This year marks the first time since Tom Brady's retirement that the Bucs are realistically being discussed as Super Bowl contenders. Whether it's due to coaching consistency, veteran leadership, or overall talent, this team is in a strong position.
Coach Todd Bowles returns for his fourth year, bringing a steady voice to the locker room. With three consecutive NFC South division titles under his belt, he’s proven he can navigate tough times without losing the team’s faith. Bowles and GM Jason Licht have skillfully replaced offensive coordinators who have moved on to bigger roles, a challenging task they've managed well. It’ll be interesting to see how this year's project unfolds.
Veterans like Mike Evans, Lavonte David, Tristan Wirfs, Chris Godwin, and Vita Vea bring unmatched experience, talent, and leadership. While some may be slightly past their primes, they still have what it takes to carry this team forward.
I'm excited to see what new Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard adds to an already top-5 offense from last year. With returning stars and new additions like rookies Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson, he has all the weapons he needs. The offensive line is “open-box ready” so there’s no excuse for this unit not to perform at a high level again.
On the defensive side, Coach Bowles is back to lead a unit that underperformed last year. With new rookie corners bringing potential and the addition of Haason Reddick to bolster the pass rush, this defense should improve—it has to. If it does, the Bucs can contend for a spot in the Super Bowl.
However, there are still plenty of questions to address. Injuries to key players like Wirfs and Godwin are concerning. No team is as strong without their All-Pro tackle, and it’s unclear how long it will take for him to return. Godwin's timeline is uncertain as well, and we need him to be close to his former self when he’s back. The injury to backup receiver Jalen McMillan adds to these concerns.
Can Grizzard maintain the offensive momentum that Liam Coen built last year? He has the intelligence, but being the play-caller is a different challenge that often takes time to master. How long will it take Grizzard to find his rhythm? Hopefully, it won’t be too long.
Lastly, can Bowles turn around the defense? While there have been some new additions, none are immediate game-changers. Last year, the Bucs were 2-8 when allowing more than 23 points per game, but 8-0 when keeping opponents under that threshold. Our offense was strong last year, but they need the defense to step up. Warren Sapp used to publicly beg his offense, "Just give us 13 points." This offense is pleading, “Just keep the other team to 23, and we’ve got you covered.”
We’re also thin at inside linebacker. If David or SirVocea Dennis go down, we could be in trouble. The outside linebacker position is similarly concerning; if Reddick misses any games or underperforms, we may struggle with the same unit from last year to generate pressure, which won't be good enough to reach our goals.
There are many questions to be answered, and we’ll have clarity on these long before the Super Bowl. Here’s hoping the Bucs rise to the occasion!
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