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Buccaneers Round Table: Biggest need in the 2018 off-season

By David Harrison

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 10: Football fans watch from the stands as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on December 10, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 10: Football fans watch from the stands as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on December 10, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on from the sidelines during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets on November 12, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on from the sidelines during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets on November 12, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

Zain Ahmed

The Buccaneers will have to address several needs this off-season.

From personnel to coaching. There are obvious needs in personnel at defensive end, cornerback, offensive line and even running back. However, the biggest need to me is coaching.

The Bucs are short on talent at a few positions, but a good coach would be able to make up for it. Unfortunately, the Bucs do not have good coaches on either side of the ball.

The offense and defense has regressed significantly last year. The offense which was arguably Top-10 last year has gone to a bottom half offense. While the defense which was middle of the pack, but with a really good run and has gone to absolute garbage.

After the 9-7 season last year the Bucs were trending upwards. Many(including myself) pegged them as perennial playoff contenders. Injuries derailed their season early, but they were not able to recover when they were healthy again.

The team hasn’t exactly given up, but the offensive play calling is so bad I could probably get a playbook from madden and call better plays(all offense Koetter).

The defense honestly is just short on talent. Grimes and Evans are the only ones in the secondary. While McCoy is the only one on the defensive line.

I find it extremely unlikely that Koetter returns, it sucks to keep cycling through coaches after two years, but it’s necessary when such a sharp regression occurs. In terms of potential candidates, I have no idea who will be available, but I’d be okay with Gruden as long as he brings a strong defensive mind with him.

I also like Arians, but who knows if he’ll even want to return to coaching. There are some intriguing prospects around the league as well that are coordinators right now such as Patriots DC Matt Patricia.

Coaching is the biggest need this off-season, the Bucs have the cap space and draft position to address the personnel ones, but can they nail a head coaching hire? That has yet to be seen.

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