Bucs believe in Winston, backfield
What to do with the defense?
It was the million dollar (or rather $13 million) question that hovered over the Bucs all offseason. Entering the draft, the Buccaneers had less than $2 million in cap space.
Finally, the Bucs released defensive tackle Gerald McCoy May 20.
While McCoy produced six sacks last season, bringing him back at that price tag didn’t make financial sense.
New head coach Bruce Arians and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles are trying to rebuild this defense, which finished 27th overall last season, giving up 383.4 yards per game.
Here is what Football Outsiders had to say about the Bucs’ defensive line: “Even with McCoy, the Buccaneers’ defensive line rotation is shallow; most of the team’s 4-3 defensive linemen project better as stand-up edge rushers in a Todd Bowles defense.
“A prospective McCoy departure would leave a gaping hole at the heart of the defense; the Buccaneers should probably still be looking to add beef up front rather than to offload their one true standout interior defensive lineman.”
In addition, with Jason Pierre-Paul likely to miss significant time due to a fractured neck stemming from a singlecar crash, Tampa Bay will be without its leading sack leader from last season (121⁄2 sacks, most by a Bucs player since Simeon Rice in 2005).
Can Arians save Jameis Winston’s career?
Winston showed promise his first two years in the league, almost guiding Tampa Bay to a playoff berth in 2016 with a 9-7 record. But the past two years have been a different story, as injuries and a three-game suspension have limited his time on the field.
Arians has worked his magic with Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck and, most recently, Carson Palmer. Palmer spent two years with the Oakland Raiders before coming to Arizona in 2013. His stint in the Bay Area produced 35 touchdowns and 30 interceptions, but in his third season working with Arians, he threw for 35 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions and found himself in the conversation for MVP in 2015.
The Buccaneers brought Arians aboard hoping he can resurrect the career of their former No. 1 overall pick Winston, who is playing on a fifth-year option. The 2019 season is a make-orbreak one for the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, and good or bad, it will have lasting repercussions on this franchise.
From where will the running game come?
The Buccaneers spent six of their eight draft picks on defensive players, and the one offensive player they selected was a wide receiver in the sixth round.
Why no running back? Tampa Bay’s offense ranked 29th in rushing last year, averaging just 95.2 yards per game and scoring only 11 rushing touchdowns all season, tied for 23rd in the league.
Peyton Barber is first on the depth chart, but the Bucs spent a second-round pick on Ronald Jones in the 2018 draft. In his final year at Southern California in 2017, Jones rushed for 1,550 yards and 19 touchdowns in just 13 games as a junior.
Jones was the fifth running back selected behind Saquon Barkley, Rashaad Penny, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb (not bad company). He had minimal stats in 2018, but by not keeping much depth around him, the Bucs are showing confidence.
If Arians wants to give Winston more help in the backfield, increasing Jones’ workload might be the answer. If Jones can regain some of his college form, it’ll open up the field for Winston and the receivers.