Reynolds’ Recap

Depth Chart

While I’m impressed with Trevor Sikkema’s stout defensive line, which features Warren Sapp, Gerald McCoy and Simeon Rice, and Mark Cook’s offensive weapons that include Jameis Winston, Mike Evans, Joey Galloway, Jimmie Giles and the WD-40 backfield of Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn, I believe I have the most complete Buccaneers team, full of Super Bowl champions, Pro Bowlers, record holders and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees.

On offense I have Brad Johnson, the only Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Bucs history handing off to the franchise’s all-time leading rusher (and receptions leader) in James Wilder and throwing to the two most prolific receivers in Tampa Bay history in Mark Carrier, the all-time leading receiver, and Kevin House, who has scored the most touchdowns (31) by a wide receiver in Tampa Bay history. Some of you Bucs fans aren’t old enough to remember Wilder, Carrier and House, so let me help you out. Wilder was a 6-foot-3, 225-pound running back with speed, power and hands.

Bucs All-Time Leading Rusher RB James Wilder Sr.

Put Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn’s abilities in a blender and you have Wilder. Carrier was a better, faster version of Keenan McCardell – a reliable playmaker, who did simple things like get open, catch the football, move the chains and score touchdowns. House was Tampa Bay’s first speed merchant before Joey Galloway or DeSean Jackson, and caught plenty of bombs from Doug Williams. He’ll be catching touchdowns from a much more accurate quarterback in Johnson on my Bucs team, though. My tight end is Cameron Brate, a young, up-and-comer that tied Jimmie Giles’ single-season touchdown mark for a Bucs tight end in just his third year.

My offensive line features a bunch of physical road-graters, including the most decorated offensive lineman in Bucs history in center Tony Mayberry, a three-time Pro Bowler, and three linemen – Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet and Demar Dotson – from the unit that produced the first – and only – 6,000-yard season of total offense in Tampa Bay history in 2015. I’ve thrown in big Frank Middleton at guard for attitude and physicality. He and Mayberry helped pave the way for a lot of Alstott and Dunn’s yards and touchdowns.

My defensive line is anchored by the Bucs’ all-time leading sacker, Pro Football Hall of Fame and Bucs Ring of Honor inductee defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, who is one of only two Tampa Bay defenders to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors (I’ve got both of them on my team). Inside I’ve got two of the best pass rushing defensive tackles not named Sapp or McCoy in Brad Culpepper, who led the Bucs in sacks in 1998, and the athletic David Logan. Opposite Selmon is a rising star in young pass rusher Noah Spence, who was drafted on potential rather than production. My D-line isn’t quite as good as Sikkema’s, but it is way better than Cook’s.

Bucs Hall of Fame LB Derrick Brooks – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Yet my Bucs linebackers corps is the best of any group – hands down ­– and will prevent any runs from getting past the second level of the defense, as well as cover any running back or tight end. Start with the best and most decorated player in Tampa Bay franchise, outside linebacker Derrick Brooks, who was the 2002 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Brooks, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and Bucs Ring of Honor inductee, has been to 11 Pro Bowls. Then line Brooks, the team’s all-time leading tackler, up next to his mentor, Hardy Nickerson, the baddest middle linebacker in Bucs history and the run gets shut down. I drafted Lavonte David, a Brooks clone, to play on the other side of Nickerson, giving me the fastest linebacker unit and the best tacklers in Tampa Bay history.

As good as my linebackers are, my secondary may be even better. The NFL has become a passing league, and my defensive backs can shut down the pass. Pair my undersized, pass rushing defensive line with this secondary full of thieves in Ronde Barber, Donnie Abraham, Dexter Jackson and Dwight Smith and quarterbacks will pay for making errant throws. Can you pick-six?

Barber is the Bucs’ second-all-time leading tackler, Tampa Bay’s all-time leading interceptor and a bad ass blitzer off the edge when he’s playing nickel cornerback. No one has more defensive touchdowns in Bucs history than Barber (Brooks is a close second, but he’s on my team, too). After drafting Barber early, I paired him with Abraham, a true cover corner that just happens to have the second-most interceptions in franchise history. Throw in the Super Bowl MVP in the ballhawking Dexter Jackson, and hard-hitting Dwight Smith, who should have been the Super Bowl MVP with his record two pick-sixes, and my secondary is the best without question.

On special teams I’ve got the most accurate field goal kicker in Tampa Bay history in Connor Barth, the best return specialist in team history with Karl Williams and his five punt return touchdowns and Super Bowl punter Tom Tupa, proving that I can also win on fourth down.

Count ‘em up, Pewter Nation. My Bucs team has the one and only Bucs Super Bowl MVP, two Pro Football Hall of Famers out of three, two Bucs Ring of Honor inductees, seven Super Bowl participants, 10 Pro Bowlers and a combined 35 years of Pro Bowl experience (Cook’s team has 23 years and Sikkema’s team has 21 years). I’ve got a balanced offense that can move the chains on the ground and through the air and can light up the scoreboard with big-play ability. I’ve got a defense that can absolutely shut down the run, rush the passer and a secondary that can get plenty of interceptions.

Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While I was tempted to have Bucs Ring of Honor inductee John McKay as my head coach after Cook picked Jon Gruden first and Sikkema chose Tony Dungy second, I went on potential rather than production and selected Dirk Koetter to lead my team. While McKay deserves credit for taking a woebegone 0-26 team and taking it to the NFC Championship Game in just four years, I just didn’t like McKay’s career winning percentage (.335) and believe that Koetter will be an all-time great Bucs coach when his time in Tampa Bay concludes.

Koetter, the leader of his Stick Carriers, is the only head coach outside of Gruden to have a winning record in his first year coaching in Tampa Bay. He’s offensive-minded, so he will get the most out of my offensive weapons, and he has enough Gruden-like “bad ass” in him to inspire the defense and get my team back to the Super Bowl.