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Buccaneers: Reviewing how they addressed off-season needs

By Jerry Stalheim

Nov 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) runs out of the tunnel as he is introduced before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) runs out of the tunnel as he is introduced before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Defensive Line – Get Nasty and Bigger

The Bucs gave up 117 yards rushing per game with an average of 4.4 yards per carry and 15 touchdowns last season. The two men in the middle, Gerald McCoy and Clinton McDonald, averaged 35 tackles each with McCoy also posting seven sacks.

Needing a nastier bigger upgrade at defensive tackle the Bucs went and signed DE/DT Chris Baker in free agency, and Baker will return to his natural position of defensive tackle playing next to McCoy. Baker is much larger at 6’2” 320, while McDonald is 6’2” 297, and McCoy is 6’4” 300. While playing defensive end last season in Washington,, Baker had more sacks than any other Bucs defensive lineman with 9.5.

In the 7th round of the draft they took a large defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (6’1” 331) out of USC hoping he can make the team as the 4th defensive tackle (NT) behind McCoy, Baker, and McDonald. As for the defensive end position they chose not to address it during free agency or the draft, but instead are relying on the returning Jacquies Smith and George Johnson who both missed all of last season with injuries.

Johnson was basically invisible the first year with the Bucs getting benched after 5 games without a single sack. Defensive end this season could be a concern if injuries start to occur with an aging Robert Ayers, newly resigned William Gholston, 2nd-year star Noah Spence, some college UDFAs, Smith, and Johnson.

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