**Official 2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Thread**

[Eckstein197]

WHO'S EXCITED!????

I'm so pumped for this year, I'm ready to rip my shirt in half.

I know the first preseason game was a little rough but it was Jameis' first game. He played well at the end of the first half as he got into a rhythm.

I think the Bucs will have a great year. Calling it now

10-6 and win the division! MARK IT DOWN

The offense will be good as long as Koetter implements his quick passing attack. Mostly because the OLine will struggle. Especially with starting 2 rookies it looks like. I think Martin returns to form as a bell cow with a healthy dose of Charles Sims mixed in as a receiver out of the backfield. I would love to see some Mike James mixed in. Mike Evans and VJ will kill it. Jameis just needs to throw the ball near them. I'm hoping ASJ makes the leap this year.

Defense will be stout especially at linebacker. Kwon will shock people I guarantee it. Just need to get some more pass rush. Banks has looked good in camp


FIRE THE CANNONS LET'S GO BUCS

[MC80_LCM]

Always excited for the start of each year. I think this year hinges so much on the OLine and the DLine. I think if Jameis has time he can be solid as a rookie. I was pretty worried about Dotson going down in the first game but it doesn't look like that was a season ender. Hopefully the 2 rookies can step in and perform. It won't take much to be an upgrade over last year.

If the Dline can get pressure then the whole defense should be vastly improved. I've heard nothing but good things about Kwon coming out of camp. He seems like the prototypical LB that the Bucs will turn into a highly successful player. I'll be interested to see how the secondary plays. I'm looking forward to seeing how Banks plays this year. I still have questions about the safety tandem but I thought Barron and Goldson were the worst safety tandem in the league last year so it has to get better.

I don't know about a division win but I can see a 7-9 or 8-8 record. My main goal is for Winston to show that he can be the QB of the team for the next 10-15 years. Its been so frustrating having a revolving door at that position for pretty much as long as I've been a fan.

[majestik101]

I'm excited too. Wow 10-6 AND winning the division?? I don't know if I'll go that far. I say they have a better season than last year, and could go at least 8-8 though even that may be stretching it.

Basically I am keeping my expectations in check based on a new QB and a new OC. I am interested to see how Jameis does in a pro style offense. He did look shaky in the first pre-season game, but he should settle in as the season gets closer.

The O-Line got a little worse after losing Demar Dotson for 8 weeks. The O-Line better protect Jameis Winston and open up those lanes for Doug Martin who needs to return to his 2012 form. I am actually more optimistic for him this year, and don't discount Charles Sims who I think will have a break out year. Mike Evans will be stellar this year. V-Jax will be good as well, Jameis has two big targets to throw too, and ASJ and Kenny Bell should get some extended play time as well. The defense is where this team will excel. Gerald McCoy, Kwon Alexander, Alteraun Verner, Lavonte David, Johnathan Banks that is a formidable defense right there.

GO BUCS!!

[PocketPool]

Bucs,....eh. Maybe 8-8 which might win the division or at least be only a game or two behind at the most. I see the NFC South about where the NFC West was years back when all the teams in the division were bad to just ok.

[fullmetal]

I think it will be another challenging year. The offensive line is terrible. Jameis can't do anything without them. I expect 2-3 seasons before he becomes a star.

The defense isn't much better than the offensive line.

Another top 8 draft pick next year.

[twisty571]

I have a couple Bud's down in Tampa and they want Glennon to start and wanted Doug Martin released last year lol

[Nyfancam01]

by 10-6 i'm assuming you meant 6-10???

[bwallstreet]

I don't see any possible way we win 10 games or even 9.

I think we win between 5-8 games.

Our secondary is in rough shape, all our safeties are bordlerline starters. Leonard Johnson is a terrible player and should be cut, he is our starting nickel. The only CB behind Banks and Verner worth anything is Moore, Mike Jenkins is terrible. That Secondary plus a well below average group of DEs are going to really hurt the defense.

Our LB core is Top 3 or Top 5, our DT group is the best in the NFL in my opinion, but the weak links in our D will keep it from being as dominant as it should be.

On offense we have a ton of potential, Jameis Winston, Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson, Doug Martin, Austin Seferian-Jenkins...but it is too much to ask Jameis in his rookie year to carry this team to the playoffs with our defensive, offensive line and special teams issues.

We need to worry about getting Jameis comfortable in the NFL and this offense while continuing his development as a player. We need to worry about improving our chemistry and developing our young talent(Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Kwon Alexander, Austin Seferian-Jenkins).

