Welcome to SR’s Fab 5 – my weekly insider column on the Bucs that options 5 issues which are on my thoughts. SR’s Fab 5 is now a faster learn, however nonetheless packs a punch. Get pleasure from!
I’m again from trip, and on this week’s SR’s Fab 5 column I check out 5 ignored Bucs storylines because the staff heads into coaching camp and in the end the 2024 season making an attempt to defend its NFC South title.
FAB 1. Tom Brady’s Presence Is Nonetheless Felt In Tampa Bay
Chances are you’ll be wanting on the lead photograph of retired quarterback Tom Brady, a future Corridor of Famer, and questioning what he has to do with the 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Effectively, Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht signed Brady for 3 causes again in 2020.
First, he wished Brady’s championship DNA to rub off on the staff. Signing a six-time Tremendous Bowl champion and the best quarterback of all time would instantly elevate the expectations and the usual within the locker room, the assembly room, on the follow area and on recreation days.
Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photograph by: USA As we speak
Second, Tampa Bay wanted a greater quarterback than turnover-prone Jameis Winston, the No. 1 general decide in 2015. At age 42, Brady nonetheless had a stay arm and the late-game magic that made him the winningest NFL participant in historical past in each the common season and within the postseason.
And eventually, as a result of Brady was in his 40s, the Bucs knew he wouldn’t play perpetually. However Licht wished Brady’s presence to have a long-lasting impact on the franchise lengthy after he was gone. That’s precisely what occurred throughout Brady’s three-year stint in Tampa Bay.
“We knew the day would come the place Tom wouldn’t be right here,” Licht stated within the spring of 2023 after Brady’s retirement. “We additionally knew after we signed him that he would have some lasting results on this staff for what he introduced – his championship mentality and every little thing that he introduced together with that. We see that lingering nonetheless on this locker room – he’s left a long-lasting impact on us. I do know he nonetheless retains in contact with lots of the gamers.”
There are solely 11 Bucs remaining from the Tremendous Bowl LV staff that received a championship with Brady.
ILB Lavonte DavidCB Jamel DeanWR Mike EvansDT William GholstonWR Chris GodwinOLB Anthony NelsonLS Zach TrinerDT Vita VeaSS Jordan WhiteheadFS Antoine Winfield Jr.LT Tristan Wirfs
And there are solely 13 different gamers that have been both on Tampa Bay’s energetic roster or the follow squad that performed at the least one season with Brady.
ILB Okay.J. BrittP Jake CamardaOT Luke GoedekeC Robert HainseyDT Logan HallTE Ko KieftCB Zyon McCollumTE Cade Otton ILB JJ RussellQB Kyle TraskOLB Joe Tryon-ShoyinkaOT Brandon WaltonRB Rachaad White
Bucs WR Mike Evans and QB Tom Brady – Photograph by: USA As we speak
Much more noteworthy, there are 67 gamers on Tampa Bay’s present roster which have by no means had Brady as a teammate. So it’s as much as the 24 Buccaneers which were to move alongside that championship mindset to the newbies.
To younger gamers like Calijah Kancey, SirVocea Dennis and Trey Palmer, after they look as much as the likes of Will Gholston, Lavonte David and Mike Evans and Chris Godwin they’re additionally getting the knowledge and expertise that these gamers gained from enjoying alongside Brady.
Brady not solely performed till age 45, he performed into his mid-40s at a really excessive stage due to caring for his physique with the TB12 coaching and restoration strategies. David is 34, Gholston is 32, Evans turns 31 in August and Godwin is 28, and there are a number of Bucs that proceed to make use of the TB12 methodology post-Brady.
“We talked about it for 3 years straight,” Evans stated of Brady’s nearly maniacal coaching strategies. “[Brady said,] ‘You’ve received to go to remedy.’ He harped on it and pushed on it. After which even when he left, he stated, ‘Are you getting your remedy?’ He makes certain guys are staying in it.
“I simply really feel so good [this offseason]. After the yr I felt nice. That is in all probability the most effective – after yr 5 and after this season might be the most effective I’ve ever felt. Simply operating round – I really feel superb.”
