FAB 3. The 5 Bucs Helped Most By Brady’s Arrival

Quarterback Tom Brady wasn’t only signed to just throw fewer interceptions than Jameis Winston in Tampa Bay. Brady, a six-time Super Bowl champion, was signed by the Bucs to help teach this young, talented, underachieving football team how to win.

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

No NFL quarterback has won more in the regular season with 219 wins, or the postseason with 30 victories, and there are a lot of Bucs players that could benefit by being in Brady’s presence.

While wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will be excited to catch passes from a living legend like Brady, they are both established Pro Bowl 1,000-yard receivers. They don’t need Brady as much as some of their Tampa Bay teammates do.

Here is a look at five Buccaneers that Brady’s arrival will help the most.

Bucs LT Donovan Smith

Smith is entering a contract year in Tampa Bay. No, the 2020 season isn’t the final year of his contract, but it’s his last year with guaranteed money since signing a three-year, $41.25 million contract extension last offseason. The deal included $27 million in guaranteed money, which was the first two years of the contract, including this year’s salary of $14.5 million. The Bucs plan on selecting at least one tackle in this year’s draft and aren’t obligated to keep him after this season. He’ll need to put his best foot forward to help protect Brady and his own future in Tampa beyond 2020.

Bucs LT Donovan Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Smith, who is a good, but not great left tackle with a 70.8 grade from Pro Football Focus, allowed five sacks last year, which was tied for 26th in the league among tackles, in addition to being called for nine penalties, which ranked 20th among tackles. The bottom line is that Smith can play better, and having the pressure of pass protecting for Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, could help take his game to the next level.

The 6-foot-5, 335-pound Smith has the tools to be an elite tackle in the league, but he has been known to take a play off, get lazy or not finish a block at the most inopportune time and it’s been costly. Allowing a peer like Jameis Winston to get sacked is one thing. Allowing the six-time Super Bowl champion to get sacked simply won’t be allowed without a tongue-lashing from Brady.

Bucs TE O.J. Howard

Howard really struggled last year in his third season in Tampa Bay. The former first-round pick in 2017 had an impressive 89.1 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2018, but that graded plummeted to 54.7 last year as his drops doubled from two to four, and his touchdowns dropped from five to one.

Bucs TE OJ Howard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Howard has all the physical tools in the world to become a Pro Bowler, but needs better focus and preparation. Nobody prepares harder than Brady, and that should rub off on Howard. If any passes bounce off his hands and become intercepted this year, Howard will get an earful from Brady, who is perhaps the most focused competitor in the NFL.

Brady loves throwing the ball to the tight end, evidenced by the fact that Rob Gronkowski was a five-time Pro Bowler in New England. It would almost be a given that Gronk would swing by Bucs practice and give some helpful tips to Howard, which would be an added bonus of having Brady in Tampa Bay.

RB Ronald Jones II

Jones, a second-round pick in 2018, made a quantum leap from a disastrous rookie season where he rushed for 44 yards and one touchdown while averaging a measly 1.9 yards per carry to looking like a legitimate running back in 2019 under Arians and running backs coach Todd McNair, rushing for 724 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Jones also made a vast improvement as a receiver with 31 catches for 309 yards (10 avg.), and heads into 2020 as the Bucs’ starting running back.

Bucs RB Ronald Jones – Photo by: Getty Images

Where Brady can help Jones is from a maturity standpoint. Jones is only 22 years old and while he matured some last year, he still has some room for personal growth. Jones needed a confidence boost last year and got it from Arians and McNair. Some “atta boys” and praise coming from the greatest quarterback of all-time would go even further for Jones.

While he made strides as a runner and a receiver, Jones has some work to do as a pass protector. He missed a blitz pick up early in the first half at Jacksonville and was benched for the rest of the game. Pass blocking for Brady comes with even more added pressure and responsibility, and Jones showed he was up for the challenge in bettering his overall game last year. He’ll make a similar stride in pass protection in 2020.

Bucs LG Ali Marpet

Marpet is a two-time captain for the Buccaneers and the most consistent and most talented offensive lineman on the team. Marpet is well respected by his teammates, but isn’t the kind of leader that will necessarily get on his teammates if they screw up. He’s a lead by example guy. Brady is a lead-by-example guy and a vocal leader as a quarterback, who isn’t afraid to get on guys who need to pick up their games. I think Marpet will see that and that will rub off on him.

Bucs LG Ali Marpet – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Marpet, who turns 27 in April, is a player with Pro Bowl-caliber talent, but hasn’t gotten the recognition he’s deserved since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2015. After moving from right guard to center to left guard, Marpet has found a home playing next to Smith, who is his best friend on the team.

Brady’s presence in Tampa Bay will get the Bucs more nationally televised games and more national exposure. That will aid Marpet’s reputation around the league. Blocking well for Brady will help Marpet finally make the Pro Bowl, which he has deserved a few times in his five years with the Bucs.

Bucs OLB Jason Pierre-Paul

How in the world is Brady going to help the 31-year old Pierre-Paul, who is one of the leaders of Tampa Bay’s defense? Pierre-Paul is one of the most fiery and intense players on the team, but at times he’s almost been a lone wolf as the only one demanding excellence from his teammates and getting in their faces at times to prove his point.

Bucs OLB Jason Pierre-Paul – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Brady isn’t as confrontational as Pierre-Paul is, nor is he as loud, but he is just as intense and competitive. Like Pierre-Paul, Brady absolutely demands excellence, and their partnership in Tampa Bay could help take this team to the next level in 2020 as both have experience winning a Super Bowl.

Where Brady helps Pierre-Paul is that now JPP’s message is in stereo. When Pierre-Paul speaks, he now has a decorated peer that can say, “Yeah, that’s right.” Leadership is a numbers game. With over 65 players in the locker room, including practice squad players, not every player tunes in when leaders speak. The more leaders in the locker room, the higher the chance that everyone tunes in. And when Brady talks, the chance of every Buccaneer listening goes all the way up.