Bucs Will Have Options in The Draft

Plenty of options is what I see in this upcoming draft as there is tons of talent on both sides of the ball. While most fans agree that the Bucs need to go offense in the early rounds, it doesn't mean they can't go defense again in round 1 as there is great talent on that side of the ball this year. I believe in getting the best player available but at the same time that player filling a team need. Bucs Gm Jason Licht has done this in his three drafts so far as he usually attacks the teams biggest need in the early rounds along with going for the safe pick.

Heading into this draft, I would identify RB, WR, TE, C, DL, S as team needs going into the off-season. The Bucs could address any of these areas in round 1 as there will be plenty of prospects that will be worthy which allows the Bucs to be selective in free agency as well as in the draft. It is going to depend on what happens in front of the Bucs selection but they should have a good group to choose from. The best news for the Bucs is that this draft is very deep at positions of need according to draft expert Daniel Jeremiah.

This draft has the deepest/most talented group of CBs I've seen in several years. Also, loaded with edge rushers, safeties, RBs and TEs.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 11, 2017

With that being said, The Bucs could have their choice of guys like Corey Davis, John Ross, OJ Howard, Derek Barnett, and Charles Harris. I see teams reaching for Qbs and O-line along with corners and safeties going top 15 which should push elite talent down the board. Perhaps there is a Caleb Brantley or Solomon Thomas to upgrade the interior defensive line or even better one of the top RBs in Fournette or Cook are there, either way the Bucs are in a good position. So Bucs fans don't get locked into one position because if Gm Jason Licht does that then a reach will occur and that will be a bad choice. Instead it's about adding the best player possible that makes sense for the team and right now this team could use more talent in most areas.

O-Line Gains More Depth

Some Bucs fans believe that Jason Licht and company need to upgrade the offensive line which they might do but don't expect a big overhaul. The Bucs offensive line had their fair share of up and downs as they were a big reason for the 5 game winning streak, but also had a big part in the Bucs last two losses vs the Cowboys and Saints. The unit has a good young nucleus with Ali Marpet, Donovan Smith, Kevin Pamphile, Caleb Benenoch and the return of JR Sweezy.

With Sweezy being cleared to resume football activities that gives the Bucs O-line more depth and versatility. Bucs Gm Jason Licht likes drafting O-lineman that are versatile and have potential to be great which he has done the last three years by drafting Pamphile, Smith, Marpet, and Benenoch. The team has a good coach in George Warhop who does an excellent job of developing the players technique but also to have them cross-trained at multiple positions.

What Jason Licht has done is build quality depth across the unit and it should only get better as the young core gains experience. Plus Licht has already added young talent in center James Stone from the Falcons, and guard Jarvis Harrison who was a former draft pick of the Jets. Add in Leonard Wester who the Bucs are very high on that gives the Bucs depth for the foreseeable future. Hopefully Sweezy can bring the kind of impact that he was signed on for and add more physicality to the unit.

The Bucs have options now to truly play the best five lineman with Sweezy on board along with other pieces that are entering their 2nd and 3rd years. Look for Licht to keep a similar approach when comes to adding lineman through free agency and the draft. I think their main weakness is at center (click on center) which is where Licht could put his focus at if he is going to add a lineman this off-season. Overall, I think the Bucs are going to stay put at O-line as they will try to re-sign Joe Hawley and perhaps use a draft pick on a right tackle or a center prospect. Then they will let the best five rise to the top and roll with it. Again this off-season is all about adding weapons for Winston, so expect the Bucs to do that while to hope that the O-line lives up to their potential. However, if they don't I fully expect the Bucs to address the unit in the 2018 off-season.

Upgrade Needed At The Tight End Position

by Douglas O'Connor
follow me on Twitter @Ren_Daxt 

     The beginning of the 2016 season was filled with question marks. Will Jameis Winston progress as an NFL quarterback? Can new coordinator Mike Smith make an impact on the defense? How big of role a will the draft picks play? Will the Bucs make the playoffs? I could go on, and on, and on. One question no one had was, what are the Buccaneers going to do at tight end? 

