2015 NFL Predictions: NFC South in-depth preview

Tampa Bay Buccanneers: 

Key Additions: DT Henry Melton, OLB Bruce Carter, CB Sterling Moore, FS Chris Conte, QB Jameis Winston 

For a team that went 2-14 last season, the Bucs sure  didn’t change all too much. Three of the four key players they added in FA came from Dallas. Melton is a solid DT who had a decent year in Dallas. He is on a one year deal in Tampa Bay trying to prove himself.

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Carter is a good outside linebacker who had a good year in Dallas and looks to build on his success from the last two years. Moore is not a very talented CB and won’t help the bad Bucs secondary. Conte similarly isn’t very good, but will probably start. Winston is the anticipated savior for the Bucs. With decent weapons around him, the Bucs hope he can put their franchise back on track.

Key Losses: DE Michael Johnson, DE Adrian Clayborn, LB Mason Foster

Johnson was a massive disappointment in Tampa Bay last year and they seemed to eagerly want to rid themselves of him again. Still they must pay him $7 million, though he is not on the roster. Clayborn had massive injury problems during his first four years in the NFL, but his 2013 season in which he was healthy he played very good, but the Bucs seemed to want to rid themselves of such an injury prone player. Foster was one of the better players on the Bucs defense last year. While him leaving shouldn’t leave much of a gap, especially through the addition of Carter, the depth at LB isn’t very good now.

Verdict: 

While some people might have very high expectations in Winston for his rookie year, I don’t think one should expect too much. Winston can develop into a good NFL quarterback, but he won’t be that his rookie year. With Evans and Jackson he doesn have two good wide receivers and Sefarian-Jenkins started playing better toward the end of the season. Still the rushing game of the Bucs is very poor. I don’t think Martin, Rainey or Sims is a quality back. The line will also have two rookies on it which could improve it in comparison to last year, but it won’t be very good either way.

On defense, the line isn’t all too bad. While Smith and Johnson aren’t very good DE’s, having McCoy and a rotation of Spence and Melton up the middle gives them a decent defensive line. The linebackers are probably the best part of the defense.

David and Carter are very good and Lansanah was solid last year and is expected to improve coming into his third season. The secondary was a big problem last year. They singed Verner for big money and he massively  disappointed by having a mediocre season. Banks wasn’t very good either and then having Conte and McDougald at safety is not a recipe for success. For a 2-14 team the only way to  go is up, but I don’t think they will make it very far this year.

Prediction: 

Best Case Record: 7-9 

Worst Case Record: 2-14

Prediction: 2-14

Team’s Offensive MVP: WR Mike Evans

Team’s Defensive MVP: DT Gerald McCoy

Rookie Standout:  QB Jameis Winston 

I think the Bucs will have a tough year, but they have potential. Especially the fffense has some potential if Jameis Winston really plays extremely well. I think Winston definitely has a lot of potential, but he will struggle this year. Best case scenario is that they take advantage of their weak schedule and with a good passing game and decent defense win seven games and win the division. My prediction is their worst case scenario in which Winston like many rookie QB’s flashes potential, but makes to many mistakes and the offense struggles, and the defense simply won’t play very good.