Bucs Must Improve Offense
December 26th, 2016
Offseason project is clear
Heading into the season, if Joe had written the Bucs offense would cripple the team down the stretch, the reaction would have been near as vile as Joe predicting Doug Martin would be benched.
But that’s exactly what happened, largely due to an unreal amount of injuries to wide receiver and running back, not to mention the knot-headed actions of a talented but clownish huge bowel movement of a tight end known as “ASJ.”
Jenna Laine of ESPN explains both the offensive production and the coaching let the Bucs down.
Evans and Brate are two targets that will grow with Winston for years to come, but the offense needs more — more points, more from players and more from the coaching staff. The defense’s growth this season has been well-documented, but the team can’t expect that group to force nearly three turnovers and score six points off of them every game.
It’s not sustainable and unrealistic to expect the defense to put up numbers on par with the 2002 Bucs every time they take the field, especially when facing Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton twice a year, every year. The Bucs need more offensive firepower to contend in the NFC South.
Joe totally agrees with Laine with the exception of the coaching. There, Joe is polar opposite.
The Bucs are now down to their No. 8 wide receiver, literally pulling drivers off the street to play wide receiver that were otherwise transporting little old ladies in wheelchairs to their doctors (Bernard Reedy).
No offense in any way to Reedy and Josh Huff, but how exactly is a guy with limited time supposed to develop any sort of timing with America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston? Joe asked Bucs coach Todd Monken last week if developing timing between a quarterback and a wide receiver was overblown and he emphatically stated it was not.
Joe is of the mind Koetter worked wonders with dudes answering Craig’s List job ads midseason.
But Laine is very much on point to the roster. Please, for the love of Jeff Garcia for 2017, get Jameis some weapons to work with and to help prevent defenses from taking first down machine Mike Evans out of games.
December 26th, 2016 at 1:16 pm
draft John ross from washington.we cannot afford to not pick this guy. he’s ridiculous.
December 26th, 2016 at 1:18 pm
I really think that a lot of the hand-wringing that’s going on is so overblown. Every negative about the team is looked at in a vacuum and the totality of what’s going on here isn’t being considered.
As you mentioned Joe, the coaching did a great job of making the best of marginal talent. Yes, the front office could have brought in more talent, but we had a rookie head coach and we were basement dwellers. There has to be another side to that FA deal and we don’t know how many of those potential free agents flat out said that they weren’t coming to Tampa, or wanted outrageous money. Now, we’ve proven ourselves as a team that’s on the cusp. FAs will be a lot more likely to sign, so our front office will have a much easier time bringing in those utility players and, potentially, superstars that could be the missing pieces.
I haven’t seen anything from the coaches, personnel staff or players that gives me any cause for concerns leading to next year. Yes, I’d love to see upgrades and attitude adjustments in certain places, but I think we’re set up to go on a run that most of us will be very happy with.
December 26th, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Jason Beliwannabe to get off his arse and sign Alshon Jeffery in FA, draft Cook in rd 1. Boom problem solved
December 26th, 2016 at 1:25 pm
needs to*
December 26th, 2016 at 1:29 pm
And we become unstoppable 90.
December 26th, 2016 at 1:32 pm
be careful wishing for Jeffery. He misses a lot of games. bucs need consistently available impact players not another part time star they have that covered already.
I’d like to see a legit LT, C, WR x 2 (1 draft pick, 1 PROVEN Vet), upgrade at TE
martin is untradeable so they will have to ride with martin rogers and barber next year.
December 26th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
don’t get me wrong jeffery is a bad ass but he does miss games. bucs have gambled too many times that players with injury histories stay healthy.
December 26th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
Alshon Jeffrey is always injured. Terrell Pryor is as tall as Mike Evans, but runs a 4.3. Add to that a playmaker in the draft and look out Atlanta!
December 26th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
@Off the Cuff – Everything I’ve seen about Pryor is that everyone that comes in contact with him hates him. Like, hates everything about him as a person. I’m not sure that we have the kind of locker room that can overcome a personality like that yet. He has talent, for sure.
December 26th, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Look at what Tyreek Hill, Desean Jackson and Antonio Brown do for their teams. Speed kills, and we don’t have any of it.