We are 1-2 years away from being a playoff team and a serious contender year in and year out. We have the building blocks on both offense(Winston, Evans) and defense(David and McCoy) to be extremely good in the future.

[starfox]

6 - 10 and this is coming from a big Jameis fan.

[Birdmandig]

Originally Posted by fullmetal

I think it will be another challenging year. The offensive line is terrible. Jameis can't do anything without them. I expect 2-3 seasons before he becomes a star.

The defense isn't much better than the offensive line.

Another top 8 draft pick next year.

As much as I would love for them to make the Playoffs, lived in Tampa my entire 30 years of life Bucs/Noles fan since I found football as a young kid '93 Ill guess.

But I see the Defense being the real weakness as opposed to Jameis growing pains, McCoy and David will be a nice core but they cant play DB...

Lovie Smith is a good man, but his Cover/Tampa 2 system is sooo played out, and we dont have the options to move to a press man system, and Ronde is long gone..

I think vegas odds were 50-1 , 100 for 5K on the Bucs to make playoffs a few weeks back..

[bwallstreet]

Originally Posted by Birdmandig

As much as I would love for them to make the Playoffs, lived in Tampa my entire 30 years of life Bucs/Noles fan since I found football as a young kid '93 Ill guess.

But I see the Defense being the real weakness as opposed to Jameis growing pains, McCoy and David will be a nice core but they cant play DB...

Lovie Smith is a good man, but his Cover/Tampa 2 system is sooo played out, and we dont have the options to move to a press man system, and Ronde is long gone..

I think vegas odds were 50-1 , 100 for 5K on the Bucs to make playoffs a few weeks back..

I don't think it's the system that is the problem, we just don't have the guys to make it as effective as it can be.

Licht and Lovie knew the offense was in shambles after Schiano was done. That's why all but one of our draft picks the past 2 years have been offensive players. It has done the trick but our D has suffered because of it.

[Birdmandig]

Originally Posted by bwallstreet

I don't think it's the system that is the problem, we just don't have the guys to make it as effective as it can be.

Licht and Lovie knew the offense was in shambles after Schiano was done. That's why all but one of our draft picks the past 2 years have been offensive players. It has done the trick but our D has suffered because of it.

Schiano got alot of heat, but he had our run defense like #1 in league if I recall..

Seems like if he wasn't such an assbag to the players when he started, such as controlling meeting room temps and treating them like college kids (respect-wise)..

Ill bet he would've lasted longer here...

[Birdmandig]

Originally Posted by bwallstreet

I don't think it's the system that is the problem, we just don't have the guys to make it as effective as it can be.

Licht and Lovie knew the offense was in shambles after Schiano was done. That's why all but one of our draft picks the past 2 years have been offensive players. It has done the trick but our D has suffered because of it.

Totally agree, why didn't we make a play For Eagles CB Boykins when he got cut a few weeks back..

Side note, I do like the Colts O-linemen we just got to replace Dotson...

I also hold out hope martin can once again become the muscle hamster we grew to love a few years back...

[bwallstreet]

Originally Posted by Birdmandig

Totally agree, why didn't we make a play For Eagles CB Boykins when he got cut a few weeks back..

Side note, I do like the Colts O-linemen we just got to replace Dotson...

I also hold out hope martin can once again become the muscle hamster we grew to love a few years back...

I've never lost faith or given up on Doug personally. The O-line and offense as a whole was a train wreck the last 2 years. I still saw the same skills and passion that made him so good.

This year he lost some weight, they heavily invested in the o-line and finally got a top notch QB. Doug will have a heck of s season if he stays healthy.

[bwallstreet]

Bucs' coach Smith will call defensive plays this season | Tampa Bay Times

Lovie Smith taking over calling defensive plays from Leslie Frazier.

[fullmetal]

I'd like to see a career year for Doug Martin. Maybe he can take some pressure off Winston as a rusher and with short dump off passes.

I was not thrilled with his drafting, but he surprised me when healthy.

[MC80_LCM]

Originally Posted by bwallstreet

Bucs' coach Smith will call defensive plays this season | Tampa Bay Times

Lovie Smith taking over calling defensive plays from Leslie Frazier.

I never really got the point of this. Why have a DC, if you are going to install the Defense you want in call the plays as well.

I must say, having Winston on the team increases the amount of coverage the Bucs get, which I certainly like. Last weeks game was on NFL Network and they have the Monday Night in a couple days.

[bwallstreet]

Originally Posted by MC80_LCM

I never really got the point of this. Why have a DC, if you are going to install the Defense you want in call the plays as well.