     The Bucs had youth, Cameron Brate, talent, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, experience, Brandon Myers, and leadership, Luke Stocker. If everything had gone as planned the Buccaneers would of been set at tight end for years to come.

     Fast forward to the present and tight end has gone from a position of strength to a position of need. Brate was a welcomed surprise. Racking up 57 catches for 660 yards and 8 touchdowns, but ASJ was just as big of a disappointment. Getting arrested for DUI two weeks into the season was the last straw for the Buccaneer front office and cut the troubled tight end before the home opener. Myers is now a free agent and I don't expect the Bucs to attempt to bring him back, and Stocker, primarily used as a blocker, is the only other of the four under contract.

     The Bucs run a ton of two tight end sets and adding a player(s) that can get open and block on the NFL level will be the off season goal for GM Jason Licht and his staff. The question is who, and where will they look for them?

What The Bucs Have: As of time of posting the Buccaneers have five tight ends on the roster. Three on the 53 man and two future contract players.

    Cameron Brate we all know about. Ivy league UDFA that made the team during the 2014 training camp and quickly built a chemistry with quarterback Jameis Winston while filling in for oft injured ASJ. The early season decision to cut bait with ASJ in 2016 landed Brate squarely in the starting role and he responded with a Pro Bowl type season. Cameron is part of the solution and I don't see any free agency targets that make sense that will oust him from his starting role. However there are two players in the draft, if the Bucs go tight end early, that could challenge Brate during training camp. 

     Luke Stocker is an excellent blocker and is used more as a fullback than a traditional tight end. Stocker contributes next to nothing in the passing game logging only 47 catches during his six years with the Bucs and struggles to get any separation in his routes. Licht has tried to replace Luke by drafting a true fullback, Joey Iosefa, in 2015 and a hybrid TE/FB, Danny Vitale in 2016. Neither one panned out and Luke has been able to keep his job. I expect Stocker to make the 53 man roster next year but to lose his starting job. The Buccaneers have already signed Quayvon Hicks, a fullback from Georgia, that blocked for Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb in college and their is a free agent that I like that would make Luke Stocker obsolete. 

    
     Alan Cross proved to be a better blocker than 6th round draft pick Danny Vitale so he made the team. A UDFA out of Memphis was serviceable when he was in the game for the Bucs but isn't going to be drafted on anyone's fantasy team anytime soon. Cross should make the team in 2017 mostly because of low price tag.

     Future contract players Tevin Westbrook and Kivon Cartwright are both big, athletic, and raw. The Buccaneers like Westbrook whom they have kept on the practice squad for two years now. I think this is a make or break year for Tevin if he doesn't make the 53 man roster this year his days at One Buc maybe over. Cartwright a former Colorado State Ram will be hard pressed to stay with the organization. Westbrook already has two years in Koetter's offense and the 2017 draft is the deepest for tight ends anyone can remember. The deck is stacked against Kivon but Jason Licht did sign him for a reason.

Free Agents: Martellus Bennett is the clear number one tight end in free agency this off season but his age and price tag will probably be to high for the Buccaneers. I like a four year veteran whose path has mirrored the Bucs own Cameron Brate.

     Jack Doyle was UDFA out of the University of Western Kentucky that was picked up by the Indianapolis Colts after he was let go by the Titans. Playing mostly as a blocking tight end for his first three years. Doyle finally got his shot with the departure of Coby Fleener in 2016 and he responded with 59 catches for 584 yards and 5 touchdowns. Playing the run blocking tight end is key in Doyle's evaluation. Look at it this way. Jack Doyle played three years as Luke Stocker, then when given the chance he put up numbers comparable to Cameron Brate. He actually had more receptions and yards than the Colts number one tight end Dwayne Allen with just one less touchdown. Picking up a veteran run blocker that has shown the ability to get open in the red zone and is only 26. That's the type of player I would like to see the Buccaneers make a play for.

The 2017 NFL Draft: This years tight end pool might be the deepest ever. I've seen as many as twenty prospects receiving draftable grades, with three coming from the University of Oregon. I'm only going to write about a few here, the clear number one guy, a small school draft board riser and a late round project.

