2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview

2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were almost good in 2011. After they went 10-6 in 2010 against a weak schedule, the Bucs were looking for a successful follow-up season. They started out 4-2 last season, before promptly quitting on their coach Raheem Morris and lost their final ten games to finish at 4-12. Morris since got fired, and Tampa Bay has hired Greg Schiano to replace him. Tampa had a great draft this past season, using their two first round picks to select two game-changers. Mark Barron will immediately impact this defense at safety, a huge upgrade for one of the worst defenses in the league last year. Also, Doug Martin looks like he has gone from rookie running back to a starting three-down back in one offseason. Martin has big expectations placed on him to be the back that LeGarrette Blount couldn’t, and bring another dimension to this offense. The Buccaneers are still the worst team in the NFC South, but they could be relevant again very soon, maybe as soon as next, and possibly even this season. Tampa Bay would like nothing more than to put the demons of last season behind them and start over, and I think they will do that to an extent. But don’t have too much faith in the Bucs this year, because this season is still part of the rebuilding process.

Offense

The Buccaneers offense is less than stellar, but has some punch to it. Josh Freeman needs to have a nice season to show his organization that he is the quarterback for the future of this franchise. He turned the ball over way too many times last year, after having a great touchdown to interception ratio the year before. He now has added weapons surrounding him, so there are no more excuses for Freeman struggling again. Doug Martin, as already stated, was drafted highly to eventually become the starting running back, but that “eventually” has come awfully fast, as Martin will be the starter heading into the season. He has drawn many comparisons to Ray Rice, which is high praise, but whether or not this will yield any fruit will be seen in time. The Buccaneers also finally spent some money in free agency and brought in star offensive lineman Carl Nicks to help the running game and stud wide out Vincent Jackson as a big play threat over the top. This unit should be vastly improved from what it was last year.

Defense

This defense was absolutely dreadful last year, which means that things can only improve. They will need a huge jump from their dreadful defensive line, especially their former two top draft picks, Gerald McCoy and Adrian Clayborn. Their linebackers aren’t that fantastic either, but Mason Foster is solid in the middle. The biggest step up should be from the secondary, now that Ronde Barber is moving to safety. Rookie Mark Barron might already be the best player on this defense, and should patrol the middle of the field for many years to come. Tampa Bay had a bottom five defense last year, but that ranking should rise to at least around number twenty this year.

Schedule

The Buccaneers had struggles last year that you wouldn’t wish upon your worst enemy. Losing ten games in a row is catastrophic, especially after winning ten games the previous season. That will not happen again, but there should be some growing pains over the course of the season.

Week 1: L vs CAR

Week 2: L at NYG
Week 3: L at DAL

Week 4: W vs WAS

Week 5: Bye

Week 6: W vs KC

Week 7: L vs NO

Week 8: L at MIN

Week 9: L at OAK

Week 10: W vs SD

Week 11: L at CAR

Week 12: W vs ATL

Week 13: L at DEN

Week 14: L vs PHI

Week 15: L vs NO

Week 16: W vs STL

Week 17: L at ATL

I think the 2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will finish this season at 5-11 and obviously miss the playoffs, but they will have a top 10 draft pick that will help them keep improving. This division is rapidly becoming like the NFC East, an ultra competitive division in which 9-7 can win, just like the Giants last year, and, as it turns out, the Panthers this year. After my bold prediction, I’ll recap the NFC South and move on to the West, where I’ll start with the Arizona Cardinals.

Bold Prediction: Doug Martin will have 1,200 total yards, and 7 touchdowns this season.

NFC South recap:

CAR: 9-7

ATL: 9-7

NO: 8-8

TB: 5-11

• Cam Newton continues his progress, Panthers win division
• Falcons don’t live up to the hype once again, fall short of playoffs
• Saints are good but not great coming off of bounty scandal
• Tampa Bay keeps rebuilding, Martin and Barron are bright spots