Jenkins to take over the main role very early if he doesn’t start there. He’s extremely raw but the ceiling is sky high once he gets a feel for the NFL.The defense is going to be dominant. There is potential to be a top 3 defense in the league. Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David are going to love playing in this defense and McCoy is going to look all-world in the ways that Lovie is going to use him. It’s finally time for the NFL to see how good McCoy can really be. New free agent signing is going to have pressure on him to get pressure on the QB. This defense needs pressure off the edge. Out of all the free agent signings, Clinton McDonald is going to be the most significant. His presence on the inside allows Lovie to mix it up a little more. He’s strong at the point of attack and teams can’t double team both he and McCoy. Adrian Clayborn needs to take a leap forward in his pass rushing this year. He’s stout against the run but now it’s time for him to start getting upfield and let the LBs behind him clean up any runs that get past him.Lavonte David is an All-Pro linebacker and deservedly slow. Mason Foster is incredibly intelligent and a thumper between the tackles but lacks good speed to get sideline to sideline. That’s not his game so it will be interesting to see how Lovie keeps him from having to do that. Jonathan Casillas is listed as the SLB but he’s the first guy to come off the field when the Bucs go into their nickel packages which will be more than 50% of the time. The Bucs even have a coach specifically devoted to nickel backs.It would have been fun to see Darrelle Revis play for this defense but his exit clears room for Alterraun Verner and Johnthan Banks to show what they’re made of. Banks is long and lanky and really improved as the season progressed in 2013. Verner looked phenomenal in Tennessee last season but he didn’t play much in the preseason due to injury. Mike Jenkins is the nickel back with Leonard Johnson as the 4th CB. Johnson is the type of guy that can get a pick six on any play or blow a coverage and give up a big touchdown.Mark Barron is going to be great to watch this year as Lovie will let him roam a little. He’s much better in the box than as a deep coverage type of player. Dashon Goldson has to be more disciplined in this defense. The safeties play a big role in keeping plays from being big gainers and Goldson’s aggression could work against him in that regard. I think the Major Wright signing might have been a safeguard for that as well as to help communicate the intricacies of Lovie’s defense to this team.Tampa Bay feels like they could vastly underachieve this year because they can’t get the offense going or they could push for the playoffs based on a run game and a dominant defense.
Posted : Sep. 18, 2014 12:19 am