Bucs operating again Rachaad White was lucky sufficient to spend his rookie season within the locker room and within the huddle with Brady, who was the last word chief and teammate.
“I used to be raised properly and raised to at all times be humble and admire the small issues, the little issues in life,” White stated. “Taking that after which seeing guys – seeing how Mike works, how Chris works, how Tom labored – seeing how guys labored and the way nice of human beings they [were]. That was the largest factor for me – I at all times satisfaction myself on being who I used to be earlier than I used to be right here and simply hold being an ideal human being.
Bucs QB Tom Brady and RB Rachaad White Photograph By: USA As we speak
“On the finish of the day, I simply discovered that and [learned] how can I make guys round me, like my teammates, higher and have an effect on my teammates greater than something. If my teammates say, ‘Yeah, Rachaad is a good teammate,’ that’s what I need most over something.”
If this group of Buccaneers can win one other Tremendous Bowl within the subsequent season or two, the championship mindset from gamers like Evans, Godwin and David may have seeped into the likes of White, Kancey, Palmer, YaYa Diaby, Cody Mauch, Baker Mayfield, Graham Barton, Jalen McMillan and others. Then there can be much more Tampa Bay gamers with championship DNA, and the profitable tradition that Brady helped begin in 2020 will really proceed to stay on.
“He’s in all probability one of many extra devoted (and) targeted athletes I’ve ever been round – not in all probability, he’s,” Licht stated of Brady. “For these guys to see what it takes for him to get to that stage is extraordinarily priceless. I feel it may stay on for a very long time in our group. He actually didn’t get to the place he’s for being an ideal athlete and having nice wheels or something like that, it’s [because of] every little thing above the neck. So, these are issues that everyone picks up on within the locker room.”
In spite of everything, it was that profitable tradition that Brady helped usher in that attracted his substitute, quarterback Baker Mayfield, to Tampa Bay.
FAB 2. Having A Veteran QB Is The Method For Success In Tampa Bay
Former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden and QB Jeff Garcia – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Since its existence in 1976, the Bucs franchise has but to draft a quarterback that has been re-signed by the staff upon the expiration of that QB’s rookie contract. The loopy factor is that if backup quarterback Kyle Trask re-signs with Tampa Bay subsequent yr – even on an affordable, one-year deal – it’ll lastly break that streak that has lasted for 48 years.
The Bucs have drafted 5 quarterbacks – Doug Williams, Vinny Testaverde, Trent Dilfer, Josh Freeman and Jameis Winston – within the first spherical in franchise historical past, however to no avail when it got here to long-term success. Sure, Williams and Dilfer every led the staff to a playoff win whereas in Tampa Bay, however that’s it.
Since Brad Johnson helped information the Bucs to the franchise’s first-ever Tremendous Bowl victory in 2002, veteran quarterbacks have had probably the most success – actually the one success – in Tampa Bay. Veteran Brian Griese started the 2005 season because the starter earlier than an harm gave option to Chris Simms taking on. Griese and Simms helped the Bucs go 11-5 that yr and received the NFC South earlier than a surprising residence playoff loss to the Redskins.
Veteran QB Jeff Garcia changed Griese and helped the Bucs win one other NFC South title in 2007. The Bucs drafted Freeman in 2009, adopted by Mike Glennon within the third spherical in 2013 after which Winston with the primary general decide in 2015. All didn’t get Tampa Bay to the playoffs till Tom Brady, the franchise’s best free agent signing, arrived in 2020.
Brady helped the Bucs win Tremendous Bowl LV that yr and adopted it up with a franchise-best 13-4 season and an NFC South championship and a playoff win over Philadelphia in 2021. In Brady’s final season, which was marred by his very public divorce, the Bucs nonetheless received the division title, however completed 8-9 and misplaced its residence playoff recreation to Dallas.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Jason Licht and the staff struck gold in free company final yr, signing one more veteran quarterback in Baker Mayfield to a one-year, prove-it deal price $4 million. Mayfield’s Professional Bowl season, which consisted of profession highs with 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns together with simply 10 interceptions – along with an NFC South championship and a playoff win – really made most overlook about Brady. As within the staff didn’t essentially miss Brady, who handed for 4,694 yards with 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in his closing season with Tampa Bay.