I must say, having Winston on the team increases the amount of coverage the Bucs get, which I certainly like. Last weeks game was on NFL Network and they have the Monday Night in a couple days.

I'm not shocked. Don't forget we tried to bring in Rod Marinelli to be our DC and Frazier would have been demoted to DB coach. Lovie just wants more control on what plays are called when, he still respects what Frazier can do coaching the players, building defensive gameplans and his input in meetings.

[MC80_LCM]

Games like yesterday are what gives me hope as a Bucs fan. Obviously Winston rolling and ankle and Evans tweaking a hammy aren't ideal but neither seems like anything serious. I was very pleased with Winston. I thought he made some really nice throws and for the most part made really good decisions not only on his throws but on audibles at the line. The throw to Sheppard and the throw that Wright dropped were absolutely beautiful. Martin looked really good. Ran with power and was pretty shifty. The Oline looked OK. With two rookies starting and Dotson out you expected they would struggle a bit. At times they looked really good and and times not so much. My main concern was how many offensive penalties they had. That was a problem they had last year so its a little worrisome that it hasn't been fixed. Glennon looked solid too. While I don't think he will ever be a star QB, he will eventually leave to start somewhere else. Until that happens you can make a case that he's one of the best backup QBs in the league.

The defense looked like the defense of old. Johnson looked very solid and McCoy looks unblockable at times. Alexander looks like a star in the making. Still not sold on the CB depth. If Mike Jenkins has to play a significant amount of time I'm worried. As a whole though I was thrilled. Sacks and Turnovers are not something I've grown accustomed to over the past few season so to see a handful of both of those was really refreshing.

Overall a very successful night and I'm glad it was a nationally broadcast game. For at least the next week things are looking up.

[Birdmandig]

Man I really hope last night is a sign of things to come, it was like night and day vs the Vikes game. Both sides of the ball looked much crisper besides the obvious penalties..

Originally Posted by MC80_LCM

Games like yesterday are what gives me hope as a Bucs fan. Obviously Winston rolling and ankle and Evans tweaking a hammy aren't ideal but neither seems like anything serious. I was very pleased with Winston. I thought he made some really nice throws and for the most part made really good decisions not only on his throws but on audibles at the line. The throw to Sheppard and the throw that Wright dropped were absolutely beautiful. Martin looked really good. Ran with power and was pretty shifty. The Oline looked OK. With two rookies starting and Dotson out you expected they would struggle a bit. At times they looked really good and and times not so much. My main concern was how many offensive penalties they had. That was a problem they had last year so its a little worrisome that it hasn't been fixed. Glennon looked solid too. While I don't think he will ever be a star QB, he will eventually leave to start somewhere else. Until that happens you can make a case that he's one of the best backup QBs in the league.

The defense looked like the defense of old. Johnson looked very solid and McCoy looks unblockable at times. Alexander looks like a star in the making. Still not sold on the CB depth. If Mike Jenkins has to play a significant amount of time I'm worried. As a whole though I was thrilled. Sacks and Turnovers are not something I've grown accustomed to over the past few season so to see a handful of both of those was really refreshing.

Overall a very successful night and I'm glad it was a nationally broadcast game. For at least the next week things are looking up.

[fullmetal]

I was in the ER and missed the game. Highlights seemed to show an incredible defense, which surprised me. Winston had rave reviews. The box score penalties stuck out as a big problem.

[Eckstein197]

Last night as a great night. Team played great except for the penalties. Marpet handled Atkins numerous times. Winston and Evans with some minor stuff is scary but there is still a couple of weeks until the season officially begins

[MC80_LCM]

For those that didn't see the game here is every Winston completion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AcSwzT-Rzs

The injuries were a bit scary but I got the impression that if it was a regular season game Evans and Winston probably would have continued to play.

[gingerscards]

Good game last night, Glennon was solid, I am not 100% sold on Winston yet, rolling his ankle is not good sign with it being pre season, the pace of the game will step up big come season time. Will he adjust??

[maddbeaver]

Originally Posted by MC80_LCM

My main concern was how many offensive penalties they had. That was a problem they had last year so its a little worrisome that it hasn't been fixed.

^^^This right here! This to me was a real big reason they were a 2-14 team last year. Hard to sustain drives when you keeping shooting yourself in the foot! Just think of how many points that first team could have put up last night without the penalties.

Other than that, they looked very good. Martin impressed me the most. A few times he turned something into nothing, squirting through holes. Winston also looked good. Would have liked to see him connect on one of those deep balls to Evans, but liked the shots.