The 2023 season begins a new era for the Bucs after their successful three-year Tom Brady era came to an end in February with the legendary quarterback’s retirement. There are plenty of question marks about this Tampa Bay team and what the ceiling might be, and a lot of negativity going around about Todd Bowles’ team.
The Bucs are often picked to finish at the bottom of the NFL, with many analysts predicting that they will make a top-five pick in the 2024 Draft. Understandably, it is widely expected that there will be a drop-off given Brady’s retirement and another roster reshuffle that is underway.
However, this is a Bucs squad that won’t just fold and tank for draft positioning in 2024. For my money, there’s reason to believe that Tampa Bay may very well shock some people in 2023 and possibly even have a run on three-peating will make as NFC South champions.
So, here are three reasons why the Bucs may surprise this season.
(Note: Stay tuned for three reasons why the Bucs could disappoint in 2023…Coming soon)
The Bucs are still a talented team
Bucs LB’s Lavonte David and Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Yes, Tom Brady is gone. And yes, over the course of the past few seasons, some large chunks of Tampa Bay’s 2020 and 2021 teams have left via free agency or retirement. But the Bucs roster is still full of talent – and a lot of it is young talent.
There’s a question at the quarterback – and obviously that’s a big question in this league. But Tampa Bay has nine players who have been to a Pro Bowl in wide receiver Mike Evans (four), Tristan Wirfs (two), outside linebacker Shaq Barrett (two), linebacker Lavonte David (one, but should be more), linebacker Devin White (one), nose tackle Vita Vea (one), safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (one), center Ryan Jensen (one) and wide receiver Chris Godwin (one).
The Bucs have one of the best wide receiver duos in the league in Evans and Godwin, as well as some top offensive line players in Wirfs and Jensen. There are also some players with breakaway potential on offense, with running back Rachaad White and tight Cade Otton both looking to take the next step in their second NFL season.
In their defense, the Bucs have Vea manning the interior while flanked by two exciting (if unproven) youths in Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey. There’s more depth from the rim than there has been in a long time, thanks in large part to the selection of Louisville’s YaYa Diaby in the third round of the draft. David and White are one of the best linebacker duos in the NFL, and the cornerback duo of Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean is formidable in its own right. Just like the security tandem of Winfield and free agent Ryan Neal.
The closet isn’t bare for the Bucs, and there are plenty of pieces here to put something together.
Dave Canales is a breath of fresh air
Bucs OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
While Tampa Bay had a lot of trouble last year as it limped to a title season in the 8-9 division and a first-round exit of the playoffs, former offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was near the top of the list. He was fired at the end of the season, and after a long search, former Seahawks quarterbacks coach Dave Canales entered. And while Canales is a play-caller for the first time, he already looks and feels like a huge upgrade that will make a big impact on the Bucs this season.
Gone is the complicated – and frankly outdated – Bruce Arians/Leftwich system. Tampa Bay will run a new system under Canales, one modeled after that of the Rams that has been successful in recent years in Los Angeles, Seattle and the rest of the league.
Rather than simply relying on his players to outsmart the defense, Canales will open up receivers. He will make running tracks for his running back. He will ask his quarterback to move and throw a run. And he calls fast and effective passes with a high percentage. What those quick throws also do is help the offensive line, as those guys don’t have to hold their blocks for as long as they would in an Arians/Leftwich scheme that required a lot of long-developing downfield play.
And Canales will not scoff at analysis — he will actually use them.
This is a very quarterback-friendly offense, so whether it’s Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask leading it this fall, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Tampa Bay improve on last year’s sporadic effectiveness on the offensive side of the ball. The Bucs are still learning the ins and outs of this system, but once they get the hang of it and start running it the way it was designed to be run, the questions about this team’s offense can begin to resolve.
It’s hard to say the Buccaneer offense will be any better without the best quarterback of all time. Going from Brady to everyone is undoubtedly a downgrade. But Canales appears to be an upgrade over Leftwich, and he appears to be a budding star who has what it takes to soften Brady’s loss by launching a more efficient and modernized strike in Tampa Bay.
The NFC South is still up for grabs
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs won the NFC South in 2022 with an 8-9 record. The Panthers, Saints and Falcons all finished a game behind Tampa Bay at 7-10. And while every team in the division has made some improvements this offseason to continue building for the future, the standings could look like this again in 2023.
The uncertainty in Tampa Bay is well documented, but reports of the team’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. The Bucs can still compete in this division and they can still win it by grabbing the playoff spot and the home game that goes with it.
The Saints brought in Derek Carr to improve their offense, but the defensive line lost some key pieces and there will always be skepticism about the return of No. 1 receiver Michael Thomas until he is able to stay on the field.
The Falcons continued to build this offseason and have the best backfield in the division with 2022 1,000-yard rusher Tyler Allgeier and 2023 first-round pick Bijan Robinson. But Atlanta still has Desmond Ridder at quarterback and he’s far from certain at this stage. And there are still areas where Arthur Smith’s team needs to improve.
Carolina underwent a regime change this offseason and will take the field with a rookie quarterback in Bryce Young. The Panthers surprised in 2022, but still have a long way to go themselves. They look forward to a bright future, but the question is whether it will start this year. It will probably take time.
The Saints are undoubtedly the NFC South’s favorite at the moment, but this is not a strong division. Realistically, any team can win and between the Bucs’ talent, their new offensive plan and the strength of their defense, they could finish on top for a third consecutive season.
#reasons #Bucs #surprise
Read on main website: https://sportshighlights.online/3-reasons-why-the-bucs-could-surprise-in-2023/?feed_id=16098&_unique_id=6496d8a9943a4
Sports Highlights 