     O.J. Howard, University of Alabama: Solid, solid run blocker and most think underutilized as a pass catcher in the Crimson Tide's offense. Recently won the best player award at the Senior Bowl and will be the first tight end taken off the board. Projected to be drafted around where the Bucs pick at 19. With the draft being deep at other need positions for the Buccaneers will the lure of the best player on the board be to much for Jason Licht to pass up at 19?

     Gerald Everett, South Alabama: Starting his college career at UAB, then transferring to the Jaguars after Birmingham killed their football program. Everett is gaining buzz and climbing up big boards. Scouts believe that he can be a serious receiving threat in the NFL. I've even read that Everett won't last past the second round.

     Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas: Lost behind Hunter Henry last season, Sprinkle put up solid numbers in 2016 and is a an above average receiver and blocker. He could be around in the 6th or 7th round making him a value pick for Jason Licht.

What I Think Will Happen: Without Cameron Brate the Bucs tight end situation might be the worst in the league. Especially with players that can get down the seam for an explosive plays. Jason Licht will address it in free agency and the draft. Don't expect a top tier free agent because the Bucs already have a Pro Bowl caliber starter. The draft could go a number of ways. I wouldn't be surprised if Licht took Howard at 19 but what if WR Corey Davis is still available? Best guess, the Buccaneers will take a tight end by their third pick in this years draft.  

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Will The Bucs Get a DT to go Next to McCoy?

This time last year I really thought the Bucs were going to finally put another young DT next to Gerald McCoy to give the D-line an extra boost. Last year's draft had many promising defensive tackles in which many Bucs fans thought one of them was coming to Tampa. However, it didn't work out that way for Bucs Gm Jason Licht as he decided to go in a different direction. Now fast forward to the present, the Bucs front four made strides this season but improvement is still needed. The Bucs have a good trio with Gerald McCoy, Robert Ayers, and the rising Noah Spence but could use more depth across the board.

Getting Jacquies Smith back will help but he has been injury prone during his time as a Buc, so another edge rusher would be helpful. Let's look at the interior though as we have McCoy, Clinton Mcdonald, and Akeem Spence which creates a solid rotation plus Will Gholston and Ayers rotate inside as well. However, if the Bucs can add a young force at DT who can stop the run and get after the passer would be a big plus for this defense. There are options in both free agency as well as the draft in which the Bucs could add a player who could have a impact right away and also help McCoy get more one on ones matchups.

A few names I like from free agency is Dontari Poe and Nick Fairley from the Chiefs and Saints respectively. Poe is a big force in the middle and would instantly big a upgrade to our run defense while also able to take on double teams to free others to get sacks. There will be a good market for Poe's services and the Bucs will likely be interested. Fairley is someone we were very high on last year and surprised the Bucs didn't offer him a deal. Fairley for the Saints had a great year as he racked up seven sacks and had over 40 plus tackles and was one of the best defenders for the Saints. Bucs would be smart to take one of the better players in the division and would be an instant upgrade to the Bucs defense. Adding either one of these two would be a big help and really give the d-line the depth that is needed. I think it's time Gm Jason Licht make a play at the DT position whether it is through free agency or in the draft, there will be options.

Jason Licht Most Important Position Decision This Off Season

by Douglas O'Connor
follow me on Twitter @Ren_Daxt

     The Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht has a lot of decisions to make this off season in the personnel department. The Bucs are looking for speed and weapons to aid in the development of now 3rd year quarterback Jameis Winston. Upgrades for safety, wide receiver, and running back positions are also in the mix. Not to mention overall depth at tight end, defensive line, and corner back need to be addressed as well. All in all a full plate for Licht and his staff. However, no starting position has more question marks surrounding it as does the Bucs situation at center.

     I'm going to cover what the Buccaneers could do with the players they have on their roster now, possible solutions in free agency and finally options in the 2017 NFL draft. First up, prospective scenario's if Jason Licht decides to stand pat with the players the Bucs have under contract.

