As most major outlets do around this time of year, USA TODAY gave their predictions of how each team in the NFL would finish in terms of record and also predicted which team is going to win the Super Bowl.
As you would expect, they didn’t have much faith in the Buccaneers.
It's NFL prediction time! @ByNateDavis picks all 267 games (including Super Bowl LIII): https://t.co/0R3nkKYvvs pic.twitter.com/sXQXqJeHxZ
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) July 19, 2018
“Their offseason seemed encouraging … until their quarterback got suspended.”
If their predictions are correct, not only are they predicting the Bucs don’t make the playoffs, but that they’ll also be picking in the Top 5 of next year’s draft — likely with an entirely new coaching staff.
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About the Author: Trevor Sikkema
Trevor Sikkema is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat reporter and NFL Draft analyst for PewterReport.com. Sikkema, an alumnus of the University of Florida, has covered both college and professional football for much of his career. As a native of the Sunshine State, when he's not buried in social media, Sikkema can be found out and active, attempting to be the best athlete he never was. Sikkema can be reached at: [email protected]
Every year at this time a flood of forecasts come out predicting nearly the exact same outcomes as the previous year with slight adjustments. And every year they are completely incorrect. 8 new teams in the playoffs last year. Usually at least 5 every single season. I genuinely do not understand how writers/fans fall into this same trap every goddamn season.
If you are going to embark on this completely futile exercise at least shake things up. You are going to be wrong so why not at least be bold and creative?
Bucs.
Super Bowl.
Count It.
+1
Let me tell you why I believe this prediction is absolutely false. 1st. We are a way more talented team then the 5-11 team of last year. we had 0 running game until Peyton gave us a semblance of one. Ive seen alot of ROJO’s games. Look at the tape , the kids a certified stud and he’s got 0 character issues. I believe that fact along with Jensen at center and Ali at LG is worth at least 1 more win. Not to mention, Caleb if not nothing else is a running game upgrade @-- RG over the platoon… Read more »
Nice to read some positive thoughts.
+1
I think 5-11 is right on. Sorry Dirk.
Dirk made his share of blunders last season – poor clock management, waited too long to go to Payton Barber, moving Ali Marpet to center and throwing O-line off balance, not figuring out how to use all our WR/TE weapons last year – offense never had a rhythm, sticking with Baker on the D line when he was a cancer on and off the field, sticking with Hargraves too long and then thinking undrafted Ryan Smith could be a starting corner and lastly, accepting, allowing the Hard Knocks circus to invade a young, immature team’s training camp. This is just… Read more »
Two things wrong with this… Ryan Smith was a 2016 draftee, pick 105, 108, something like that. Second, Bucs didn’t really have a choice with Hard Knocks. Outside of that 👍
Right. Forgot Smith was drafted… older now, forget sh#t….
I also thought the team had input into the Hard Knocks decision. If that was Licht, it’s on him. But if I’m a coach, I play one of my veto cards.
If we can get to 1-2 during the suspension than we have an outside shot of having a decent season. However, 0-3 is a distinct possibility and if it happens, 5-11 is about the best we can hope for. Felt like we had our stuff together and then a blast from the past kills all the momentum. Wish I hadn’t bought season tickets…found out about the suspension days later.
“If their predictions are correct, not only are they predicting the Bucs don’t make the playoffs, but that they’ll also be picking in the Top 5 of next year’s draft — likely with an entirely new coaching staff.”
…..and GM. Don’t forget this GM single-handedly chose the HC that created this coaching staff. This GM also hand-picked or re-signed all the players that would have created the theoretical 5-11 record.
I’m not sure that Licht gets the boot. I just read an ESPN insider article a couple of days ago that polled NFL analysts and he averaged out as the 13th best GM in the league. He has had his share of mistakes, but so has every GM in the league. Overall he seems to be respected and I think that he would survive a change to the coaching staff. But as to the Bucs record, I hate to think that another 5-11 record is possible, but frankly I’m just not excited this year about the team. I do see… Read more »
Nitey I think if we go 5-11 this season he will no longer be ranked 13th by those same guys.
