Buccaneers: Who Steps Up to Lead a Playoff Run?
Alan Cross
One player who will need to step-up in order for the Bucs to make the playoffs is tight end Alan Cross.
He was one of my favorite undrafted guys signed by the Bucs, and I see the potential for him to get more involved as the team makes a push for the playoffs.
Despite being in the NFL for eight seasons, and on the Bucs roster for a third, Brandon Myers has just one more target than Cross to this point. Luke Stocker gets most of his snaps as a blocker, and has just one more catch than the rookie from Memphis.
This tells me there simply isn’t much of an option behind starter Cameron Brate when you look at offensive production. Cross however presents a more athletic option than his fellow back-ups, and provides the best chance to help spread opponents horizontally since the team can’t stretch the field very well vertically.
Giving Jameis Winston some more options in the passing game simply makes sense, and will help the running game just as much as it would the quarterback. If the Bucs want to make the playoffs, they’ll need more than just Mike Evans to move the ball consistently.