Tampa Bay Bucs Predictions
The NFC South Division has experienced rollercoaster NFL betting trends that Six Flags, Busch Gardens and Disney World can’t even compare to. Tampa Bay is responsible for most of it too. No NFC South team has been a repeat champion since the re-alignment in 2002. Tampa Bay has won three division titles in the last six years. If they bring back history, the Bucs can expect to finish at the bottom of the standings in 2008. But with the Falcons in this division, it will be hard for any NFL expert to be able to see that happening. The Bucs went 5-1 in the division last season, their only loss to Carolina in the team’s finale as head coach John Gruden rested his starters. From top to bottom, the NFC South is going to be a wild ride. The team at Info Plays gives you our 2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers predictions along with a team preview below.
Offense:
The Bucs have utilized nine different starting quarterbacks since Gruden’s arrival in 2002. Jeff Garcia will try and stop this madness. The 38-year-old veteran owned a 94.6 passer rating last season and a return trip to the Pro Bowl. But Garcia’s competitiveness is also his biggest weakness. Garcia missed three starts last year and was knocked out in another game. So Garcia went to the free-agent market and signed Brian Griese to compete for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart along with Luke McCown, who went 1-2 as a starter last year. The Bucs drafted San Diego’s Josh Johnson in the fifth round. If numbers mean anything, than Johnson’s 43 touchdowns to just one interception last year for the Toreros could mean the end of the line for No. 3 QB Bruce Gradkowski.
Earnest Graham, in our minds, was the MVP for the Bucs last season. After a devastating injury to Cadillac Williams left the Bucs for dead, Graham stepped onto the seen with 898 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 10 starts. But Gruden is looking for more explosiveness in the backfield as he re-signed speedster Michael Bennett last season. He also signed Warrick Dunn from the Falcons, who has more than 10,000 career rushing yards. But Dunn’s aged of 33 is a big concern and the Bucs are just hoping they can get 1 or 2 more solid years from this proven veteran. Meanwhile, Williams is still recovering form a torn right patellar tendon and may not play until 2009.
Joey Galloway is still one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL despite being 36-years-old. He recorded his third straight 1,000-yard season last year. But he can’t continue to do it all by himself in Tampa. Galloway had all but two of the touchdowns recorded by Bucs’ receivers last season. Michael Clayton led all rookie receivers in 2004, but he has recorded only one touchdown since do to several nagging injuries. Ike Hilliard snagged 62 catches but he’s nearing the end of his career at age 32. The Bucs had to address this issue in the draft so they used their second-round pick on Appalachian State’s Dexter Jackson. He has 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash and will make an immediate impact as a kick returner.
The Bucs feel they have their best offensive line in the team’s history heading into 2008. Tampa signed center Jeff Faine from division-rival New Orleans and made him the highest-paid center in the league. He’ll join right guard Davin Joseph and left guard Arron Sears, who started all 16 games as a rookie. Jeremy Trueblood is one of the game’s best run-blockers at right tackle. The Bucs are hoping for the return of left tackle Luke Petigout, who played the first four games before tearing knee ligaments last year. Donald Penn held down the fort with Petigout out last year and will compete for the job.
Defense:
The Bucs jumped from 17th in overall defense in 2006 to 2nd last year. Much can be attributed to the defensive line play. Fourth overall 2007 pick Gaines Adams made his way into the starting lineup midway through the season. He recorded six sacks in improved greatly against the run. Jovan Haye led Tampa Bay linemen in tackles in his first year as a starter. End Greg White, a former Arena League Defensive Player of the Year, joined the Bucs eight days into training camp only to lead the team with eight sacks. Nosetackle Chris Hovan remains a force in the middle and the Bucs got a great contribuiton from Kevin Carter, who played both tackle and end. Free agents Jimmy Wilkerson and Marques Douglas will be asked to contribute and add depth to this defensive line as both are tremendous against the run.
The strength of the Bucs’ defensive rests on the linebackers shoulders. Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud took over as a full-time starter last year only to lead the Bucs with 114 tackle, 2 picks and 3 fumble recoveries. Cato June improved the team’s speed and excels in coverage after coming over from the defending champion Colts a year ago. Look for June to eventually take over for Derrick Brooks on the weak side. Depth is not an issue for now as Quincy Black, Adam Hayward and Teddy Lehman will contribute in backup roles.
Ronde Barber holds the club record with 33 interceptions. But at age 33, it’s time to re-tool the secondary. First-round pick Aqib Talib will compete with Phillip Buchannon for the starting left cornerback spot. At the least, he’ll be in the nickel packages this season because he is one of the most talented corners in this year’s draft class. Buchannon is in the final year of his contract as well. Tanard Jackson will start at safety alongside Jermaine Phillips, who snagged four picks a year ago. He’ll be pushed by Sabby Piscitelli, a 2007 second-round pick who suffered a season-ending foot injury.
Info Plays 2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Predictions:
Tampa ran away with this division in 2007 and beat the NFL odds along the way. The Bucs are getting overwhelmed with age and they won’t be able to run away this year. Tampa will dominate the Falcons and likely take both games from the Carolina Panthers this season, but they won’t be able to chalk up a win against our pick to win this division. The New Orleans Saints had huge free-agent signings on the defensive side of the ball that will help them overtake the Bucs this season. Tampa Bay will have to settle for a No. 2 finish in the NFC South Division this year and try and snatch up a Wild-Card spot in the playoffs.
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