Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Slow and steady towards contention

Though teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans have achieved rapid-fire turnarounds, building a perennial contender isn’t easy. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers realized that haphazard free agent signings won’t lend way to sustained success, but putting all the right ingredients together can get a franchise there.

Obtaining a franchise quarterback is always the pivotal step, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers knocked that essential item off of their list. The real question is, do they have enough pieces on offense to help Jameis Winston lead a prolific offense that can help cover up for defensive issues that remain?

To their credit, the Buccaneers have done plenty to create a sensible system so that their young QB can operate within structure. Mike Evans is a superstar, and the drop and red zone questions are merely overblown storylines born out of sample size. The Bucs have kept Vincent Jackson despite his cap charge, because they know the stand-up veteran’s experience, hands, catch radius, underrated versatility, and work in the deep areas of the field are worth holding onto.

Furthermore, they paid Doug Martin his quote, got Charles Sims involved, and have high hopes for touted second-year wide receiver Kenny Bell, perhaps their Kwon Alexander equivalent on offense as it pertains to both age and boom-or-bust playmaking ability.

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Speaking of boom-or-bust, Austin Seferian-Jenkins is teetering between both worlds. I’ve made it known that I am a fan of his, but if anyone around the NFL has started the offseason program in nightmarish fashion, then it’s the former Mackey winner.

ASJ, per Pewter Report’s Mark Cook, apologized for his role in being kicked out of practice, and his aggressive tweets worried the fan base.

Dec 27, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) drops back against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Seemingly falling out of Dirk Koetter’s good graces, Seferian-Jenkins could even fall behind Cameron Brate on the depth chart. I’m not fully buying Koetter’s praise of the Harvard product, but I am aware of ASJ’s inability to get on the field and questionable consistency on it. His talent as a receiver and blocker are clear, because he could be a high-TD and high-YPR player in this offense.

The Bucs have a two-back tandem, a two-WR tandem, an improving offensive line, and presumably one capable starter at tight end. Those boxes seem to be checked off, but since the name of the game is depth, it’s fair to question the Buccaneers pass-catching depth around Winston, especially after last year’s rash of injuries. But as long as Martin can continue to be the bell-cow, Winston should have enough.

Fifth in the NFL in yards per game, eighth in yards per pass attempt, and second in yards per carry, the Buccaneers 2015 offense was quite efficient, and Koetter’s increase in power should, in theory, aid things.

However, if your prediction for the 2016 Buccaneers is a playoff appearance, then your pick is riding and dying on an upgraded defense.

In the past, Tampa Bay didn’t make the best moves in free agency, but, to his credit, Jason Licht made sure it was easy to quickly move on from mistakes like Anthony Collins and Michael Johnson.

This past offseason, the Bucs signed Robert Ayers, Brent Grimes, and former Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars “underrated list” regular Daryl Smith. Ayers should be the team’s best defensive end this year while Noah Spence learns the ropes, and while the latter two defenders may seem over-the-hill, they are seasoned upgrades.

Jun 14, 2016; Tampa Bay, FL, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Noah Spence (57) and defensive end George Johnson (94) work out during mini camp at One Buccaneer Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

26th in the NFL in points per game allowed, the Buccaneers 2015 defense under previous head coach Lovie Smith was a huge problem, but there’s a chance it will no longer hold back an ascending offense.

The issue is that the NFC South appears to be a stronger division than it was last season, though a large part of that statement is banking on the New Orleans Saints showing some much-needed cohesiveness on defense. Both the Bucs and Saints have promising offenses held back by questionable defenses, though New Orleans seems to have more talent at their disposal, even if they have a more extensive collection of high-variance starters.

Thinking about the Saints is an example of just how difficult it is to be a perennial contender in this league. You can have the right quarterback, the right coach, and even a supporting cast of noteworthy players, but it takes the right assembly and execution of talent to form the type of stability that yearly playoff appearances require.

Based on how Licht is constructing this team by focusing on the draft with affordable veterans as responsible supplementation, it looks like the Buccaneers understand what they need to do to form a frequent winner. It’s a steady climb, and while the Bucs are visibly rising, I’d give them some time before make a playoff bid an expectation. As always in this unpredictable league, the possibility exists, but they need more spices and time to simmer.

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