What The Bucs Have
     If the Buccaneers ultimately decide to not to bring in a free agent center or pick one up in the draft, they still have plenty of options. Evan Smith, the 2015 opening day starter, Ben Gottschalk, a UDFA that made the team during training camp and saw some playing time at center this season because of injuries and Josh Allen another UDFA that spent most of last year on the Buccaneers practice squad.

     Smith has seven years in the league and can also play guard which makes him a valuable player to have but he's not an NFL caliber starting center. When Smith went down with injury in 2015 the Bucs went and found Joe Hawley who took over and never relinquished the starting job. If all else fails is the only way I think Buc fans see number 62 snapping the ball to Jameis in week one. 

     Gottschalk and Allen stories are almost the same. The Bucs like their upside and are willing to put in the time to develop their particular skill sets but unless they have the training camps of their lives, they are both looking over Smiths shoulder as the Buccaneers starter in 2017. 

     However there is one narrative that is gaining steam in which the Bucs put their best three interior lineman on the field. Only problem is that they are all guards.

     Since the Buccaneers moved back up into the second round in the 2015 draft and selected division three guard Ali Marpet, Buc fans have been speculating that Ali was taken to be the center of the future. Marpet has been seen delivering snaps to various quarterbacks at One Buc since his first OTA's. With the possible return of 2016 free agent signing, guard JR Sweezy and guard Kevin Pamphile playing himself into a starting job, now is the time for the Marpet move. This scenario greatly depends on the return of Sweezy. A back injury kept him out all of last year and has never even played a snap in a Buccaneers practice. If Sweezy can't make it back, it almost forces the Bucs to look at free agency or the draft for their center need.

The Free Agents
     Since Jason Licht fully took over the free agency process players over thirty are no longer off the table. CB Brent Grimes, DL Roberts Ayers, and LB Daryl Smith are all into the second half of their careers and played important roles this year for the Buccaneers. Licht has gone on record as calling these "bridge" players. Veterans that though productive aren't the long term solution. If the Bucs feel that Gottschalk or Allen is the future there are a couple of older free agent centers that can come in as a "bridge" to either one. 

     Joe Hawley:  It became apparent during the second half of the season that the Bucs need an upgrade at center. Hawley was constantly losing his 1 on 1 battles and was tossed around most of the season. Love the beard, not the player. Having said that, Licht is familiar with Hawley and he knows the system. I'd be surprised to see Joe back in pewter but not shocked.

     A.Q. Shipley:  A five year veteran that is possibly looking for his fourth team. Spending his last two seasons in Arizona, Shipley started all sixteen games for the Cards in 2016. With the recent super stardom of RB David Johnson teams are going to take a look at the players who helped him get there. Add the fact that Arizona runs a deep route passing game similar to the Buccaneers, Shipley could be good fit.

     There is one young center that could start in the middle of the Bucs line for years to come, if Licht decides to go with youth in free agency.

     J.C. Tretter:  Spending all four years of his career in Green Bay, Tretter slowly moved up the depth chart until he won the starting job in 2016. Seven games in he suffered a scary knee injury against Atlanta. December 9th the Packers announced that Tretter had returned to practice in a limited role. Now it has been released that J.C. underwent knee surgery January 17th. If Tretter can prove to Licht and his staff that he is healthy and the Bucs are looking for a long term answer J.C. Tretter could be their guy.

The Draft
     The 2017 NFL draft is a terrible draft if your team needs starting offensive linemen. The player that has the best chance to be a week one starter at the center position is Ethan Pocic, LSU. Pocic is a good run and pass blocker but isn't excellent at either. Projected by most mock drafts to go in between round one to round three. If Pocic is available to the Buccaneers near the bottom of the third round, the temptation to possibly shore up the center position for the next four years might be to great for Jason Licht to pass up. 

What I Think Will Happen*

     It all depends on J.R. Sweezy. If Sweezy can return to his 2015 playing ability I think the Bucs keep Sweezy at right guard, where he played in Seattle, move Ali Marpet to center and keep Kevin Pamphile in the left guard spot. I also think this new interior trio will be given every chance to succeed. 

     If Sweezy's back isn't healthy enough at the beginning of training camp, look for Licht to bring in a "bridge" center and the Pamphile, Marpet and Sweezy interior will have to wait. Maybe as long as 2018.

