Interesting article with plenty of debate fodder either way. Interesting that they correlate success with # of elite players, which is something that has been hashed out on this board before. http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/12179331/how-many-players-away-super-bowl-was-team How close were the Bucs to being Super Bowl contenders?By Pro Football FocusBREAKING DOWN THE ROSTERTo be considered a Super Bowl contender, 40 percent of the players who took part in at least 250 snaps (varies by team) have to be rated as good or elite. Here's how Pro Football Focus evaluated each of the Bucs' 35 qualifying players.*Elite: 2DT Gerald McCoy, CB Alterraun Verner (NFL Average: 2)Good: 1WR Mike Evans (NFL Average: 4.3)Average: 22OLB Lavonte David, OT Demar Dotson, G Logan Mankins, WR Vincent Jackson, S Bradley McDougald, OLB Danny Lansanah, C Evan Dietrich-Smith, QB Mike Glennon, DT Clinton McDonald, S Major Wright, DE William Gholston, DE Jacquies Smith, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, DT Da'Quan Bowers, TE Luke Stocker, S Mark Barron, ILB Mason Foste, rG Patrick Omameh, OT Anthony Collins, DE Larry English, TE Brandon Myers, CB Leonard Johnson (NFL Average: 21)Bad: 10RB Bobby Rainey, ILB Dane Fletcher, RB Doug Martin, CB Johnthan Banks, QB Josh McCown, DE Michael D. Johnson, OT Oniel Cousins, WR Louis Murphy, DT Akeem Spence, S Dashon Goldson (NFL Average: 5.8)*Pro Football Focus uses its proprietary metrics to evaluate every player on every snap in every game. Each player's rating here is based solely off how his performance in 2014 compared to that of the peers at his position. For more methodology explanation, click here.THE INSIDE STORYWhere NFL Nation agrees/disagrees with Pro Football Focusby Pat Yasinskas, ESPN.comGerald McCoyDT Gerald McCoy: He's the team's unquestioned best player and, according to coach Lovie Smith, "the best defensive tackle in the NFL.'' Despite missing almost four full games due to a sprained knee, McCoy finished 2014 with 8.5 sacks, tied for third-most among DTs. He also showed he wasn't afraid to take a stand publically as the Bucs' losses continued to mount, saying, "I don't think anybody is upset enough with losing." In McCoy, the coaching staff believes it has a Warren Sapp-type building block -- both in terms of skill and leadership -- as the team tries to reverse its downward trend.Alterraun VernerCB Alterraun Verner: He had a nice first season in Tampa Bay, but Verner wasn't flawless in coverage, finishing with two just interceptions and nine passes defensed. A member of the coaching staff said Verner dropped several other potential picks. Verner's elite rating here was likely inflated by his play vs. the run, which ranked No. 1 overall among cornerbacks according to PFF. But Tampa signed Verner to play the role of shut-down corner, and as the season wore on, it was Johnthan Banks -- not Verner -- covering the offense's top receiver.Mike EvansWR Mike Evans: The seventh overall pick proved worthy of the hype, posting 68 catches for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those numbers could've been even better if Evans didn't hit the rookie wall. In Week 11, Evans became the youngest player in NFL history to eclipse 200 receiving yards in a game, but he ran out of gas down the stretch, gaining 257 yards in his final six games. Evans should be reinvigorated by the hire of new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who helped helped Julio Jones realize his full potential in Atlanta.Lavonte DavidOLB Lavonte David: The Bucs view David as someone who could end up being another Derrick Brooks, so his average rating here is a bit perplexing. A true every-down linebacker when healthy, David recorded three consecutive games with 10 solo tackles. It's no wonder, then, that throughout the season, Smith frequently called David the best outside linebacker in football.Anthony CollinsOT Anthony Collins: The Bucs signed Collins to a five-year contract worth $15 million guaranteed in March, and the offensive tackle did little to make Tampa feel good about its investment. One team official said Collins' talent is unquestioned, but he didn't show the necessary work ethic to be successful. He ended up getting benched in the Bucs' final four games. I wouldn't be surprised to see him cut this offseason.Doug MartinRB Doug Martin: Two years ago, I would have ranked Martin in