The one veteran beginning quarterback that has been signed and didn’t ship an NFC South title since Johnson arrived in 2001 was Josh McCown in 2014, however he solely lasted one season in Tampa Bay. Each different veteran beginning QB – Johnson, Griese, Garcia, Brady and Mayfield – has helped the Bucs win at the least a division championship.
Someday the Bucs will lastly draft a franchise quarterback that may succeed and convey a steady, profitable presence to Tampa Bay for a decade or extra. However till then, the franchise’s confirmed monitor report with veteran quarterbacks continues on with Mayfield.
FAB 3. The Bucs Are Remarkably Wholesome Heading In The 2024 Season
Former Bucs WR Russell Gage – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
One of the vital exceptional, but underreported points of Tampa Bay’s 2023 season was simply how wholesome the staff was en path to profitable 10 video games, together with a playoff victory over Philadelphia and one other NFC South title. The one main accidents the staff suffered in coaching camp have been huge receiver Russell Gage, who tore his ACL in August, and heart Ryan Jensen, who spent one other season on injured reserve after a failed comeback from what turned out to be a career-ending knee harm from the 2022 coaching camp.
Gage, who stays unsigned, didn’t have a lot manufacturing for the Bucs in an injury-riddled 2022 season, so his loss in all probability wasn’t that huge ultimately. Tampa Bay was cautiously optimistic that Jensen would possibly have the ability to return to motion, however given the severity of his knee harm the staff wasn’t essentially planning on it. These two have been the one ones who have been on Tampa Bay’s season-long injured reserve
Through the season, the one different gamers to go on short-term injured reserve have been reserve defensive deal with Mike Greene, backup operating again Chase Edmonds and fifth-string huge receiver Rakim Jarrett. Left guard Matt Feiler was knocked out of the lineup with a knee harm in October, however he wasn’t enjoying properly anyway and misplaced his beginning job to Aaron Stinnie.
It was wonderful that Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, Robert Hainsey, Cody Mauch, Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer, Cade Otton and Rachaad White began all 19 video games on offense final yr. No surprise head athletic coach Bobby Slater was promoted to vice chairman of sports activities drugs.
On protection, cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis III missed a number of video games on account of nagging minor accidents, however Zyon McCollum stuffed in admirably and truly wound up being the most effective cornerback out of the three.
Bucs TE Ko Kieft – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Linebacker Lavonte David missed a number of video games on account of a groin harm, whereas Vita Vea was additionally out a number of video games on account of a toe harm and a groin harm. The most important harm on protection was Calijah Kancey’s calf pressure, which sidelined him by means of coaching camp, the preseason and the primary 4 weeks of the common season. Outdoors of Greene, no different Bucs defender wound up on injured reserve final yr.
In consequence, the Bucs head into the 2024 season remarkably wholesome. The one gamers sitting out the OTAs on account of harm have been reserve tight finish Ko Kieft and fourth-string rookie quarterback Zack Annexstad. To Pewter Report’s information there weren’t any offseason surgical procedures to get well from.
By comparability, Houston’s beginning offensive tackles, Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard, are each recovering from offseason knee surgical procedures and have missed the offseason exercises and OTAs because of this.
Because the Bucs proved a yr in the past, a wholesome Tampa Bay staff is a harmful one to take care of. Let’s see if the Bucs can proceed to remain wholesome heading into coaching camp and the 2024 common season. They’re already off to an ideal begin.
FAB 4. Loads Of Motivated Bucs Heading Into 2024
Bucs C Robert Hainsey – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs had a number of star gamers heading right into a contract yr in 2023, together with the likes of quarterback Baker Mayfield, huge receiver Mike Evans, free security Antoine Winfield Jr. and linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White. All 5 have been staff captains final yr.
This yr there are many Bucs that may even be enjoying in a contract yr, headlined by David as soon as once more and huge receiver Chris Godwin, one other staff captain. Technically, Tristan Wirfs is coming into a contract yr, as his fifth-year choice was picked up for 2024. However the staff is engaged on a contract extension and Wirfs is anticipated to be signed long-term earlier than the beginning of the common season.