     *Right before posting the Buccaneers announced another center signing, James Stone. Further proof that it is a position weighing on Jason Licht mind. That makes four centers on the Bucs roster, Licht is leaving no stone unturned. 

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Bucs Need to Add Multiple Receivers

So far the discussion among Bucs fans has been what is this team going to do as far as adding more weapons for Winston and this offense. I am of the mindset that Bucs Gm Jason Licht is going to add multiple receivers this off-season just like he did with the corner position in 2016. There are many ways he could address it as there are options in free agency or the draft to choose from. I think Licht dips into both pools as he will sign a free agent Wr and draft one early to help Jameis and Mike Evans on offense.

Here at realbucstalk, we have already identified one free agent target and that would be Cordarrelle Patterson whom would bring much needed speed and big play ability. As for the draft, main targets will be Corey Davis who could be the Bucs pick at 19th overall. Other options would be Taywan Taylor, Dede Westbrook, Juju Smith Schuster and Isaiah Ford just to name a few. Taking a look at the Bucs current receiver group, we got Evans and  Humphries, while Shepard and Huff I would bring back.

Now If Licht can add a Patterson and Davis to the mix, that is a major upgrade to the receiving corps. Davis could instantly jump into the number 2 position while Patterson could rotate in as the slot/4th Wr to add more speed on the field. This would open things up for Mike Evans and Cam Brate and provide Jameis with more options to work with. Much like the corner position, look for Licht to add multiple receivers this off-season in efforts to bring more explosiveness to the offense. Hopefully the receiver position can become a strength much like the corner position did in 2016.

Resigning Will Gholston Will be Priority For Bucs

Bucs Gm Jason Licht was smart to quickly resign his biggest 2017 free agent in punter Bryan Anger to a new 5 year deal that makes him one of the highest paid in the league. Now Mr. Licht needs to turn his attention to one of the most important defensive lineman on this team and that is Will Gholston. Gholston started in the NFL at the young age of 20 and was very raw as he had plenty of size and athleticism but no technique or consistency. Now at 25, Gholston has become one of the better run stopping defensive ends in the league and continues to get better each year as a pass rusher.

Gholston is homegrown talent as he has really become a staple in the community as well as one of the young leaders on defense. It is just hard to find a defensive end that is 6'6 280 and can run down a running back sideline to sideline. Due to his massive frame he doesn't get much leverage coming off the edge but has done a better job of playing to his strengths which is power game. The last two seasons combined Gholston has 116 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 force fumbles, and plenty of tackles for loss. Licht doesn't let homegrown talent go and has shown in his time here as Gm that he rewards those who earn it. Gholston wants to be a buc and I expect the Bucs to make resigning him a big priority this off-season.

Gholston provides great versatility along the front four as he can play inside or outside as well as depth. Having a rotation of Gholston, Spence, Ayers and if healthy Jack Smith gives this team four quality ends which most teams can't say they have. Gholston should get a nice raise but nothing drastic as I see him getting anywhere from 3 to 5 million per year due to his production and age. The best news about Gholston is that there is untapped potential so he could still become a better player which is scary. I believe Gholston will be one of the first to resign back with the Bucs and Jason Licht will have a big smile on his face.

The Only Free Agent Wide Receiver The Bucs Should Sign

by Douglas O'Connor
follow me on Twitter @Ren_Daxt

     A mini-miracle has occurred here at Real Bucs Talk, we all agree on something! Michael, Mark and myself all think the Buccaneers should go after only one wide receiver during the 2017 free agency period and we feel it needs and has to be Cordarrelle Patterson.

     Patterson was a 1st round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings back in 2013. After a very promising rookie season his numbers dipped slightly in his second season, only to fall into Norv Turner's doghouse in 2015 and rarely saw the field. Cordarrelle redeemed himself this past season and put up comparable numbers to his first year, even with a mid-season change of his offensive coordinator.

