Blitzing is Returning to Tampa Bay

No more sitting back and allowing the quarterback to have all day in the pocket, those days are over for the Bucs as they get ready to enter training camp. Bucs defensive cordinator Mike Smith is looking to bring an more aggressive style which will include more exotic looks and sub packages. Most importantly, Smith will not hesitate to dial up blitzes to create more havoc in the backfield which hopefully will lead to more turnovers. Mike Smith knows he can't give these Qb's time because they will cut his defense apart if he does, so that means he has to bring pressure.

The Bucs finally have quality depth at each level of the defense starting up front with the defensive line which will finally feature a good 8 man rotation. Now granted the Bucs might not have to blitz as much as the Schiano regime did due to the guys up front, but the schemes and packages will be there for Smith and his staff to utilize as they see fit. With Lavonte David, Kwon Alexander, and Daryl Smith as your LBs, it's hard not to blitz due to the fact they do it so well. So look for the linebackers to be more aggressive allowing them to play fast and make it hell for the opposing Qb. Then with the secondary which has more speed and versatility, I would expect to see more corner blitzes along with some safety blitzes mix in as well.

Mike Smith and his staff won't put up with allowing these opposing Qb's to be able to just sit back and have all day to find a open receiver. If the front four is not getting there, he won't hesitate to utilize this linebacking core and versatile secondary to help get after the Qb. In the NFL to win games you have to put pressure on the opposing Qb because if you can't do that its going to be hard to get off the field on defense. Blitzing is coming back this year for the Bucs, as this defense is going to be very flexible during the 2016 season.

Expect to See More Three Tight End Sets

Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter is an innovative offensive mind, allowing him to take advantages of mismatches. The Bucs displayed multiple formations on offense last season and one of the more successful ones was the three tight end sets which feature one Wr and one Rb along with three tight ends. This allowed the Bucs to attack certain matchups against the opposing defenses and created unpredictability on offense. It did two things as it gave the Bucs numbers in the run game and if they wanted to pass out of it, it provided max protection or mismatches in the passing game with the versatility of the Bucs tight ends. Here is just one example in how it allows Doug Martin to get one on one matchups in the running game which he will win most of the time.

The Bucs lined up in a three tight end bunch formation with Evans the lone receiver on the top of the screen with Martin as the single back. This is well designed play as the tight ends and the line downblocks allowing Martin to go against the strong side corner one on one, and Martin easily blows by him and its solid gain of 15 yards. Expect to see more of this in 2016 with a mix of run and pass taking advantage of the Bucs deep tight end group. With ASJ, Brate, Stocker, and rookie Dan Vitale the Bucs have guys capable to take advantage of the matchups that they will get in these formations. Balance will be the focal point again for the offense in 2016, and this formation is one that we could see quite often as it can be very effective.

It's Only About Winning

The culture is changing at One Buc as it is all business from the management down to the players and they only want one thing and that is wins. The message is being sent that it is time to win this year, and no more excuses will be allowed. From Gm Jason Licht, head coach Dirk Koetter, and star Qb Jameis Winston delivering the message loud and clear that there is one stat that matters and that is winning games. One player who gets the message is 2nd year receiver Kenny Bell who just wants to win via bucsnation.com.

“I’ve never really set personal goals for a season in terms of catches and yards,” Bell said. “I know that people say that it really helps and that it gives you something to shoot at, but I just wanna win football games with this team. I truly enjoy this organization, I truly enjoy my teammates, the coaching staff. I really just wanna win, I wanna win so bad. That’s what I would like to make happen this year.

This is a great mindset to have and hopefully it spreads throughout the whole roster. This team is building a winning culture like Jameis said back in January. Accountability is finally coming back to this organization as everyone is either doing their jobs or else they are gone. The days of nonsense looks to be gone, and there is only one thing on the mind and that is getting wins.

Big Year Ahead for the 2013 Draft Class

Training camp is almost here, and it's a big one for the 2013 draft class whom are all pending free agents next off-season. The 2013 draft class for the Bucs has been decent so far producing some starters and quality depth for the team. The majority of the class is on the defensive side of the ball which includes CB Johnthan Banks, DT Akeem Spence, and DE William Gholston. Not going to discuss Qb Mike Glennon or Rb Mike James because frankly, if they are playing the Bucs will not be in good shape. So who will the Bucs bring back out of this group, lets take a look at each one on the defensive side of the ball.