December 26th, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Team yards after catch
we are ranked 30th
https://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/team-yards-after-catch-statistics/2016/
We need playmakers that can run after catch. even with 1 wr playmaking starter can open the field up and create space for ME13, Brate and our running game
If we can get the right player …no more 8 man fronts. 3rd and short slants and outlet for jameis when they do blitz.
December 26th, 2016 at 2:01 pm
That so-call Top-5 offense from last season had people fooled. It all was an illusion and garbage yardage during garbage time, against teams 3rd stringers. We passed on a lot of good offensive players during the draft and free agency. We depended on washed up injury-prone players to get it done, and they failed us(big time). No way I would have went into the season depending on Gosder, Dotson, Murphy, Vjax, ASJ, Hawley, EDS, Martin, Sims, Stocker.
December 26th, 2016 at 2:05 pm
You wouldn’t have depended on the second leading rushing in the NFL and the guy who notched over 1000 yards in a backup role last year? You’re quite the oracle now that we’re looking in the rear view at the season. Do you have that same super power with lottery numbers as well? I bet you’re able to guess the right numbers every time the morning after they’re drawn and you get to look at the morning paper. Good job buddy.
December 26th, 2016 at 2:08 pm
Please note another duncaneer. John Ross, or the kid from Western Michigan
December 26th, 2016 at 2:09 pm
Sign Pryor and Jackson in the offseason and Jpp. Draft Dalvin Cook and call it a day!! Future is bright
December 26th, 2016 at 2:23 pm
If either one is available, Mike Williams from clemson is an absolute monster, and Leonard Fournette looks like the real deal as well. But I belong to the camp that believes the first thing that needs to be addressed is to draft/sign a stud Center and Right tackle, which i Believe would transform our offensive line into a truly dominant unit.
December 26th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
fuk Dalvin Cook! FSU players amek horrible pro’s. we’re stucj with one FSU Scrub aka AGUAYO and the other is too erratic. NO MORE FSU SCRUBS PLZ!!!
December 26th, 2016 at 2:30 pm
make*
December 26th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Normally I would tell you f@$! your dummie self but why bother. I’m too giddy bout up coming moves.
December 26th, 2016 at 2:42 pm
“Please, for the love of Jeff Garcia for 2017, get Jameis some weapons to work with”
Speaking for Pablo
“Please, Hoe…..don’t tease Pablo bringing up Pablo’s second favorite QB….Heff…..Haboo is Pablo’s favorite.”
December 26th, 2016 at 2:48 pm
The 2017 season will be very very interesting
…..we have so many question marks at all positions really
If Jameis does play better in his third year……fans will start to really turn sour on him.
Will our defense be good after mike smith leaves?
Who will be the main RB. ……cause it sure as hell won’t be dancing dougie fresh in the backfield.
December 26th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
How about a G.M.
December 26th, 2016 at 2:53 pm
go after Pryor first and then Jeffery if we can’t get him. I’d also go after Patterson, working with Winston might do wonders for him. They also should draft a WR or TE with speed somewhere in the first 4 rounds.
The Bucs must address the Center and the right Tackle positions in FA and/or the draft (not later than round 4). It was an outrage that Light traded up in the second round to get a kicker and not address these positions.
The Bucs can get by or even flourish with their current stable of RBs if the OL and WR positions are addressed.
The Bucs have the most cap space available going into 2017. There is no excuse for not addressing these needs.
December 26th, 2016 at 3:37 pm
What is the obsession with Tyrell Pryor on this website? And Alshon Jeffery isn’t a good fit, we’ve already got a Jeffery type guy in Mike Evans. We need a burner.
Someone who can create separation.
Someone who can Stretch the field and force Defenses to keep a guys deep.
Someone who can catch a 10 yard pass and turn it into a 50 yard score. Someone who can run down a ball that might be a bit overthrown.
Thats the type of receiver Jameis and this team needs.