the good category, but he got what he deserved this year. Behind a bad offensive line, Martin averaged just 3.7 yards per carry (36th out of 46 qualified RBs) in an injury-filled season. Martin's days as the starter are likely over; Smith and GM Jason Licht are very high on their third-round draftee Charles Sims. Martin could be used as trade bait in the offseason.Johnthan BanksCB Johnthan Banks: After stumbling out of the gate, Banks compiled four interceptions in the final 11 games. His pick-six vs. the Redskins in Week 11 helped the Bucs win their second game of the year. Here's the major reason Banks is underrated by PFF: The coaching staff trusted its second-year player enough to stick him on the opposing team's best receiver as the season wore on. That trust shows, if nothing else, that the Bucs are expecting big things from Banks.GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWSby Sam Monson, Pro Football FocusGood News: In his four previous NFL seasons, Alterraun Verner had never ranked above 25th among CBs vs. the run. So, it had to be a pleasant surprise for Tampa when Verner ranked as PFF's best CB in terms of run-stop percentage (4.2) and run stops (15) this season. In total, Verner missed just two tackles all year vs. the run.Bad News: In March, Tampa signed Josh McCown after a successful run in Chicago in 2013, but he struggled this season as a Buc. His accuracy percentage -- which credits QBs for drops and removes throwaways and spikes from the equation -- ranked third-worst among QBs. The Bucs needs to address the QB position in earnest this offseason.THE BEST, WORST VALUESby Kevin Seifert, ESPN.comBest -- WR Mike Evans: The Texas A&M product finished second among NFL rookies with 1,051 receiving yards and tied for first with 12 touchdown receptions in an offense that ranked 25th in passing yards and 29th in points scored. Evans earned a hefty $9.4 million as the No. 7 overall pick of the draft, but he's locked into salaries of $1.1 million next season and $1.8 million in 2016. That brings Evans' average annual earnings for his contract to $3.7 million. The Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe -- who had 754 yards and no touchdowns this season -- has a deal that is committed to pay him $11.2 million per year.Worst -- DE Michael Johnson: The Bucs paid Johnson $9 million in 2014, and he gave them four sacks in return. For some context, the Ravens' Elvis Dumervil earned $4.5 million for 17 sacks this season. Johnson -- who is now two years removed from his only season of double-digit sacks -- ranked as PFF's seventh-worst 4-3 DE in 2014. The Bucs still owe Johnson at least $4 million guaranteed next season. That number balloons to $9 million if he's still on the roster by the third day of the league year.GRADING THE QB by Kevin Seifert, ESPN.com(D)It's difficult to suggest that the Bucs have their long-term answer on the roster. Veteran Josh McCown fell short even in a "bridge role" in 2014, committing 18 turnovers in 11 starts and finishing 31st out of 33 qualified QBs with a 35.7 QBR. Backup Mike Glennon was only a little better, and neither he nor McCown could complete as much as 58 percent of their passes. If coach Lovie Smith is going to succeed in Tampa, he'll need to find a better option at quarterback.POSITIONAL NEEDSby Pat Yasinskas, ESPN.comOffensive line: The Bucs overhauled their offensive line last offseason, adding four new starters, but it made little difference as they finished 29th in the league in both rushing (113 ypg) and sacks (52). Look for Tampa to be in the market for a new left tackle this offseason; Anthony Collins, their big-ticket free agent in 2014, is unlikely to return. The Bucs are counting on guard Logan Mankins and center Evan Dietrich-Smith to play better next season and solidify the interior of the line.Quarterback: It became painfully clear in 2014 that neither Josh McCown nor Mike Glennon was capable of leading a coherent offense. The Bucs hold the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and it'll be a surprise if they don't use it to draft either Oregon's Marcus Mariota or Florida State's Jameis Winston.Middle linebacker: The Bucs are set on the outside with Lavonte David and Danny Lansanah, but they will likely be looking to move on from Mason Foster. The coaches aren't sold that he has coverage skills necessary to play middle linebacker in the Tampa 2 scheme.
