Dec 8, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong safety
Mark Barron(23) tackles Buffalo Bills quarterback
EJ Manuel(3) during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tier 2 – Players that the team would hurt to lose because finding a replacement would be difficult. See Tier 1, the most irreplaceable players on the roster, by clicking here.
Mark Barron – Barron was just off the cut from the top-tier. The reason why he falls in this category is because he simply hasn’t taken the step we all think he’s capable yet. Lavonte David has turned himself into an All Pro, while Barron is still a ball of talent that we are waiting to erupt.
The entrance of a defensive mind like Lovie Smith should really benefit Barron. We know he can guard tight ends, and he’s solid against the run, but he simply gets lost when he’s asked to cover deep passes or play wider than he’s used to. Lovie should be able to get more out of him and utilize his talents even more than the previous regime was able to.
It would kill me to see Barron move on because he’s going to be very good in this league, and soon. But he’s not completely indispensable because we haven’t fully seen it yet.
Jeremy Zuttah – The key to Zuttah’s game is his ability to be shifted to almost any spot along the offensive line. Because of this skill set his value is much higher than the results of his performances. It’s not that Zuttah is bad, but at any particular spot along the line, you could find someone better. But to find someone who can do each job as well as he does is simply difficult to do.
The Buccaneers’ run offense got better and better as the year went on even though they sustained injuries and could never really develop a rhythm with the five man line. A big reason for that was Jeremy Zuttah. He’s the ultimate plug and play guy, and the Bucs are lucky to have him.
Mike Williams – Mike’s absence for much of the season in 2013 was a big reason why the Buccaneer pass offense never took shape. Williams is an excellent complement to Vincent Jackson because he’s big, athletic, and he’s fast enough to stretch the field.
My favorite skill of Mike Williams is his incredible ability to maneuver the tightrope that is the sideline and back of the end zone. It’s such a nice safety net to have a player that you know, even though he’s close to the stripe, you can trust he’ll keep his feet in bounds and give you a chance to complete the pass.
Williams has had some off the field issues since the injury, but it seems like Lovie has them under wraps already.
It’s no secret the Bucs could find a replacement for Williams, but in a league that requires you pass the ball to win, seeing Mike walk would hurt. The team is certainly better with him AND his “replacement.”