Right here is the checklist of the gamers that can be extremely motivated to have a giant yr to earn a brand new contract in Tampa Bay or elsewhere. Potential starters have an asterisk by their title.
LT Tristan Wirfs*WR Chris Godwin*ILB Lavonte David*ILB Okay.J. Britt*G Sua Opeta*OLB Randy Gregory*C Robert HainseyC-G Ben BredesonQB Kyle TraskQB John WolfordOT Justin SkuleRB Chase EdmondsOLB Joe Tryon-ShoyinkaOLB Anthony NelsonDT Greg GainesDT Will GholstonCB Bryce HallCB Tavierre ThomasLS Zach Triner
Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht loves signing veterans to one-year, prove-it offers, and 12 gamers, together with David, Opeta, Bredeson, Gregory, Wolford, Skule, Edmonds, Gaines, Gholston, Corridor, Thomas and Triner are all in that class this season.
FAB 5. This May Be Todd Bowles’ Finest Teaching Workers But
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and RBs coach Skip Peete – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Credit score head coach Todd Bowles and the Bucs for not resting on their laurels from a yr in the past when the staff wound up profitable 10 video games, together with a playoff win versus the Eagles, and a third-straight division championship. Granted, offensive coordinator Dave Canales left to turn into the Panthers head coach after only one season, and he took receivers coach Brad Idzik and offensive line coaches Harold Goodwin and Joe Gilbert with him to Carolina.
However that has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
No offense to any of the departed coaches, however behind the scenes the staff is totally thrilled with their replacements. New offensive coordinator Liam Coen has been drawing rave opinions for his good thoughts and motivation. The offensive gamers are stoked in regards to the new scheme and the possession he’s placing on Baker Mayfield to name audibles and make the correct checks on the line of scrimmage primarily based on the pre-snap look the protection offers him.
New offensive line coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Piccuci are technicians which have an entire grasp of the operating recreation that Coen needs to implement. Carberry coached with Coen in Los Angeles and Piccuci coached with him at Kentucky. The group loves the old fashioned “kick ass” method that Carberry has dropped at Tampa Bay.
New huge receivers coach Bryan McClendon is a star within the making. Why he hasn’t been within the NFL but is a thriller, however one that may profit Tampa Bay this yr. McClendon brings lots of juice to the follow area the way in which that Canales did final yr and former Bucs receivers coach and present College of Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck did in Tampa Bay through the 2012 season.
The 40-year previous McClendon coached the likes of Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel –all three have been first-round picks – when he was Georgia’s operating backs coach from 2009-14. When he went to South Carolina to educate receivers he recruited and tutored Xavier Legette, Carolina’s first-round decide this yr. McClendon then moved on to Oregon to educate huge receivers and developed Troy Franklin, a fourth-round decide by Denver, earlier than returning to Georgia to win a nationwide championship in 2022 with Ladd McConkey because the Bulldogs receivers coach.
Bucs WRs coach Bryan McClendon and WR Chris Godwin – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
However Bowles didn’t cease there. Wanting higher blocking from the tight ends to assist the run recreation, he moved John Van Dam to a passing recreation assistant position and employed veteran tight ends coach Justin Peelle to exchange him. Peelle, a former tight finish, performed 11 years within the NFL and he’s additionally coached the place for 11 years. To date Peelle has been very properly acquired, and for a room that doesn’t have a veteran mentor, he’s anticipated to take the video games of Cade Otton and Payne Durham to the following stage on account of his expertise enjoying the place.
Did particular groups coordinator Keith Armstrong retire or was he pushed into retirement as a result of the staff wished to exchange him? I feel it was the latter, and his substitute, Thomas McGaughey, involves Tampa Bay from New York the place he had some success with the Giants particular groups.
Outdoors of the kicking recreation, Tampa Bay’s particular groups have been something however particular below Armstrong. So McGaughey must be a welcomed change – supplied he can shortly determine the brand new NFL kick return and protection guidelines.
The remainder of Bowles’ employees returns for one more yr of continuity and cohesiveness. And the brand new coaches he’s employed ought to assist make this Bowles’ greatest employees but.