Could be, probably should not be. But honestly, while he has some responsibility for the coaching staff hire, we don’t really know what restraints were put on him by ownership or who were the other coaching candidates that were considered. At the time, Dirk looked like a good hire and the fact that he hasn’t lost the team indicates that he’s at least a decent leader. But, there IS enough talent on this team roster to be better than 5-11. As I said lower down, I’ve little confidence in the current coaching staff at the moment, which BTW, the head… Read more »
Let’s be clear, as reported by PR Licht had control of the Bucs’s staff decisions when he decided to hire Koetter. Licht went to the Glazers with his recommendation and rationale to fire Lovie. He also went to the Glazers with his recommendation and rationale to hire Koetter, not the other way around. I remember specifically reading on PR how Licht used his experience with the Cardinals to claim he knew the qualities that make a good HC and Koetter had all of those qualities. Say what you will about Licht, but he’s not weaseling his way out of the… Read more »
Apparently I can’t reply directly to your reply so I’m adding this here. You are correct in everything you say, but it’s not as cut and dried as you make it. Lovie had to go, Koetter had just come off a record breaking season as our offensive coordinator and was getting consideration for head coaching positions. I would say that since Koetter is getting to his 3rd year he does have the qualities to be a good head coach. He had a 9-7 record the first year but dipped to 5-11 in the second. Plenty of coaches do worse than… Read more »
I love how most people are under estimating us. Would rather fly under the radar. It seems like every time there is media hype projecting us be make the playoffs we come up short. Were going to be that surprise team that no one expected.
+1
Agreed- and we’ll get better odds in Vegas!
Gotta say, I’m not putting $ on them to.win the SB, but just to win the division. I’ve only been correct once w/ the SB call
Considering the state of the secondary as a whole apart from Brent Grimes and maybe Justin Evans, the state of the right side of the offensive line is highly suspect, who knows if Donovan Smith will actually improve on the left side for that matter. Will the pass rush be as good on the field as it seems on paper? Will Jameis Winston stay healthy and play well enough to win 9 or 10 out of his 13 games? Will Ryan Fitzpatrick be able to win us at least one game in that brutal opening 3 games? And most importantly,… Read more »
I share your sediments Schwifty, but I doubt that we will go less that 5 wins. There IS talent on this team and it does seem to play hard for the coaching staff. But I agree that this season we need to see improvement in the coaching staff. Did they learn ANYTHING from last season and is it really worth the cost of playing soft in pre-season to get players to that 1st game only to see them go down with injury because training camp was too soft? Can the defensive backs coach actually get players to play better? Does… Read more »
That being said I don’t truly know what to expect, and I also wouldn’t be shocked if we won 10 or 11 games.
Last year, there were high expectations for the Bucs and it all fell apart. This year, no one is expecting much and they appear to be a better team on paper than last year. I’m feeling middle of the pack, myself.
We may not go 5-11 I honestly don’t think we’re that bad. We are a talented football team. But realistically I think it would be hard for this team to do better than 9-7. We’re talented enough to make the playoffs though.
The only good thing about being 5-11, if that happens, then we can draft Nick Bosa. That being said, I think we will be an 8-10 win team.
What do we think the first 3 game record would be with Winston? The lack of development as a team from winston missing games. Almost like our season doesn’t start until week 4. To much pressure for them to over come. no playoffs 8-8 at best.
I actually believe they can finish 8-8. Still may not be enough to save these coaches though. I still..for the life of me cannot figure out why..The Glazers thought Dirk and Smitty could win or take us to the superbowl when…they could not do it in Atlanta. Dirk was a good OC. Thats his lane. He should have stayed there. Poor Smitty, He had his little run..Peaked and is now 2 steps shy of a retirement home. He just does not have that Push he needs or once had. Hell, we can’t even get him to leave his, ….better viewing… Read more »
Sports Illustrated last year was the most accurate and this year they have Bucs 2 wins 1 tie and 13 losses and will win the draft lottery for 1st pick
I personally do not know where they will get 2 wins maybe Cleveland for 1 win.
