Bucs Get An “A”
June 21st, 2012
The skeleton of a football season is usually constructed in the offseason. If a team succeeds in the offseason, devising offenses and defenses and ways to get the most out of players’ talents and skills, then that often translates into success in the fall.
With that premise, Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News believes the Bucs will have a solid season. He gives the Bucs the highest offseason grade of any NFC team with an “A.”
GRADE: A
Tampa Bay BuccaneersKey additions: WR Vincent Jackson, G Carl Nicks, RB Doug Martin, TE Dallas Clark, CB Eric Wright, QB Dan Orlovsky.
Key losses: TE Kellen Winslow, QB Josh Johnson, S Tanard Jackson.
Josh Freeman needs to break out of his slump, and having a bona fide No. 1 receiver in Jackson is a huge boost. He’ll also get more consistency in the running game with Nicks blocking for the versatile Martin. Clark is a good replacement for Winslow as Freeman’s security blanket. Meanwhile, Wright will start at cornerback, where Aqib Talib—recently cleared of an assault charge—will join him. The attitude adjustment brought on by Schiano’s hiring will help get the Bucs back on track.
Yes, of course, whether the Bucs taste a playoff berth will likely come down to how well Freeman bounces back from an ugly 22-interception season. That will be the key factor.
If Joe had to quibble with this analysis, Joe doesn’t exactly know how you can classify a backup quarterback who has yet to win a game as a starter (and is now a No. 3 quarterback with the Niners) as a “key loss.” To be fair to Johnson, Joe cringed reading his name lumped in with Jackson and Winslow.
June 21st, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Since our Front Seven on D-Fense is shakey at best, It’s all on #5 this year. Last year #5 was destroyed by: Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker & Cam Newton (twice).
The SpotLight is on him every game.
June 21st, 2012 at 1:09 pm
All of those people play offense. None of them destroyed Josh.
June 21st, 2012 at 1:13 pm
A+
Key additions and Key “losses” says it all.
You might want to add “losing” last year’s coaching staff and replacing it with HC Schiano & Co.
A+!
Can’t WAIT!!!
June 21st, 2012 at 1:29 pm
@ CharlieB……They grossly outperformed Josh at the QB spot in head-to-head competition. that was not supposed to happen and cannot if he wants to play in the NFL
June 21st, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Josh Johnson is a key loss in the sense he is one of the best players we lost in free agency which isnt saying to much. In terms of a key loss impacting the team… not at all.
June 21st, 2012 at 1:48 pm
I’m surprised Orlovsky was listed as a key addition over Mark Barron. Lavonte David should be listed as well as both are projected to be starters.
June 21st, 2012 at 2:13 pm
For as much as has been made about the linebacking group being lackluster last year there hasn’t been much mention this preseason about how Mason Foster has progressed since last year and if he’s shown improvements that would help wary Bucs fans hope for better days ahead from their LBs
June 21st, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Notice he did not use Winslow as an excuse but as a security blanket not a cause of Freeman’s 22 picks. And now Clark will be his security blanket when he can’t find anyone open. Guess he figures Freeman has a brain of his own too and should know when to throw it and when not to.
June 21st, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Seems like Dominik Finally put it all together this year from a management perspective. He is gonna be around in the NFL for a long time to come.
June 21st, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Dini
Sorry, but how is Gabbert’s 19 of 33 for 217, 2 tds, & 2 ints, destorying Freeman’s 16 of 30 for 181yds, 1 td, & 2 ints?
Or, how is Matt’s (it was Hasselbeck, not Jake Locker who played us) 19 of 34 for 160yds, 1 td, & 2 ints, destorying Freeman’s 18 of 33 for 199yds, 1 td, & 1 int?
Cam was the only one “destroying” Freeman, cause our defense sucked! And, he certainly ran enough! Cam’s 1st game he had 12 of 21 for 204 yds, 4tds(3 rushing), 0 ints; Freeman had 16 of 27 for 229yds, 1td, & 1 int.
Cam’s 2nd game he had 12 of 17 for 171 yds, 4 tds(1 rush), 0 ints Freeman had 28 of 38 for 274yds, 2td(1rush), & 1 int.
Dont get me wrong, Freeman needs to improve no doubt, but don’t make it look like rookies were tearing up the stats against his.
June 21st, 2012 at 3:24 pm
@ OAR <— Why let the facts get in the way of my comments (you may have a point there:)
June 21st, 2012 at 3:46 pm
I’ve seen several of these type of lists with grades and nobody ever includes Lavonte David. I think even as a rookie David is going to be a huge upgrade over Geno Hayes from day one and people are going to be surprised with what that young man brings to the defense.
June 21st, 2012 at 3:55 pm
IMO our offense stats are padded at times. How many games were the other teams offense on the field running wild on our defense and running up the score? So later in the games they let our offense run time off the clock? Get just close enough to score and the defense stop them. Only to have our top scoring kicker come in to score 3 points. Remember Freeman completed most of his passes that way and that is exactly what happened. 3 points.
June 21st, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Now I understand, this is Fantasy Football, where we all create make believe football teams and compete with statistics. All this time I thought JBF.com was real football.
That’s why I’m so misunderstood and confused. Maybe, Garv is right after all.
So when do we all go to Hooters, drink too much beer, eat a grouper sandwich & curly fries, oogle that cute blonde waitress and draft our teams?
I got dibs on K2 in the 7th round.
June 21st, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Some people are just plain dumb. There’s no such thing as head-to-head competition between QBs. You might’ve noticed that QBs play against an opposing defense, as well as depending on competent coaching and play from RBs, WRs, TEs, and OL.
June 21st, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Is it just me or doesn’t anyone else find it ‘interesting’ that no where, I mean NO WHERE is the mention of the Bucs first round pick Mark Barron????
Yeah the Bucs are getting an ‘A’ without putting on pads and with a Josh Johnson who, according to what I’ve read on THESE PAGES, looks more like the 2011 Freeman rather than the 2010 Freeman.
June 21st, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Well Mr. “lucky,” if you don’t mind me asking, how is Josh Johnson’s looking like either the 2010 or the 2011 josh Freeman relevant at all?
I don’t think, being an optimistic Buccaneer fan of course, that “Key” losses like JJ, Winslow and Tannard Jackson ammount to SQUAT when compared to the Key additions mentioned above. In fact, I’d type those “Key” losses are additions by subtraction.
But what the heck, I’m just a fan who……
Can’t WAIT!!!
June 21st, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Correction on my prior post:
I meant that Josh FREEMAN isn’t looking like the 2010 QB
Let’s face it folks, without an accurate and productive Freeman the Bucs aren’t going anywhere in 2012
June 21st, 2012 at 10:44 pm
I think Josh will be okay. A better running game, better o-line, better receivers and better coaching will help him run a productive offense. That will help the defense by giving them some time on the sideline to catch their breath and make needed adjustments. Rah didn’t believe in adjustments. If it wasn’t in the game plan, he didn’t want to hear about it.
June 22nd, 2012 at 5:04 pm
The 2012 Josh Freeman will look much better because of the 2012 RB’s and the WR’s and the 2012 O-Line. We improved in every area. If he struggles this year it will be because of Josh Freeman and nothing else. I personally think he will have a breakout year. Our offense is going to be electric.