Countdown Series: Top 10 Bucs X-Factors For 2018 — What Didn’t Make The Cut
July 14th, 2018
It all starts tomorrow, a daily countdown look at the top 10 X-factors for your 2018 Buccaneers season.
Joe is pumped!
Today, Joe will share a few things that did not make the cut — and why.
DeSean Jackson – Yes, the desired chemistry/connection between Jackson and America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, could be important. But frankly, the Bucs have too many other receiving weapons for Joe to place that much importance on Jameis and Jackson becoming a special connection. If they’re just ok — and a little better than last year — that should be just fine.
Gerald McCoy — Joe is a McCoy fan but sorry, Joe is not expecting McCoy to have some sort of breakout year at 30 years old. He routinely battles multiple injuries and Joe simply believes McCoy will turn in another McCoy-like season, So he can’t be considered an X-factor.
Mike Smith — Man, Joe agonized about whether to include Smith as a stand-alone entry but passed. Yes, Smith was brutal last season. Brutal. But Joe expects some form of bounce back. Joe can’t assume Smith completely forgot how to coach or has mailed in his career. He’ll be a key but didn’t crack the top 10.
Chandler Catanzaro – C’mon, did you even think Joe would wager $10.00 that the Bucs’ new free agent kicker makes the roster? Joe, like every other Bucs fan, knows to be leery of Tampa Bay kickers in the post-Chucky era. Yeah, possessing a decent kicker very likely would have meant the Bucs beat New England on Thursday Night Football last season to go 3-1. Still, it’s kicking, and other things are more important. Remember, Joe already advised you to keep an eye on Bucs undrafted rookie kicker Trevor Moore.
The Countdown kicks off tomorrow with No. 10. The lineup is set!
July 14th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
“The 2018 X- factor player is Peyton Barber…top 5 rushing attempts and over 1k yards in 2018”
Kobe Faker
July 14th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
One of the things that depresses me about our Incredible Receiving corps is now I can’t draft any Bucs’ Receiver in FF!
2 Yrs ago ME and Brate helped me win my $ league. Now with Godwin, Howard, and hopefully DJax Jameis connection improving the ball will be too evenly distributed.
Not to mention I can’t draft Jameis. I will just have to try to be the first one to pick him up off of waivers when he comes back.
July 14th, 2018 at 4:56 pm
DJax, McCoy, Smitty & our new kicker … NONE of them made your Top-10 Joe? (Realistically, the ONLY one that totally surprised me was Scapegoat Smitty … it’s refreshing to hear you take at least somewhat of a positive look of him).
Of that Top-10, surely our TWO QBs make the list: Jameis & Fitz. Barber has to be in there, as does RoJo. Got a hunch the OLine makes it (as a whole) as well as the DLine (as a whole), although you might opt to focus on just Vea. For the remainder, I’d think Grimes (can he last?), his opposing outside CB (initially R. Smith is my guess), ME13 (how good a year will he have), and then one mystery guest to bring the total to 10. Gut feel that’ll be WHOEVER ends up playing Right Guard, but who knows. Aaah yes, the suspense is killing us. Nice setup BTW.
July 14th, 2018 at 5:49 pm
Jensen better be an Xfactor. You give somebody the highest salary in the league that is the least that should be expected.
Leaving the kicker off was a good call because nobody wants to read a kicker story. But the reality of the matter is that Chatenzerilo needs to be an Xfactor.
July 14th, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Kicker should Totally be on the list! As Joe has been pointing out lately the NE game last yr is the prime example.
THREE missed FGs and a PAT!
We only lost by 5
July 14th, 2018 at 6:21 pm
SB…..And Brate evades all blame from that game as he dropped a easy TD. Cost of 7 points due to the subsequent missed FG.
But I think Joe’s point about the kicker is that he is expected to be another stinker thusly making him an nonfactor for any success.
July 14th, 2018 at 6:28 pm
1. No idea who America’s QB is…thought Brady played for New England…but the Bucs QB FFF (Former Face of the Franchise) Winston can’t hit DJax if the FFF isn’t allowed to play.
2. Oh no, not a nother K controversy. I’d forgotten about that. Uh oh.
July 14th, 2018 at 6:43 pm
Interesting, but I disagree on McCoy.
For the first time in his career, other teams will be unable to double and triple team him, and I think he will respond with a true pro bowl year.
Mike Smith has had zero pass rush. Even Bill Belicheat looks awful w/o a pass rush. Buckner plans to turn the Dogs loose, and we finally have some Dogs to turn loose.