     At first look Patterson's number gives the appearance of a solid number 2 or a productive slot receiver. If you take out the 2015 season (2 catches for 10 yards), Cordarrelle averaged 43 catches for 435 yards with just over 2 touchdowns per year. Nothing to get excited about for sure, but if you look a little deeper Patterson's real value becomes apparent. Factor in another 4 touchdowns on the ground and 5 more from returning kicks. Cordarrelle's value is clear.

     Blessed with true 4.4 speed that is spread through his 6' 2" 220 lbs frame, Patterson is built as an every down receiver. He has scores of 79, 67, and 50, the last two coming on the ground, makes him a big play threat from anywhere on the field. He also has 3 kickoff returns over 100 yards and a total of 24 over 40 yards. Widely considered as the leagues best return man Cordarrelle is a 3 time All Pro selection and is going to his 3rd Pro Bowl later this month.

     Buccaneer GM Jason Licht loves versatile players and Patterson fills three impending needs. First is speed. Head coach Dirk Koetter talked about in his exit presser about getting faster on offense. Second is wide receiver help for Jameis. Although Patterson's number aren't eye popping, I believe that he is not suited for the short and quick passing game Minnesota runs. He would be a much better fit here in Tampa that employs deeper route running and more shots over the top of the defense. Third is the instant upgrade to the kickoff  returns. The Buccaneers ranked dead last in this category in 2016 and the addition of Patterson could take them all the up to 1st.

     Jason Licht will still have to look to upgrade the wide receiver position in the draft but we think that Cordarrelle Patterson is the only and right choice in this year free agent market.

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Bucs Offense Need More Explosive Plays

In 2015, the Bucs had a lethal running game which created explosive plays for the offense and allowed them to be more efficient. In 2016, due to injuries and inconsistent line play, the Bucs had no running game which didn't help the passing game to create explosive plays downfield. Now part of this is due to the offense not having much speed to work with which is why the Bucs were at the bottom in yac(yards after catch) yards.

In this league, it is all about explosive plays and the Bucs went from averaging 9 explosives to only 7 in 2016. This off-season, the Bucs need to figure out how they can achieve more explosive plays whether it's via the run or pass. Everyone has a part in it and unfortunately both Doug Martin and Charles Sims were out multiple times this season due to injuries. Those two combined for more explosive plays in 2015 than the whole team in 2016. Jameis Winston needs to improve his deep ball accuracy, but more receivers besides just Mike Evans on the outside will help that too. Coach Koetter needs to be more creative and diverse in his play calling. Simply, the Bucs need to add more speed to this team and get guys in here that can make one guy miss and take it to the house for 6.

The good news is Bucs Gm Jason Licht knows this and will be definitely upgrading the talent at the skill positions this off-season. This offense can be dangerous as it did a great job converting on third down but it is hard to score in this league on 10 to 12 play drives everytime. Taking care of the ball and hitting on explosive plays is what wins games in this league now. Koetter talks about this all the time and have to believe that him and Licht are going to do what they can to add that missing ingredient which is called speed.

Important Off Season Dates For The Buccaneers

by Douglas O'Connor
follow me on Twitter @Ren_Daxt

     Now that the 2016-17 season is over for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers it's natural for fans to start looking towards the NFL draft, but there are several dates before then that will play a big part in shaping the 2017-18 team.

     January 2nd: Teams are allowed to start renegotiate or extend any rookie contracts from the 2014 NFL draft. The Bucs only have three players that qualify. WR Mike Evans, RB Charles Sims, and OL Kevin Pamphile. Look for the Buccaneers to reward Pro Bowl WR Mike Evans early. Signing Evans to a big long term contract because of his record setting first three seasons.

     Charles Sims showed this season that he is best used as a receiver and out on the edges of a defense. His between the tackle running has shown to be lacking mostly because of his lack of hole commitment. Sims is a nice addition to any NFL offense but replaceable. Jason Licht can wait until after next season before making a decision on the oft injured but big play ability RB.

     Kevin Pamphile is an interesting case. Slated as a backup guard before training camp, but earned the starting job almost by default when free agent addition J.R. Sweezy injured his back and never put on pads. Starting all but two games because of a concussion, Pamphile was very consistent. If the plan is to move Ali Marpet to the center position, insert Sweezy at LG and flip Pamphile to RG. Talks with Kevin's agent should at least begin. If the Bucs sign or draft a C during the off season Pamphile's  future becomes more murky.