December 26th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Thank you Blake. The people on here only want to sign fa they’ve heard of or draft Seminole. Draft Cook when we have no wr that can get open?? Or ol? ? Yeesh
December 26th, 2016 at 3:42 pm
I nice, fast number 2 would be nice, but Jameis needs to work on his accuracy also. He throws behind a lot on the slant and we’ve all seen the over throws. And we are so lucky to have MikE being able to scoop up those 3rd downs. Not that I don’t love having Jameis as our QB, but his accuracy should be his “thing in the offseason.”
December 26th, 2016 at 3:46 pm
None of them have heard of John Ross or Cory Davis because neither one plays for a FL school or against a FL school
December 26th, 2016 at 3:55 pm
We still have big needs on D. We still don’t have enough pass rushers. We don’t have a safety that worries anyone. We need to add some size at LB.
December 26th, 2016 at 3:56 pm
I’ve mentioned the Bucs should draft John Ross multiple times here. As for free agency, I don’t see much value outside of Pryor and Jeffery. Cordelle Patterson has been a disappointment in Minnesota, but he has loads of talent and he can return kicks. At the right price, I’d take a chance on him, but I wouldn’t tartget him alone addressing our WR needs.
December 26th, 2016 at 4:00 pm
agreed salish, i would use two picks in the first 4 rounds on offense and defense. As for free agency, the Bucs have the most. cap space in the NFL going into 2017. No reason they can’t address defensive needs as well
December 26th, 2016 at 4:02 pm
This team does NOT need Alshon. He is always hurt, they overpaid Doug who is always hurt. Stills from MIA would be great here. Upgrade at C and T. Do what Robinson did in TENN. Keep Martin and draft a young RB. Make Martin earn that 8 mil. I want to see Coach Koetter with a full compliment of real NFL talent before I say he can’t coach
December 26th, 2016 at 4:25 pm
Lots of over throws by Jameis to the shorter receivers so I might go with Davis/Mike Williams over Ross.
December 26th, 2016 at 4:54 pm
The Bucs #2 WR this year has been….
Vincent Jackson – a shell of himself before going out of the year on IR
Louis Murphy – a guy who has always been a prospect, now 29, on IR
Cecil Shorts – a guy so bad he was cut by Houston… Houston… on IR
Now it’s…
Russell Shepard – career special teams guy, has been the best of the bunch IMO
Huff – a guy who got cut from Philadelphia… Philadelphia…
Adam Humphries isn’t a #2, he just doesn’t have the size at all and can’t get open versus man versus NFL corners.
But lets take a look at TE as we…
This year we had ASJ… then Brate who went down in that NO game, so now you got Luke Stocker who is a blocking specialist and Brandon Meyers trying to haul in TD passes in the endzone at the end of the game. So after NO double teams Evans you got a 4th string TE with 8th string WRs, none of which can get open.
With all of that said the offensive playcalling this year has not been good – Dirk has gotten dramatically more predictable and ultra conservative. Dirk has to let Winston play more – although if his excuse is we don’t have anyone for him to throw the ball too, that would make sense. But I don’t think that is what Dirk is thinking. Dirk seems to care more about TO’s than he cares about scoring points – and you have to find the balance. Winston is still just 22 years old, the 2nd youngest starting QB in football, only behind Goff, you have to let the kid play and make mistakes, and from those he’ll get much better. Dirk seems to be scared of that and seems to think running up the middle on every single 1st down is the key to success in the NFL.
December 26th, 2016 at 5:07 pm
Joe,
You opined that the coaches do not need to improve because players were brought off the street. Yet, Winston carries the burden of all failures of the team. Dak has every offensive weapon that you can dream of having. When the heiferboys beat the Bucs, Dak, if I recall correctly, only had one pass over ten yards. Dak put up 300 yards. Dirk did not adjust his offense to make it easier for the people off the street and Winston. Why would you consistently throw 50-50 balls with players of the street? that offensive line is bad. Except for Ali Marphet, there are huge questions that need to be answered. I watch some film of the offensive line and they do not play with heart or a desire to win. Run plays that could have been big plays did not make a first down because of missed blocks which were due to a lack of urgency of the offensive line. When Winston does well, the line gets all kind of credit. The defense played lights out for five games. On the big stage, the defense was invisible. McCoy has played well at times, but he has never had one of those game. Against the heiferboys I was so hoping he would shut me up, but he did not. The highest paid player on the team did not show up, and the loss to the heiferboys is all on Winston. My advice is that people to believing in a dualistic god; you get lost in reality.
