Offense (26):
QB (3): Mayfield, Browning, Bazelak
RB(3): Irving, Gainwell, Tucker*
WR(6): Godwin, McMillan, Egbuka, T. Johnson*, Hurst, K. Johnson*
OL(10):Wirfs, Goedeke, Skule, Chukwuma, Barton, Mauch, Bredeson, Schrauth, Klein, Feeney
TE(4): Otton, Durham, Bauer, Culp
Defense (24):
DL(6): Vea, Kancey, Robinson, Roberts, Roches, Capehart*
ILB(4): Anzalone, Rozeboom, Trotter, Dennis
OLB(5): Diaby, Bain, Muhammad, Nelson*, Walker
CB(5): Parrish, Morrison, McCollum, Scott*, Hayes*
SAF(4): Winfield Jr, Smith, Roberts, Killebrew*
Special teams* (3):
K(1): McLaughlin*
P(1): Dixon*
LS(1): Deckers*
It looks like some guys are already on the outside and have to claw their way back onto the roster. Players like Josh Williams, Houston, Greene, Sills, Haggard, Scott, Kieft, Simmons, Jones, Hutmacher, Braswell, Kamara, Nick Jackson, Wisdom, and Banks.
WR is such a log jam that most likely Houston, Greene and Sills are fighting for PS spots. Another log jam seems to be OL but then again the drafting of Schrauth indicates that the team isn't happy with Klein or Haggard. Especially since Feeney is back and Bredeson is sticking around.
Culp could be on the chopping block but Kieft is competing not only against this TE group but a lot of new comers that can play special teams like Killebrew. Otton and Durham are by default ahead of Kieft because they can block and catch passes. If Bauer shows he can block and catch then he leapfrogs Kieft and Culp. Culp has a shot of sticking around despite being a smaller TE due to his second gear. Bauer also has a second gear but with some size too.
Defensively the team can like Jones, Simmons and Nick Jackson but there isn't much room to keep them. Vea, Kancey and Robinson are the top three then you have the reserves in Roberts, Roches and Capehart. Roberts and Roches can play up and down the line as NT, 3 tech or 5 tech. Capehart has size and athleticism with his long arms and can be used on special teams.
Nick Jackson has to really grind to fight for a spot but the Bucs signed two vets and drafted a LB. Jackson is competing against Dennis, and Dennis is on the final of the year.
At OLB Kamara and Braswell simply do not have a path forward on the roster when David Walker is the 4th/5th OLB on the depth chart and team really, really likes him and wants to give him reps. Nelson knows this scheme really well and is a special teams player.
On the backend the drafting of Smith and bringing in Killebrew shut the door for Wisdom or Banks to the make the roster unless they can beat out Hayes for special teams. But Hayes can play multiple spots on the backend along with Parrish, Smith, Winfield Jr, Roberts and Scott. Because of that versatility I do not see the Bucs keeping more than 9 DBs and might go with even less like 8 DBs. But 7 DBs is not likely as Killebrew is a ST ace so the Bucs will want 7 DBs that can play on the backend with Killebrew which mean 8-9 DBs should make the final roster.
Overall this is pretty much last year's roster minus LVD and Evans. Better depth and possible upgrades with Bain and Smith defensively if they see significant playing time.
Kieft is competing not only against this TE group but a lot of new comers that can play special teams like Killebrew
Lots of talk about the collapse last year, with ST being a big contributor. A lot of the ST falls on the coach, but it was also just the overall lack of roster talent then compounded by injury. ST performance is often a reflection of overall roster talent, or lack thereof. Kieft being an easy example. He has been. key special teams contributor then out injured last season and this season maybe on the outside looking in because of new talent.
Josh Hayes was a starting CB for the Bucs defense a couple years back.
But if you are looking for a transformation (or a hoped for transformation) just go back to the collapse last year and see it through Bowles eyes and you probably see a Bucs defense that was getting pushed around a bit and often unable to stop the run, a sin of the highest order in a Bowles defense.