     The 2nd is also when clubs can pick up the 5th year option on their 2014 first round draft pick(s). Mike Evans is the Bucs only candidate, but I think the Bucs go the long term contract route.

     January 21st & 28th: The East-West Shrine Game followed by the more prestigious Senior Bowl are great opportunities to watch college players go up against the best in their sport. Although played for a great cause the Shrine game isn't loaded with early round talent but it is played closed to the Buccaneers home just across the bay in St. Petersburg. Newly signed PK John Lusnford participated in last years game. The Senior Bowl is much more interesting because the entire NFL media descends on Mobile, Alabama and stays all week. I know of two Buccaneer outlets that are going to Mobile for sure and rumors of a third are swirling. The week of practice and following game is where America started to learn about 2nd overall pick Carson Wentz and our own Noah Spence last year.

     February 15th: First day teams can assign Franchise or Transition tag. The Buccaneers have 17 free agents and not a one deserves a Franchise label. However a Transition tag might be in play. If a team Franchises a player their salary is an average of the top five players salaries at his position. A Transition tag allows a team to match any offer to said tagged player. Will Gholston may get the Transition moniker. The Bucs want to keep Gholston as a top notch run stopping DE but a lot of teams will want his services also. Jason Licht likes to reward home grown talent, which Will is and I think he wants to give Gholston a long term deal. Sometimes the numbers just don't work out, having to fill other needs a big contract might not be in the works for Will. Slapping him with the Transition tag possibly gives Licht one more year to play with and maybe Gholston gets paid in 2018.

     February 28th-March 6th: The NFL Combine. You know what this is. A week of world class athletes pulling up their pants after running 40 yards.

     March 1st: Last day teams are allowed to put a Franchise or Transition tag on a player. If Gholston is hit with the Transition tag it has to come by the end of this day.

    March 7th-9th: This is when teams can sign their own free agents. The Bucs have quite a few players I'd like to see back. Beside Gholston, CB Josh Robinson, WR Russell Shepard, RB Jacquizz Rodgers, DT Sealver Siliga, and DT Akeem Spence. Second tier on my list would include S Bradley McDougald, LB Daryl Smith, TE Brandon Myers, and DT John Hughes.

     March 9th: Free agency begins. Last year Jason Licht doubled up on every FA signing by drafting the same position. Could be a big clue to where the Buccaneers look come the draft in late April.

     March 26th-29th: NFL Owner's Meeting. I put this in here because I think that the NFL is going to lay the ground work for a developmental league. I say buy the Arena League expand to 16 teams 30 players per team. Each NFL club has 15 prospects and just play 8 on 8 indoor summer football. Easy!

     April 27th-29th: The NFL Draft. It's in Philly this year Buc fans so lots of boo's when a team takes a player Eagle fans wanted. Of course they will boo their picks too, 'cause, well it's Philly.

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Bucs Won Third Down in 2016

Yes it's sad our Buccaneers are not playing today but huge progress was made towards building a contender for 2017. The Bucs finished the season at 9-7 which is quite an accomplishment after starting the season 3-5. There were a lot of areas where this team improved but winning third down was the biggest improvement for this team. In 2015, the Bucs were 30th in opponent third down conversion allowing 46% which is awful. In 2016, the Bucs were 1st only allowing 34.5% conversion rate which is outstanding. The Bucs offense improved as well going from 10th to 6th converting on third down 44% of the time.

There are a few factors to the defense improving so much in one year. One is the free agents brought in with Brent Grimes and  Robert Ayers who have helped this defense tremendously. The Bucs were far more aggressive on third down which is coaching hence Mike Smith's aggressive nature. The secondary was in better position which led to more breakups and interceptions. Consistent pass rush and tighter coverage does a lot, but also better scheme and personnel goes a long way. As for the offense, it was just Jameis Winston being more precise on third down. Winston had probably some of his better plays this season coming on third down. Overall, the Bucs won third down in 2016 and it is definitely something they can build off of for 2017.

