What is the Buccaneers’ potential in 2016? How good can they really be?
The Buccaneers took great strides in 2015, and made a lot of positive changes in preparing for the 2016 season. The defense barely resembles the 2015 version. The record-setting offense of 2015 is healthy and wielding the potential to be even better in 2016. Even though it’s the first year for head coach Dirk Koetter, things are looking up in Tampa.
How up? How good can they really be?
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We talk a lot about a team’s “floor” and a team’s “ceiling”. In other words, what the team’s record might be if everything goes wrong, and if everything goes right. Today we are going to look at the Bucs’ potential ceiling. Elliot Harrison of NFL.com wrote an article yesterday talking about the floors and ceilings for the teams in the NFC.
His ceiling for the Bucs was 11-5. Take a look at what he had to say:
"A lot would have to happen here, starting with Jameis Winston continuing his progression in Year 2 to a point that would make him a top-15 quarterback. The Bucs must get something from the TE position, and Robert Ayers would provide 10 sacks in his first year in Tampa."
Could you imagine if this group won 11 games? I think that Dirk would have to be a “Coach of the Year” candidate in that scenario, am I wrong? It certainly would be a special year if we were able to unseat the NFC champs, as 11 wins would likely win this division.
Now, that would be a tall order, Harrison is right. Besides anything else, the schedule is difficult. The Broncos, Panthers, Falcons and Cardinals are on the slate in the first five weeks of the season. That is a tough road to navigate, my friends. Even an improved team would have a tough time coming out of those five weeks with more than two wins. It’s not going to be easy.
The offense has the potential to be that good. We saw it in the game against the Browns. Yes it was the Browns, but they still went down the field at will. The huge influence out of the tight end is like dessert, nice but not necessary. The New York Jets went 10-6 last year without a tight end at all. It can be done, and the Bucs have the weapons to do it.
The key to this type of rise will be the defense. How good is it? We understand the flaws of 2015, and they were distinct. Can they get to the quarterback? It would be nice, as Harrison mentioned, to see Ayers rack up ten sacks, but if he puts up between 5-10 and they get a decent contribution from Spence, along with a typical McCoy year, they will be good. They will also need a lot from that defensive secondary. It needs to come together fast for this type of success.
Next: Time to Call Devin Hester
Personally, I see the ceiling more in the nine to ten win range. Could you imagine a leap to 11 wins, though? What do you guys think?