Nice article on Bucs here.
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Editor's note: With offseason work across the league coming to an end, the focus shifts to the steamy summer workouts ahead. The countdown to training camp has begun. To get you fully primed for the preseason and beyond, Sporting News provides in-depth looks at all 32 teams leading into camps. Today: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tuesday: Houston Texans.
TAMPA, Fla. — The offseason decision to hand the reigns to former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano was based on nothing more than the strong organizational belief that what the young Buccaneers need most right now is structure, discipline and a refresher course in fundamentals.
After devoting the bulk of the offseason to establishing a foundation with those elements as cornerstones, Schiano must now get down to the nitty gritty of deciding who his best 11 players are on each side of the ball. Some of those decisions will be easy. But for several positions, including running back, linebacker, wide receiver and defensive back, tough calls are required.
No matter the outcome of those position battles, the Bucs' key to success is the willingness of their players to buy into the starkly different program Schiano has instituted.
“The sooner everybody buys in, the faster we’ll start winning," Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn said. “And I think everybody is buying in. Last year was real tough on everybody. Losing (10) games in a row at the end is tough, it’s real tough. I don’t think anybody in that locker room wants to have that feeling again."
What’s new: Offense
A big chunk of the $140 million the Bucs spent in free agency went to left guard Carl Nicks, which should tell you something about their plans for moving the ball. This is a team that intends to go old school and run, run, run. Schiano has made no secret of his desire to have a bell-cow running back lead the charge and to make good use of the team's stable of young backs.
The Bucs don’t intend to let QB Josh Freeman’s skills rust away, but they want to relieve a lot of the pressure from a year ago when he felt he had to carry the offense. The hope is the running attack will set up play-action opportunities for Freeman, who has an impressive corps of young receivers at hand.
Led by Vincent Jackson, who gives the team the deep threat it was missing a year ago, the Bucs believe their receivers could prove to be a strength. They’re hoping, though, that the running attack will make it more of a secret weapon.
What’s new: Defense
With the exception of Ronde Barber, who will now play safety instead of cornerback, the lineup is pretty much the same as it was a year ago. The difference is in how that lineup will be used. Schiano believes in an attack-style defense, so look for the linebackers and key members of the secondary to run downhill a lot more.
The linemen will be freed up to get after the passer and the ball carriers as well, with the hope being the team will make a lot more plays in the backfield. At the very least, the Bucs want to cause more disruption. Gone then are the days of sitting back and reacting to the offense.
The team will play mostly zone schemes, but the hallmark will be a swarming style reminiscent of that once employed by former coordinator Monte Kiffin. The Bucs believe they have a talented group, but they want the individuals to band together, work as one and tackle en masse.
Camp goals
Josh Freeman could be helped by a stronger Buccaneers running game. (AP Photo)
1. Find the bell cow. Running back LeGarrette Blount is the incumbent and if you take away his penchant for putting the ball on the ground (nine fumbles in two years), he’s pretty good. Rookie Doug Martin is everything the Bucs want in a lead back and more. He’s an exceptional pass catcher and pass protector, and the Bucs moved back into the first round to get him. The battle for supremacy might rage on well past opening day.
2. Settle on the linebacker corps. The Bucs have starters returning in strongside linebacker Quincy Black and middle linebacker Mason Foster but neither played well last season. The team must decide quickly if each is worthy of starting. Coaches also must decide if rookie Lavonte David is good enough right now to start at weakside linebacker. The Bucs have depth, so all three projected starters could be pushed for playing time or out of starting roles.
3. Find Freeman’s mojo. Freeman lost his way last season. He made poor decisions at critical times, became too reliant on now-departed tight end Kellen Winslow and tried too hard to make plays when they weren’t there to be made. Freeman has all the talent necessary to be among the league’s best quarterbacks. If he can adjust his mechanics and learn to live for another down he’ll succeed, and so will the Bucs.
Breakout player
Gerald McCoy, defensive tackle. McCoy’s attempts to live up to his billing as the third overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft were derailed each of his first two years by biceps tears, one to each arm. McCoy regained his health after going through yet another stringent rehab regimen. He seems more motivated than ever to finish the season.
McCoy has a good group of young, yet capable, pass rushers around him and he says the injuries should help him meet his team’s high expectations.
“They’ll make me play harder,’’ McCoy said. “People get injured when they slow down, but if you are going full speed you don’t usually get hurt. So to prevent injuries you have to go harder, and that’s what I’m going to do. For me, it’s full steam ahead. That’s all I am doing. Whatever is behind me is behind me, all I can see is the future.’’
Bottom line
The Bucs should be much more polished. Schiano has instituted a no-tolerance approach that should reduce mental mistakes and improve physical performance across the board. The talent level is much improved, but the Bucs remain young and inexperienced in key positions, notably running back and linebacker.
Schiano will have this team well prepared, and it will work hard. That should result in an improvement on 2011's 4-12 record, but a playoff berth still seems like a long shot.
Prediction: Fourth, NFC South