Bucs blueprint for rebuilding: Get back to basics 
Coach Lovie Smith keeps things moving during Bucs practice at One Buc Place on Saturday. ANDY JONES/STAFF By Ira Kaufman | Tribune Staff Published: August 9, 2015 TAMPA — The Buccaneers messed with the football gods last year, paying a hellacious price.Coming off a 4-12 season under coach Greg Schiano and general manager Mark Dominik, the Bucs changed direction and a new management team promptly decided to veer away from standard NFL doctrine and invest heavily in free agency.“If you think you’re at a point you can legitimately compete for a championship, not just squeeze into the playoffs, that’s when you go after those big pieces,” said ESPN football analyst Ron Jaworski, who attended Bucs camp on Friday.When the 2014 free agency period began, GM Jason Licht and head coach Lovie Smith quickly targeted veteran quarterback Josh McCown, defensive end Michael Johnson and left tackle Anthony Collins. All proved disappointing during a 2-14 season that left Tampa Bay buried in the NFC South basement for a fourth consecutive year.After suffering their worst season since 1986, when Dionne Warwick topped the charts with “That’s What Friends Are For,” the Bucs dumped all three players and changed their tune.
“Last year, I was a little wary of some of the free agents they signed — and that turned out to be true,” said former Bucs defensive back Ronde Barber, now an NFL analyst for Fox. “The good teams in this league are draft-and-develop teams and I’m optimistic the Bucs made some good moves this offseason, including addition by subtraction.”Instead of honing in on high-priced free agents, Tampa Bay was more strategic this spring, adding defensive depth with Bruce Carter, Henry Melton, George Johnson and Chris Conte. Carter tops the depth chart at middle linebacker while Johnson, who has never started an NFL game, could open at defensive end Week 1 against Tennessee.The most important additions are rookie quarterback Jameis Winston and new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.“In my opinion, they have a pretty good defense that’s going to have to carry this team at least through the first part of the season,” said Bucs Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks, who speaks to Winston on a regular basis. “My conversations with Jameis will remain private, but he’s learning how to be a pro. We’ve got some guys in the locker room who are good leaders to follow. My advice to Jameis is simple: Listen twice as much as you talk.”The mission in 2015 is to build additional franchise cornerstones to surround record-setting wide receiver Mike Evans, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and outside linebacker Lavonte David.“I don’t know how many games they’re going to win, but I think you’re going to see a vast improvement from the Bucs,” said former running back Mike Alstott, who will enter the franchise’s Ring of Honor this fall.After making Winston the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Tampa Bay selected tackle Donovan Smith and guard Ali Marpet with the hope they will all grow together into key offensive pieces.“It’s good to be drafting low for a couple of years, like we’ve done, but now it’s time for us to do something with it,” Lovie Smith said. “We just don’t want to be down here anymore. But we think by being down here we’ve added some good football players. I don’t think we have to wait 10 years to see that. We’ve added good football players that are ready to win — that are used to winning.”For Jaworski, Tampa Bay’s long-term strategy is the right path.“The NFL is all about player procurement,” he said.“Mistakes were obviously made by the Bucs in their talent evaluation of the free agent market last year. The way it works best is draft and develop, and I think Green Bay has been the iconic team in the league in that regard, followed by Seattle. I study all 32 teams and it’s literally mind-boggling to see the teams that are consistent with staffs and front office are the consistent winners.“Front-office turnovers are very difficult to overcome — stability is critical. You can’t panic when you lose. It can never be a knee-jerk situation because you’ve got to have a long-range plan in place. As I see it, the Bucs now have a plan ... stick with it.’’Brooks, Barber and Alstott, key contributors in the glory years, never played a down for another NFL club. The current regime plans to duplicate that blueprint with core players.“Do I think the Bucs will challenge for one of the top spots in the NFC in 2015? I don’t think they’re ready for that,” Barber said. “Some of these guys need to develop quickly and if they do, it could be a surprise year for them. The cornerstones of our franchise back then were all drafted within a few years. Those players were still on the roster when we won a Super Bowl.“That’s how you build a football team. Other people’s free agents can be trash. Yes, fill in when needed through free agency. We picked up some guys who really helped put us over the top, but the meat and potatoes of that Super Bowl club were guys we drafted.“That’s what the Bucs are trying to duplicate right now.” [email protected](813) 259-7833Twitter: @IKaufmanTBO
