How Have Tampa Bay Buccaneers Addressed Biggest Weaknesses from 2014? By Luke Easterling Jun 5, 2015 
Chris O'Meara/Associated Press The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into the 2014 offseason needing significant improvement in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and their quarterback situation was questionable, at best.Fast-forward a year, and the Bucs trudged into yet another offseason with the exact same needs staring them right in the eyepatch.Despite completely overhauling the offensive line, the unit struggled mightily again in 2014, with new additions like Anthony Collins, Logan Mankins and Evan Smith failing to live up to expectations. Across the line of scrimmage, Tampa Bay failed to find a top-shelf pass-rusher, relying on the interior disruption of Gerald McCoy and an overachieving performance in the second half of the season from Jacquies Smith.At quarterback, the Josh McCown experiment was a colossal waste, as backup Mike Glennon outplayed him in limited action, though the team still chose to return to the veteran journeyman after he returned from an injury to this throwing hand.Now that the 2015 offseason has all but wrapped up, it’s time to take a look at the Bucs roster and see if they’ve done enough to address their biggest needs for the 2015 season.O-Line Overhaul, Take TwoDespite replacing four of five starters in 2014, Tampa Bay’s front five on offense didn’t seem to perform any better than the unit had in 2013, struggling both in pass protection as well as the ground game.Anthony Collins was given a hefty contract in free agency and was expected to lock down the starting left tackle job, but he played so poorly the team deactivated him for the final three games of the regular season, then released him after just one season.
Chris O'Meara/Associated Press Anthony Collins was a huge bust from last year's class of free agents. Evan Smith was also signed as a free agent last offseason and expected to solidify the center position with some veteran experience, but he had a fairly disappointing season as well.Many fans and analysts alike were surprised to see the Bucs wait until the fifth round of last year’s draft to address their need at guard, where they lacked a quality starter on either side. But just before the end of the preseason, general manager Jason Licht struck a deal with one of his former teams, bringing in six-time Pro Bowler Logan Mankins in a trade with the New England Patriots. But Mankins suffered a knee injury in Week 1, and though he still started every game for the rest of the season, he simply wasn’t the player Tampa Bay expected to get.This offseason, Tampa Bay took the complete opposite approach to rebuilding the offensive line. It avoided overpaying any of the big-name free agents, then spent two of its first three draft picks at the position.The Bucs selected Penn State’s Donovan Smith with the 34th overall pick, a fairly raw player who has a massive frame and impressive athleticism for his size. Some analysts projected him as a better fit at guard at the next level, but the Bucs are confident in his ability to become their new starting left tackle.Later in the second round, the Bucs saw one of their favorite prospects in the entire draft falling toward them but just couldn’t take the risk of him getting snatched up just before their early pick in the third round. So they jumped up a few spots into the bottom of the second round to grab Ali Marpet, the small-school darling who wowed scouts at both the Senior Bowl and the combine with his combination of athleticism, work ethic and versatility.
Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press Small-school star Ali Marpet will be counted on early to protect Jameis Winston. Marpet started at left tackle for tiny Hobart College, dominating inferior competition on a weekly basis. The Bucs will kick him inside and give him every opportunity to win the starting job at right guard, and he could even slide over and play center, if needed.Stability at offensive coordinator should be a huge plus for this group in 2015, allowing the three veterans who return to their starting roles to build some consistency. The two rookies will certainly take their lumps if counted on to start immediately, but they’ve got the natural talent and should learn quickly on the job.Passing on the Pass RushThe Bucs have been looking for an impact pass-rusher since Simeon Rice back in the team’s glory days of the early 2000s, but multiple attempts have failed, both via the draft and free agency.Similar to Anthony Collins at left tackle, Tampa Bay threw big money at Michael Johnson in free agency, hoping he could give the team what they’ve been lacking off the edge. But after an injury-plagued season that saw him tally just four sacks, the Bucs cut their losses with Johnson and released him at the end of the year.
Cliff McBride/Getty Images Michael Johnson was paid big money in free agency, but he only managed four sacks in 2014. The lone bright spot at the position last season was Jacquies Smith, a waiver-wire wonder who racked up 6.5 sacks over the final eight games of the season.As the Bucs moved into the 2015 offseason, finding a player who could bend the edge and get after the quarterback consistently was near the top of their list of glaring needs. But despite an incredibly deep group of edge players in this year’s draft class, Tampa Bay went all seven rounds without taking a single player at the position.The biggest addition the Bucs made at defensive end this offseason was swinging a trade with the Detroit Lions for George Johnson, a former Buc who notched the first six sacks of his NFL career last year while playing on a rotational basis.
Rick Osentoski/Associated Press George Johnson will be counted on to help bolster a lackluster pass rush. Johnson and Smith project as the Week 1 starters, which probably won’t move the needle much for most Bucs fans. Both had career years in 2014, but neither has ever been a full-time starter.Overpaying for another free agent or reaching for need in the draft were courses of action the Bucs were wise to avoid, but that doesn’t mean they simply didn’t do enough to fill one of their biggest needs this offseason. They still lack a true impact player on the edge to help take pressure off Gerald McCoy on the inside.Welcome to Raymond “Jameis” StadiumThe poor play of the offensive line sure didn’t help, but Tampa Bay’s quarterback situation was an absolute mess in 2014, playing a huge role in its 2-14 record.Josh McCown was signed in free agency and billed as a sound decision-maker who wouldn’t lose games by making costly turnovers and mental mistakes with the ball. He turned out to be the complete opposite, providing little consistency at the position and making plenty of mistakes that kept points off the board.
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images Josh McCown wasn't the sound decision-maker the Bucs hoped for in 2014. McCown was outplayed by returning starter Mike Glennon in limited work, as McCown missed time with an injury to his throwing hand. Despite this, McCown was handed back the starting job once he was healthy, and to the surprise of few, he led the Bucs to the league’s worst record.Glennon has shown flashes of playmaking ability, but he’s best suited for a backup role in the NFL.On the bright side of going 2-14, Tampa Bay earned the top overall pick in the 2015 draft, giving it a chance to take a swing on the franchise quarterback it has lacked for most of its entire history.The Bucs did just that, selecting the talented, but polarizing Jameis Winston, a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion at Florida State who had an impressive college career that was somewhat clouded by various off-field incidents.
Chris O'Meara/Associated Press Jameis Winston has Tampa Bay fans excited about their offensive potential in 2015 and beyond. Tampa Bay’s decision-makers did exhaustive research on Winston before handing him the keys to the franchise, making it clear they were comfortable with his character. Winston has said and done all the right things since becoming a Buccaneer, both on and off the field, getting involved in community events and showing off his on-field skills and leadership ability during offseason workouts.Winston is sure to make his share of mistakes on the field as a rookie, especially as one who is expected to be the team’s Week 1 starter. But there’s no doubt he’s already brought a buzz to the team that it's been lacking for quite some time, and fans can only hope that translates to the on-field success they’ve been craving since hoisting the Lombardi Trophy following the 2002 season.link