July 14th, 2018 at 7:14 pm
On offense:
Chris Godwin
Caleb Benenoch
Ronald Jones
On defense:
Noah Spence
Kendal Beckwith
Carlton Davis
July 14th, 2018 at 7:33 pm
It is all on Mike Smith. Even if we move up to #15 in rankings, you have to give your offense a chance. Winston can go 8-5 after Fitz goes 1-2, jobs might be saved if it looks like this team is on it’s way to contending. Or it could all go south and we have a new GM/HC/DC going into 2019. I think Winston comes back and sizzles. And We pay him 21 million next year.
July 14th, 2018 at 7:40 pm
For me….a huge X-factor is Noah Spence……will he stay healthy…..if he does, I’m not worried about his performance.
July 14th, 2018 at 8:56 pm
Man Noah Spence is just an afterthought to me.
To be an Xfactor he will probably need to get a lot of snaps. It might be in the best interest to try to make Spence be a part time role player rather then rely on the guy.
July 14th, 2018 at 9:06 pm
The kicker is critical!!! Just because we took the wrong one with that 2nd rounder does not negate their importance.
The most common margin of victory in the NFL since 2002 was three points.
7 and 14 also show up higher than the rest because of the values associated with scores in football for a TD so the key numbers for gamblers are generally considered to be 3 and 7.
But if you take the 2 point margins and the one point margins and add them to the 3 point margins you get slightly over 20% of all games decided potentially by a FG.
So many here have already observed that we lost NE last year and it’s hard to calculate when a kicker misses two or three kicks early how that effects the outcome. Playing with a lead is different than playing from behind. Jumping ahead 9-0 is certainly different than trailing 9-0.
I get that people do not like kickers…especially the players. They bust butt and pour blood and sweat into the effort then some little guy comes out and plays soccer for one play and decides the game. We may not like it but until they change the rules a kicker is critical!
July 14th, 2018 at 9:10 pm
Jimmy Jack
Why are you so down on Spence? IF his surgery worked he’s an excellent player.
5.5 sacks his rookie year with shoulder popping in and out of the socket? The kid has major ‘nads.
Did you forget last year’s joint practice at Jax when even Jag players were commenting on him? Folks at OSU his freshman year claimed he was better than Bosa.
Now if you’re skeptical of his truly recovering from injury I get that…if you don’t want to depend on him because of his lack of availability I get that as well…but if he plays he’s a true stud.
July 14th, 2018 at 9:25 pm
Barring injury, Noah Spence will b my X-Factor. He finally had surgery to repair the shoulder that caused aggravation n impeded him from maximizing his skills set. To play with an injured shoulder n give his all speaks volume about his determination n toughness. Now, with a repaired shoulder, added bulk, added Buckner, JPP, n redemption, Spence in 2019 will b the Bucs version of Von Miller or Khalil Mack.
July 14th, 2018 at 9:50 pm
Can’t wait for the upcoming season
July 14th, 2018 at 9:54 pm
It would be nice if the writers on this site weren’t such homers
That’s good to hear. Joe is actually sometimes accused of not being a fan of the Bucs. –Joe
July 14th, 2018 at 11:38 pm
Actually Chrissy…… The Only reason this site is so successful is because they are such “homers”. It is the only reason they are one of my first clicks every day regardless of what I think of their last opinion. Yeah, that’s the only reason. SMDH. –Joe
We are all entitled to it.
July 15th, 2018 at 7:22 am
Ha. You know your writing for a BAD team when the kickers is one of the top concerns.
July 15th, 2018 at 7:23 am
@stpetefan: you boy Spence quit on the team last year. How soon you forget. He even stated that he was out of shape….players get hurt when they are out of shape and are not at their full speed.
July 15th, 2018 at 9:33 am
@Jameisisnot
That’s what you say! With all due respect you need to provide at least two links that back up what you say.
The fact that I’ve NEVER read that before your post could indicate I simply missed that story and WHO said that. Could you kindly provide some links. Spence was pretty clear that his weight was not where he wanted it to be — way too low. Not the traditional “out of shape” but it still works nonetheless.–Joe
BTW Jameisisnot I say this without snark. I’m honestly curious as to who made this claim?
July 15th, 2018 at 9:55 am
Joe
Thanks for that. But isn’t that true for several players. Perhaps I have forgotten that story but I thought players came in light because of coaching requests not because they were lazy or unmotivated. Nobody advised Spence to return lighter than a linebacker. –Joe
I’m under the “impression” perhaps it is mistaken…that coaching philosophy had as much to do with weight issues and that several players will be heavier this year. But you would surely know better than me if that’s true or not.
July 15th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Gerald McCoy had been a top 5 tackle since he’s been in the League.. even with the worst d line in the league he still shines.. watch what he does with a little assistance. He’s and X factor.. I’m thinking twice about the writer of this article
July 15th, 2018 at 6:41 pm
Seeing Spence stay healthy and contribute will be an uplifting sight for sore eyes. To be all he has been said to be will bring smiles.