JPP, Evans,and McCoy will be on injury prevention mode to protect there big salary’s
Do not expect Evans to go high and expose his ribs this year.
Bills: SI 4-11-1. Actual- 9-7 Raiders: SI 11-5. Actual 6-10 Broncos: SI 11-5. Actual 5-11 Colts: SI 8-8. Actual 4-12 Jaguars: SI 4-12. Actual 10-6 Giants: SI 9-7. Actual 3-13 Eagles: SI 7-9. Actual 13-3 Packers: SI 13-3. Actual 7-9 Vikings: SI 8-8. Actual 13-3 Rams: SI 6-10. Actual 11-5 49ers: SI 2-14. Actual 6-10 Bucs: 10-6. Actual 5-11 Saints: SI 6-10. Actual 11-5. Seems like the “most accurate” is still not accurate at all. Not sure why you put too much merit into SI. LOL. If you look at the parity, it seems the teams they were most wrong… Read more »
Thanks for sharing that info eac…
Bucs have gone worst to first before- it can happen
You comments are never well thought out. I swear you have to be a troll because you never bring any real substance to these posts. Don’t expect Evans to expose his ribs? Where does stupidity like that even come from? I’d be more than happy to make a wager the Bucs win more than two games if your so sure like you seem to be. Put the money where your mouth is bob the troll
Grimes should be forced to cover the other team’s best player and whoever we have opposite Grimes needs to be allowed to play press cover. Our DC’s bend don’t break zone defense was as porous as Lovie’s stupid zone defense. The three QBs in our Division know how to exploit zone defenses in their sleep. Smitty needs to Coach from the sidelines and use the new personnel he has for an aggressive pressuring defense and give our Offense plenty of tries to score while resting his defense. Moreover, Koetter needs to stop running pansy no contact practices so Smitty can… Read more »
5-11 would suck.who knows still lots question marks. I think little more than that but it wouldn’t shock me if they did go 5-11.wpidlnt shock me of went 9-7 or 10-6 either. Might fall in middle like 7 or8 too and then have tougher decision if you clean house or not with coaches etc.
There is no doubt that the responsibilities lie squarely on the head coach and his coaching staff this year. Licht and his guys have assembled the requisite talent for a playoff calibre team. I am just restating the obvious. 5-11 would be a total failure and the end of the time here for this coaching staff. 8-8 would be an adequate job but probably not good enough to remain here. 9-7 and a wild card game would earn a reprieve. 10-6 would represent a very good job of coaching. 11-5 would be a superior achievement and mean years of success… Read more »
If our pass rush has greatly improved and the defense overall is better then, I can see us winning 9 to 10 games with or without Winston. Go Bucs!
+1
I find that just about everyone outside of Bucs fans have little to no clue about our team. For example, the other day I was talking to a coworker who is a Cowboys fan and he says “Tampa’s defense isn’t too bad, you just need to get some good linebackers.” Safe to say, nothing he said after that held any water to me. Point being, I don’t put much weight on what anyone outside our fanbase says since 99% of them know little to nothing about us.
I honestly don’t know why anyone would take any of these predictions as anything more than an echo from the previous season with perhaps some minor adjustments for an off-season event or acquisition. With our mighty Bucs, we have all been duped so many times that we have become “comfortably numb”, as the song says. Hey, I get it, keep your expectations low so as to not be disappointed. Me, I’m always hopeful. Here’s what seems reasonable to me which gives me cause to think the “future is so bright I have to wear shades.” Offense: More stability and talent… Read more »
I HOPE this prediction puts a big chip on the SHOULDERS of EVERYONE.