Bucs Have The 19th Pick in The Draft

With the 2016 season officially over for the Bucs, the front office and coaching staff will shift their attention to the off-season. Right now staffs around the league are watching tape and evaluating everything they did the previous season and what they need to do to get better as a team. This off-season will be very important as the Bucs are close to being a contender but need some more pieces added to the mix.

The Bucs will be better just by having most of the staff returning plus players will be more comfortable with their current schemes and playbooks. So that in itself is a positive as is the younger guys will get better as they have more experience to work with. The arrow is pointing up and now it's up to Jason Licht and his staff to keep it that way by having a good off-season. There were so many positives from the 2016 season as this team got better with each game. The offense suffered a setback but was mainly due to injuries and inconsistent play from certain positions. However, the defense took huge steps as they improved in points allowed and third down defense in which they were number one.

With that being said, this team could still use more pieces on both sides to the ball. On offense, positions that I would address would be WR, C, TE, RB. Then on defense, it would be DE, DT, S, CB. So still many positions need to be addressed and Jason Licht and his staff truly believe that the NFL Draft is the best place to just do that. As Licht has said in the past, the draft is where you find your star players. The Bucs have the 19th selection in this year's draft which puts them in a good position to get a solid player to fill one of the needs mention above. Most scouts have said this draft is deep at RB, DE, S, and TE which is great news for the Bucs. We will get deeper into draft talk as we move closer but as of now the Bucs are in a great situation.

Bucs Finish The 2016 Season Strong

At one point this season the Bucs were 3-5 and things were looking to be spiraling downward towards another losing season for the team. However it's not how you start it's how you finish and this team finished strong. The Bucs put together a five game winning streak with outstanding defense and a clutch offense. Ultimately the team finished 6-2 down the stretch in which they beat two playoff teams in the Chiefs and Seahawks.

The defense made big strides along with special teams as both units got better as the season went along. Unfortunately, the offense took a step back as injuries and inconsistent play hurt the unit and just wasn't good enough during critical times of the season. With that being said for this team to fight and stay together all season was great to see as this team brought the effort every Sunday. I thought the coaching staff as a whole made improvements especially Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith as they made adjustments to help the team win. Now with the off-season underway, the Bucs have to be confident they can make improvements and carry this momentum into the 2017 season. Progress was made and the arrow is pointing up for this franchise.

Bucs Start 2017 With a Win

The Bucs couldn't afford to go into the offseason with a three game losing streak after losing four straight to end the 2015 season. Well it didn't happen as the Bucs found a way to beat the Panthers by a score of 17 to 16. The Bucs finish the 2016 season with a record of 9-7 giving them their first winning record since 2010. Unfortunately the Bucs just fell short of making the postseason as they finished seventh in the NFC.

This game was not looking good for most of the game as the offense couldn't get anything going as they had two turnovers, two missed field goals, and too many three and outs. The good news is that after the first offensive drive for the Panthers, their offense was just as bad as they had three turnovers and missed three field goals. The Bucs defense was pretty good as they did a good job of containing the run game, and getting consistent pressure on Cam Newton. Standout players for the defense was CB Brent Grimes, S Keith Tandy, and LB Lavonte David.

All three made big plays for this defense at critical times during the game. Grimes came up with the play of the game with a pick 6 to put the Bucs in the lead and also had 4 pass breakups. Tandy was everywhere as he had 12 tackles and two interceptions and has really emerge as one of our better players. As for David, he got two big sacks and was stout against the run all game.

The offense didn't have much success, but Jameis and company made it happen when it counted as the Bucs got a big touchdown from Mike Evans. Koetter was smart to get the offense in the no huddle and let Jameis go play. Jameis was 5-6 for 71yds and 1Td on the drive and here is the game winner by him and Evans below.

The Winston Magic. Eyes downfield as he climbs up the pocket and delivers a strike to Evans for the game wi... https://t.co/xqhXukmUtI

— realbucstalk (@realbucstalk) January 2, 2017

Overall, it was a big win for the team as they go into a huge off-season in which now they will be regarded as a contender for 2017. Expectations are growing and this team is on the rise.