So, it may not work overall but its obvious that they really wanted to get BIGGER and TOUGHER against the run. So, from Bain to even Scott or Capehart and obviously the free agents. . . . toughness, strength against the run. Even though teams should come out against the Bucs throwing to their TEs and RBs lol
In Bowles scheme the green dot line backer mo has to be the field general but also protect mid field. Anzalone is athletic enough to do it while the other mike LB has to be downhill and fill a gaps or contain the run to protect the sideline. Dennis struggled protecting the sideline but showed can can go downhill. Still, Trotter and Rozeboom were added because they are simply better tacklers than Dennis. Trotter uses textbook tackling technique to take down ball carriers by wrapping up while Rozeboom was always known as a tackling machine. However Rozeboom brings the wood when he drives with his tackles and when Earnest Jones departed it opened the door for him. Rozeboom is also kind of underrated as a zone LB by dropping in coverage but Anzalone has that covered. Nothing has changed in my mind because Rozeboom and Anzalone are the starting ILB duo. With Trotter and Dennis as the reserves right now. In an ideal world Anzalone is your starting Mo and Rozeboom backs him up while Trotter is your starting Mike with Dennis backing him up. But Trotter is a rookie so we will see on that front.
Adding Scott also allows the Bucs to play Winfield Jr or even Smith some nickel or go with with three safety looks now to have Smith or Winfield Jr near the LoS and have Scott play centerfield. Or even have Scott himself play near the LoS. Bucs have now three athletic players at safety along with Parrish and Roberts at NCB.
As for Kieft everyone keeps saying he is a lock to make the team due to ST, but the Bucs added a lot of specialists to the team now and honestly Kieft has to show more to stick around.
Adding Scott also allows the Bucs to play Winfield Jr or even Smith some nickel or go with with three safety looks now to have Smith or Winfield Jr near the LoS and have Scott play centerfield. Or even have Scott himself play near the LoS. Bucs have now three athletic players at safety along with Parrish and Roberts at NCB.
just wonder if its basically all the same type of player so the potential for trickery is high, but that leaves only Morrison and McCollum as the only true outside guys
Parrish showed some ability outside, so he can be sneaky/multiple… but agree that we’re really thin at cover Corner. Maybe they have a June cut strategy? Hope so, we’re too thin there.Adding Scott also allows the Bucs to play Winfield Jr or even Smith some nickel or go with with three safety looks now to have Smith or Winfield Jr near the LoS and have Scott play centerfield. Or even have Scott himself play near the LoS. Bucs have now three athletic players at safety along with Parrish and Roberts at NCB.
just wonder if its basically all the same type of player so the potential for trickery is high, but that leaves only Morrison and McCollum as the only true outside guys
Parrish is an outside boundary CB until Morrison and McCollum prove otherwise IMO. Adding Scott and having Roberts come back makes that decision easier.
We will be a good team but still have Bowles as our hc so there's that and hope the injuries aren't as bad this year. I like the team just hope we can overcome our faults.
The defense just needs to be NFL average, on paper, it looks as if it could be a little more than that.
Zac Robinson approaching somewhere near what Coen was able to deliver on offense, could help the offense get back to elite…although missing Mike Evans is going to have an impact. Would be nice if Ted Hurst could be counted on to contribute at least as a red zone target/option.
The defense just needs to be NFL average
If you go back and look at the end of the season from the AZ game on (not something I would recommend doing lol) the defensive player that stands out most as the weak link is actually LVD.
I hate to post that because he had years of being one of the best but, for example, in the AZ game he has the RB coming out of the back on the TD and doesnt even chase him because he realizes no chance to catch him. Same thing with the Saints QB on multiple runs. No match at all for Pitts on one of the Falcons TDs. Sanders TD for Carolina, always trailing him and then loses him. Sanders only TD.
So really if Anzalone stays healthy and plays like 2025 the Bucs defense is substantially better than the Bucs defense down the stretch because they should have basic competent coverage LB, stout run defense, better pressure and hopefully MUCH BETTER play from Tykee Smith (who acknowledged his own mistakes, which are often missing an RB in the hole but also being beaten by TEs).
Slightly better defensive play down the stretch and the Bucs of 2025 are in the playoffs. In the end of 2025 their HOF defensive leader is falling a part and so is their heir-apparent leader Smith