December 26th, 2016 at 5:12 pm
Pierre Garcon – might be a nice fit with the Bucs as a #2 and the Redskins can’t afford to keep everyone. The Bucs got money so they could overpay, but not sure if he’s a guy you overpay for. Clearly a #2 but solid in that role.
DeSean Jackson – is the other Redskins WR up for FA, he’d be a great fit for the Bucs as a speed guy that can make plays and stretch the field, but he’s aging and often injured. I wouldn’t want to rely on the guy to stay healthy. Also can disappear for weeks at a time.
Kenny Britt – I think the Rams lock him up, but if you want a younger VJ, Britt is probably the closest to it. Will have to overpay – but the Bucs, again, have more money than anyone, so overpay.
Cordarrelle Patterson – Should be at the top of the Bucs, not so much as a 2nd WR, but as a return guy, special teams guy and someone that can come in to stretch the field. Big time speed guy and the Bucs need speed at WR.
Terrelle Pryor – Guy is a big time a-hole, not that I care but you word hurt fruits might not like that. Played great this year at times but he’s still a former QB turned WR and still learning to be a top end WR. Probably will get a lot of money but with that money might be a real pain in the a. Not sure I’d want to deal with him, he could be great, but could get a big contract and bust. Not sure what his work ethic is like once he has gotten a contract.
Robert Woods – Younger guy from Buffalo, could turn out to be a really good fit.
Vincent Jackson – Again, the Bucs have ton of money, they could give Jackson a $5-7m/1yr deal if he’d take it they could still sign someone else from this list and hopefully draft someone as well.
The biggest issue is lots of team have money and nearly everyone wants more WRs and when you look at the list, there isn’t a lot of good ones. Same issue you have every year, lots of money, but nothing to spend it on.
December 26th, 2016 at 6:49 pm
Games are Won and Lost in the trenches. It doesn’t matter who you put back there, if we don’t get the line fixed first, we will end up with the same results. I would look to the draft for lineman Robertson, Ramizyk, Pocic. It all starts up front protect our QB first give him time, open up holes for our running game.
December 26th, 2016 at 9:45 pm
Amen to the above and licht has messed this up since he got here as you see zuttah and pennplaying at high levelss and then dunderbox licht drafts hargreaves instead of laremy tunsil, those 3 crappy moves cost the bucs big time
December 26th, 2016 at 10:25 pm
Oh my gosh I agree with @ kobe faker! you stated something great and didn’t bash the HC! Go Bucs!
December 26th, 2016 at 10:29 pm
Totally agree on the time it takes for the QB to develop timing with the receiver. the first few games with Shorts the timing was painful to watch but then once he and JW clicked he was an asset until that brutal injury!
December 27th, 2016 at 3:08 am
Forget VJ that is stupid why not take Pryor .john Ross can play, I live in Seattle and have watched him turn short passes into td for the last 3 yrs. Where if the proof Pryor is a cancer, the gossiping ESPN would have written that by now
December 27th, 2016 at 8:30 am
I agree our line is shaky to say the least but with the exception of center this is a poor offensive lineman draft and there is not much in free agency either.
I think this is a draft where we can help ourselves at skill positions of WR and TE
and if Dalvin Cook somehow gets close to our first round selection we can be dramatically better on offense.
Free Agency we should go after these players:
WR:Alshon Jeffrey, Terrell Pryor, Kenny Stills, Marquise Goodwin, Kenny Britt
OT: Manelik Watson
DE: JPP, Calais Campbell
DT: Dantari Poe, Johnathan Hankins
CB: AJ Bouye
S: DJ Swearinger, Eric Berry, Tony Jefferson
Draft:
Round 1 Corey Davis WR, Western Michigan or Dalvin Cook RB Florida State
Round 2 Caleb Brantley DT Florida, Bucky Hodges TE Virginia Tech
Round 3 DeDe Westbrook WR Oklahoma, Isaiah Ford WR Virginia Tech or Vincent Taylor DT Oklahoma State