Johnthan Banks- CB 6'2 185 4th year

Banks has been somewhat forgotten by fans, and needs to have a bounce back year in 2016 to show he is more of the player we saw in 2013 and 2014. Banks has the physical tools to be really good, and unfortunately in 2015, he and the previous coaching staff had a falling out leading him to be bench for most of the year. Now heading into 2016, Banks is looking for redemption, but it wont be easy as he has stiff competition for playing time with Alterraun Verner and Brent Grimes looking to start as well. Banks is a playmaker with 7 ints in 3 years, and is going to need to make more plays over the next couple of months.

William Gholston- DE/DT 6'6 281 4th year

Gholston had a breakout season in 2015 in which he started in 11 games collecting over 60 tackles and 3 sacks. Gholston was a consistent player for the defense and is just continuing to get better overall as a player each year. If Bucs d-line coach Jay Hayes can unleash Gholston's pass rush ability then the Bucs could have something dangerous along the defensive line. Look for Gholston to be better in 2016.

Akeem Spence- DT 6'1 307 4th year

Spence has had moments of greatness and then at other times has had lackluster play. Spence is strong at the point of attack and is very capable defending the run. He shows some things as a pass rusher but still needs ton of growth there. Last season was cut in half due to a back injury, but showed some improvement in his technique and overall ability to get off the line quick which helped him make some plays in the backfield.  2016 will be big for him as he will compete with Clinton Mcdonald for the starting nose tackle position and will look to finally put it all together as a player.

It's a big year for these three from the 2013 class and they will have to play well if they want Jason Licht and crew to bring them back for 2017. Who is going to step up out of these 3 players, let me know what you think Bucs nation.

Jameis Culture Change Noted

Kenny Bell sat down with bucs team insider Casey Phillips on a segment called "Slice" at Buccaneers.com where Bell revealed the true effect Jameis is having on the buccaneers team.

I've never looked up to a player the way I look up to Jameis Winston. That energy and the mojo that he brings to the football field and how contagious it is on an NFL football field, with grown men who have families and stuff going on. Its one thing to be a leader in college, a vocal leader and guys get behind you, but to walk into an NFL locker room and take it over and be as contagious as number 3 has been is something thats truly unbelievable and he doesn't get enough credit for it. He's truly changing the culture of our team. Obviously its not just him but he's a huge reason.

Bell is a true believer in Jameis Winston and I would assume the rest of the bucs team feels the same. Winston is alpha dog this team has always needed and he's showing that not only by his actions but by the words of his teammates. Winston is the leader of men this losing team has been begging for and will be the direction leading forward. The bucs will go as Winston goes and it seems like the arrow is pointing up.

Robertson Shot!

Bucs undrafted free agent Dominique Robertson was shot in the leg twice this past July 4th. Robertson, whom is bucs oline coach George Warhops nephew was a favorite of RBT to make a run at a roster spot but after this it will be hard to see him push to make the roster. Robertson who has all the size and athleticism to be an NFL lineman, seems as if he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Bucs put out a statement regarding the situation:

"We are aware of the reports concerning Dominique Robertson. We can confirm that he has been released from the hospital and is at home resting. We are in the process of gathering more information, but our primary concern is for Dominique's health and well-being."

Hope Robertson has a speedy recovery but looks as if his opportunity has come and gone as a Buccaneer.

Someone Needs to Step up!

It's getting closer to the start of training camp for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which will be the start of some intense position battles along with tough decisions for coach Koetter and Gm Jason Licht. Licht and his staff have put together a solid roster this off-season and could make a playoff appearance this year. However, there are still question marks surrounding the roster, and one of them is the safety position. The Bucs stood pat at the position bringing back the same group from last year with rookie Ryan Smith being the only new addition. Who is going to step up this year and become a impact safety for this team?

I say it's going to be Bradley Mcdougald, this is a good fit defensively for him and should allow him to play to his strengths. Mcdougald was decent at times last year which is good considering the secondary was below average in 2015. Mcdougald has the physical tools and has the experience now to allow him to play even faster. He is only 25, and last season was his first full season as a starter in which he had 87 tackles and 2 ints. Now being coached by Jon Hoke and Brett Maxie along with Mike Smith who helped developed some good safeties in Reggie Nelson and Thomas Decloud, hopes he can do the same with Mcdougald. Someone out of the safety group has to step up, so why not Bradley Mcdougald.