[ad_1]
It’s been the offseason of re-signings for the Bucs which have put the crew in place to compete for the NFC South title once more and make a playoff run. Yearly the aim for the group is to win the Tremendous Bowl, so whereas profitable a fourth straight division championship – and the automated house playoff sport that comes with it – is a aim, what additionally issues is how Tampa Bay compares to the remainder of the league.
Moving into the postseason is one factor. Advancing within the playoffs is one other.
For a fast refresher of this offseason, Tampa Bay re-signed Professional Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield, Professional Bowl large receiver Mike Evans, inside linebacker Lavonte David, kicker Chase McLaughlin and positioned the franchise tag on All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr. They’ve additionally made different essential new signings as effectively with the largest one being the return of Jordan Whitehead at robust security.
The Bucs additionally signed inside offensive linemen Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta to supply a brand new competitors at heart and left guard, respectively, and added Bryce Corridor and Tavierre Thomas at cornerback to spherical out the depth behind Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum and nickel cornerback Christian Izien.
Bucs’ Rating Is Shocking
With the primary focus re-signing Tampa Bay’s personal gamers to a crew that made it to the divisional spherical of the postseason final yr, was that sufficient to make the Bucs a contender? In a post-free company energy rankings by Jarrett Bailey on the Touchdown Wire, Bailey has Tampa Bay ranked at 21 total out of 32 groups. That’s the worst rating out of any crew that made the playoffs the yr earlier than.
That is what was stated concerning the Bucs’ outlook in 2024:
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield Picture by: USA Right this moment
‘Tip of the cap to Baker Mayfield for getting paid after the very best yr of his profession and his second profession playoff win. I do query if the Bucs can repeat that success, although, particularly with out Dave Canales. On the very least, they’ll be aggressive week in and week out. At most, they’ll be a playoff crew as soon as once more.”
It’s actually honest to surprise if Mayfield can preserve his degree of play for one more season. We’ve seen different quarterbacks have nice seasons in “prove-it” years, making an attempt to get a brand new contract the place the outcomes had been much less favored after a deal was signed. Take the Giants’ Daniel Jones, the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and the Seahawks’ Geno Smith for instance.
In 2022, Jones threw for over 3,000 yards with 15 touchdowns because the Giants went 9-7-1, incomes a Wild Card spot and defeating the Vikings within the first spherical. Jones was signed to a four-year, $160 million contract that offseason. However the subsequent yr he went 1-5 as a starter, throwing six interceptions, which was another than he had all season. Jones additionally tore his ACL and was out for the season after these six video games.
Hurts and Smith aren’t as harrowing tales as Jones was. However after a Tremendous Bowl look in 2022, Hurts was rewarded with a five-year, $255 million contract from Philadelphia. His first yr underneath that deal began out nice as Philadelphia raced out to a 10-1 report, however Hurts began taking part in via harm and the Eagles went 1-6 down the stretch of the common season earlier than the Bucs dismantled them, 32-9, within the Wild Card playoffs.
Mayfield and Smith have been in contrast again and again since they every wanted to revive their careers in a brand new location – and each labored with Canales. After his resurgence with over 4,000 yards, 30 touchdowns and 9-8 report to make the postseason, Smith was given a three-year, $75 million deal by the Seahawks. It wasn’t a drastic fall off, however his numbers declined a bit final season as he threw for 3,624 and 20 touchdowns as Seattle went 8-9 and didn’t attain the postseason.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The place I disagree with Bailey’s assertion concerning the Bucs is the reference to how a lot of an affect dropping Canales may very well be for Tampa bay. There’s actually going to be changes with Liam Coen because the crew’s new offensive coordinator, however his system isn’t wildly totally different than what Canales ran. Plus, he’s already labored with Mayfield earlier than in Los Angeles.
Coen can be a extra polished play-caller having expertise in that position with the College of Kentucky and briefly for the Rams.
One other facet that may’t be neglected is that this would be the second yr along with Mayfield throwing to Mike Evans. His 1,255 receiving yards had been Evans’ most since 2018, and his 13 touchdowns had been tied for the league lead and the second highest in his profession. One can solely think about what Mayfield and Evans can do in a second season after they’ve constructed up a lot continuity.
Are The Falcons Runaway Favorites?
Though ranked twenty first within the Landing Wire rankings, Tampa Bay was the second finest amongst all NFC South groups. In first place was Atlanta, coming in at No. 7. These had been Bailey Jarrett’s feedback on the Falcons:
Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson and Vikings QB Kirk Cousins – Picture courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
“The Falcons noticed the roster they’d at hand, and went out to get their quarterback to convey all of it collectively. Including Kirk Cousins to an offense that already had a ability group of Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson, plus a protection that was fifth in success charge, makes Atlanta a crew that may contend for a Tremendous Bowl.”
The Falcons signing Cousins was arguably the largest transfer by any crew this offseason. On paper, it’s affordable to see why the Falcons may very well be the NFC South favourite. With that stated, it does really feel odd that the Bucs would as soon as once more be thought of an underdog in their very own division given their current historical past of profitable the NFC South three years in a row.
Most doubted the Bucs final yr they usually got here out on high. All of the stress goes to be on Cousins and the Falcons this yr, and Cousins hasn’t been the man to excel in excessive profile conditions.
The 35-year previous quarterback has a horrible report in primetime video games, and only one profession playoff win in 4 begins. Now impulsively he’s simply going to buck that development? How a lot better is that this Atlanta crew than among the groups he was on in Minnesota?
There’s little doubt the Falcons improved. They actually wanted a quarterback.
Since Mayfield arrived in Tampa, the Bucs have been at their finest once they’ve been counted out. Tampa Bay might need everybody proper the place the crew desires them as a result of it looks as if the doubters are beginning to come out in full drive once more.
[ad_2]
Source link
