FAB 4. Bucs Offensive Records Will Fall In 2017

The Buccaneers offense didn’t achieve the efficiency last year that it did in 2015 when Dirk Koetter’s unit amassed 6,000 yards for the first time in franchise history when it produced the league’s second-leading rusher in Doug Martin, a 1,000-yard receiver in Mike Evans and a 4,000-yard rookie passer in Jameis Winston. Yet Winston and Evans did set some records last year and seem primed to do even more damage to Tampa Bay’s record books in 2017.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston and WR Mike Photo by: Getty Images

Earlier in the week, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager named Winston and Evans to his Top 5 Players 25 & Under list on Good Morning Football, and with good reason. Not only did Winston break Josh Freeman’s single season passing yards and passing touchdown records last year, he became the only Buccaneer quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards twice and in back-to-back seasons.

Winston’s 4,090 passing yards in 2016 eclipsed Freeman’s 4,065 passing total in 2012, and his 28 touchdowns last year edged Freeman’s mark of 27 from the ’12 campaign. With 50 career passing touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons, if Winston can throw for 31 scores in 2017 he will break Freeman’s career mark of 80, which is a franchise record.

That might not be the only Bucs record in jeopardy. With 567 passes last year Winston came within four attempts of breaking Brad Johnson’s single season record of 570 passes in 2003. Johnson holds Tampa Bay’s single season record for 354 completions in 2003 and Winston came perilously close to breaking that, too. Winston had 345 completions in his second season and was 10 connections away from his receivers from become a record-setter in that category.

Winston has completed 657 of his 1,102 pass attempts for 8,132 yards in his first two years in Tampa Bay. Those two outstanding seasons

It’s quite stunning to think that with two more 4,000-yard seasons Winston would surpass Vinny Testaverde’s franchise record of 14,820 yards that he set from 1987-92 before the expiration of his rookie contract. Winston should also be able to surpass Testaverde’s records of 1,126 completions and 2,160 attempts over the next two seasons provided he stays healthy and turns in performances identical to those of his first two seasons.

Another Bucs record that is within Winston’s reach next year is the team’s yards per pass attempt. Winston’s stat in this category slipped a bit from 7.56 as a rookie to 7.21 next year, but with new personnel and more speed on offense in 2017 he should break Brian Griese’s 7.83 average set in 2004.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Mark Lomoglio/PR

Greatly aiding Winston’s cause in breaking some of these career and single season marks is Evans, who has already set a few Bucs records in his three years with the team. As a rookie, Evans set the franchise single season record with 12 receiving touchdowns – a record he matched last year en route to his first Pro Bowl berth. Evans established a new Tampa Bay record in doing so, becoming the only Bucs receiver to have multiple seasons with double-digit receiving touchdowns.

With Evans improving every year that he’s been in the league, it is not unreasonable to think that he could produce another year with at least 10 touchdowns. In fact, Evans has a legitimate chance of breaking his record with 13 receiving touchdowns in 2017. If he does that Evans would tie James Wilder’s record for most total touchdowns (from a non-quarterback in Tampa Bay) in a single season with 13. Wilder had 12 rushing touchdowns and one receiving score in his record-setting 1984 season.

Evans was 11 receptions away from breaking Keyshawn Johnson’s single season Tampa Bay record for most catches in a season. Johnson had 106 receptions in 2001 and is still the only Tampa Bay receiver to eclipse the century mark. Evans’ 96 catches last season was not only a career high for the 23-year old receiver, it is also the second-most catches by a Bucs receiver in a single season. Evans is totally capable of surpassing Johnson’s record and that could happen as early as this year.

The Bucs’ first-round pick in 2014 set a team record last year becoming the first and only Tampa Bay receiver to have three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. His three 1,000-yard campaigns are tied for the most in team history, a record he shares Vincent Jackson and Joey Galloway. One more 1,000-yard season and he’ll be the only Buccaneer to have four 1,000-yard years and the only one to produce them in four consecutive seasons.

Evans’ yardage production has increased in every season. He had 1,321 yards in 2016 and came close to breaking Mark Carrier’s single season record of 1,422 yards set in 1989. With less double teams this year with the additions of wide receiver DeSean Jackson and tight end O.J. Howard, Evans could be the first Tampa Bay receiver to hit 1,500 yards.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Getty Images

To do that, Evans will need a really big game or two of offensive production. Evans had 209 yards receiving against Washington in 2014 and nearly broke Jackson’s single-game record of 216 yards against New Orleans in 2012. It’s only a matter of time before Evans breaks that record.

If Evans adds 1,500 receiving yards to his career total of 3,578 yards in 2017 he will have 5,078 career receiving yards and that would be enough to break Carrier’s career mark of 5,018 yards (1987-92). Evans has already tied Carrier with 27 career touchdowns. Two more and he’ll surpass Galloway (28) and five more TDs and he’ll move past Kevin House’s career mark of 31. It’s hard to believe that Evans is eight touchdowns away from breaking Jimmie Giles’ career record of 34 touchdown receptions – a record that has stood for 31 years.

If he remains healthy and productive, Evans will likely make it a clean sweep for all of Tampa Bay’s major receiving records, including most catches in team history. However, with 238 career receptions he’ll likely need two more monster seasons to pass Wilder’s 430 career catches (1981-89).

In time, Mike.