What Is The Strongest Position Group?
July 2nd, 2023
Strongest area of Bucs?
Over at BSPN, the Numbers Guys broke down every NFL roster and chose its strongest position group.
In the eyes of Mike Clay, a spreadsheeter, receiver is it for the Bucs.
… There aren’t many better one-two punches at wide receiver than Mike Evans (at least 1,000 receiving yards in all nine NFL seasons) and Chris Godwin (1,023 receiving yards over the last three of four years despite 11 missing games). Russell Gage’s first season in Tampa Bay wasn’t inspiring, but he’s a quality slot man with 50-plus catches in three straight campaigns.
Well, Mike Evans will get to the Hall of Fame someday. And Chris Godwin, a Pro Bowl player, might just be the Bucs’ best receiver now, though that’s a tough call. He had over a hundred catches last year with a gimpy knee. That was incredible.
But after Evans and Godwin, what do the Bucs have? Russell Gage who cannot stay healthy? No Bucs player in this Joe’s eyes was a bigger disappointment than Gage.
After Gage, what do the Bucs have? Joe loves the potential Deven Thompkins has, but what has he done? (Yeah, if Joe played daily fantasy football, Joe might take a flyer once in a while on Thompkins, in part because Gage cannot stay on the field and Joe knows Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales is a big Thompkins fan.)
This may give folks the shivers but Joe thinks the Bucs’ secondary might be the best group on the roster. Might be.
While they’re highly paid, cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean are slightly underrated, Joe believes. Antoine Winfield is a baller. And look out for safety Ryan Neal.
At nickel, will it be a rookie, Dee Delaney or Zyon McCollum?
July 2nd, 2023 at 8:23 am
Not counting on Gage. We’ve got a bunch of young guys that have the opportunity to jump in. The speedster from Nebraska and even Warner’s son. Let’s see who steps up.
July 2nd, 2023 at 8:29 am
I would say Receivers strongest, Running Backs weakest and Punter strongest position.
July 2nd, 2023 at 8:40 am
WR, CB, Safety and ILB (If 45 gets his head right) are all reasonable candidates for “strongest” position group on the Buccaneers roster this year.
Each of those positions has 2 very good players starting – but little proven depth behind them.
Guard is actually our “deepest” position.
This exercise actually just reinforces the fact that the Bucs are way more talented than the 4-5 win team that most talking heads and Vegas are projecting…..
July 2nd, 2023 at 8:42 am
The best position group is punter.
July 2nd, 2023 at 8:49 am
Fullbacks
July 2nd, 2023 at 8:49 am
I love our young punter. But its pretty hard to call 1 guy a “group”…..
July 2nd, 2023 at 9:11 am
Bucs’ secondary needs to CATCH THE BALL!!!!!!!!
July 2nd, 2023 at 9:43 am
Delaney and McCollum are not nickles.
They are too tall.
Nickles need to be agile and quick.
Nickles need to be 5-10 or 5-9.
Delaney is huge. The Bucs see him as a safety.
Zion is a good #4 CB. Outside CB.
We need a true nickle.
I’m really hoping Geno Hayes’s nephew will get it done.
Nickles need to be great tacklers and tough as F.
July 2nd, 2023 at 10:52 am
I am happy there was a mutual recognition that last year was a bust for Gage leading to a pay cut. He should be full motivated to get back on track (hopefully).
I’m excited to see the development of the TE group. I know they won’t be the best group this year but Otton and Kieft logged plenty of playing time last year and I like the upside of Durham! If they are successful underneath it should open up Evans and Godwin over the top!
July 2nd, 2023 at 11:08 am
Gage needs to link up with the kneesovertoes guy. He lives in Clearwater
July 2nd, 2023 at 11:20 am
‘Strongest Position Group’ is a great question … IF you’re talking about STARTERS not DEPTH PLAYERS. Like Pickgrin, I’d also vote for the STARTING Secondary (Davis, Dean, Winfield, Neal), but our depth (or rather, lack of depth) is really concerning.
Our STARTING ILBs (LVD & White) are as strong as any interior LBs in the league IMO. But again … very inexperienced depth.
Our STARTING WRs (ME13, Godwin & Gage) are also as capable as any in the league IMO, but our WR depth is again very inexperienced.
Our OLine & DLine both have a couple of superstars, but beyond that questions remain. I’m hoping for average for each as an overall grade for those 2 position groups.
At present, our RB group and TE group strike me as being below average, mostly because they’re all so young & inexperienced. HOPEFULLY that changes quickly once he season starts. Folks obviously grade our QB group as marginal at best, but who knows, they might surprise also.
July 2nd, 2023 at 11:51 am
That’s not a crazy thought.
July 2nd, 2023 at 1:16 pm
IMO our OL is the strongest, deepest group. We got rid of the bullfighter Mr Olay #76. That is addition by subtraction. With Jensen back we should have some real maulers on that line. Good, experienced depth too if they can stay healthy
July 2nd, 2023 at 1:47 pm
One thing I have noticed in interviews that intrigues me is the offensive players seem to be focusing much more on their potential matchups. I did not hear this much last year. They seem to be studying more about the opponent’s players and how to counter them. This is extremely interesting to me.
July 2nd, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Inside Linebacker, with Lavonte David and anyone but Devin White.
July 2nd, 2023 at 11:16 pm
My vote would be for whatever group Tristan Wirfs falls in, he is just that good IMHO. 2nd would be Winfield if not playing slot corner. MLB would be a consideration if not for the basket case that is Devin White. WR was a stronger group last year, than this year IMHO.
Weakest? I know RBs are popular to throw shade at, but I would have to say OLB. Shaq is a ????, JTS is always one step away, and while I am a Nelson fan, he doesn’t get the playing time of JTS, IMHO to make an impact.
I find it interesting no one seems to think QB might be the weakest group.
July 2nd, 2023 at 11:59 pm
umm based on last year…The Swashbucklers?
Go Bucs!