Adrian Fedkiw
Each day leading up to the official start of the NFL football season, I will be providing you with player rankings, team previews, analysis, predictions, opinions and a whole lot more.
Crab legs for everybody!
Except for Jameis Winston, who made it a priority to get in better shape this offseason and get rid of some of that flab. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick comes off a solid rookie season where he threw for 4,042 yards and 22 touchdowns for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also made the Pro Bowl as an alternate.
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter took over as the head coach for the fired Lovie Smith. Koetter’s offense put up a franchise-record 6,014 yards last year. But even though they put up the fifth most yards in the league, they averaged just 21.4 points per game, which was 20th.
That needs to go up.
Grading the Roster
QBs- Jameis Winston (7.8), Mike Glennon (7.3)
RBs- Doug Martin (7.7), Charles Sims (7.4), Mike James (7.2)
WRs- Mike Evans (7.9), Vincent Jackson (7.5), Louis Murphy (7.2), Adam Humphries (7.2)
TEs- Austin Seferian-Jenkins (7.3), Cameron Brate (7.3)
Ts- Donovan Smith (7.2), Demar Dotson (7.3), Gosder Cherilus (7.2)
Gs- Ali Marpet (7.4), J.R. Sweezy (7.2), Kevin Pamphile (7.1)
Cs- Joe Hawley (7.3), Evan Smith (7.3)
DEs- Robert Ayers (7.8), William Gholston (7.4), Jacques Smith (7.2), Noah Spence (7.2)
DTs- Gerald McCoy (8.3), Akeem Spence (7.3), Clinton McDonald (7.3), A.J. Francis (7)
OLBs- Lavonte David (8.2), Daryl Smith (7.3), Josh Keyes (7.1), Jeremiah George (7)
ILBs- Kwon Alexander (7.2), Adarius Glanton (7.2)
CBs- Vernon Hargreaves (7.4), Brent Grimes (7.4), Alterraun Verner (7.3), Josh Robinson (7.1)
Ss- Bradley McDougald (7.3), Keith Tandy (7.2), Chris Conte (7.2)
K- Roberto Aguayo (7.3)
P- Bryan Anger (7.3)
KR- Kenny Bell (7.3)
PR- Kenny Bell (7.3)
Team Rankings
Team- 7.362 (24/32)
Offense- 7.408 (16/32)
Defense- 7.347 (22/32)
Quarterbacks- 7.55 (15/32)
Running Backs- 7.43 (6/32)
Receivers- 7.4 (14/32)
Offensive Line- 7.25 (29/32)
Defensive Line- 7.44 (10/16)
Linebackers- 7.33 (8/16)
Secondary- 7.27 (26/32)
Special Teams- 7.3
Coaches- 7.3
PREDICTION– 7-9 (2nd NFC South)
QUARTERBACKS
Winston is a smart quarterback, despite a turnover-filled sophomore campaign while he was at Florida State. He makes good decisions for the most and even went four games without a turnover at one point. He also didn’t throw a single pick inside the red zone all season.
Winston has the ability to make every throw on the route tree and is fairly accurate, although he does tend to sail balls over the middle. Winston does have a bit of an elongated release, but that didn’t cause any issues during his rookie season.
Mike Glennon is a very solid backup and fared well when asked to start a few years ago. He has a big arm.
RUNNING BACKS
Doug Martin’s 2015 campaign was almost unexpected following two disappointing seasons after a promising rookie campaign. He exploded for 1,402 yards and six touchdowns.
Martin is only 5’9, but powers through defenders using his low center of gravity and aggressive running style, hence why he’s called the muscle hamster. 906 of his 1,402 yards came after contact. He can also translate power to finesse as well, being able to cut against the grain on the second level. Martin isn’t a bad receiver coming out of the backfield, but his small stature makes it easy to overthrow him at times.
Charles Sims is very adept at coming out of the backfield and he and Martin form arguably the best running back duo in the NFL.
RECEIVERS
Winston has a solid pair to throw the ball to in Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson.
Evans caught 74 passes for 1,206 yards, but hauled in just three touchdowns after posting 12 in 2014. Evans has strength, length and runs his routes with pristine precision., but did have 12 drops last year, which is way too much. Jackson is big and strong to go along with a great set of mittens. Jackson is still a very good route runner and despite being 33, can still run fairly fast on the go route.
Undrafted rookie Adam Humphries proved to be a solid slot option, while Kenny Bell and Russell Shepard are the other wideouts.
Cameron Brate is currently ahead of the disappointing Austin Seferian-Jenkins at tight end. Brate is big at 6’5 and can make plays up the seam and in the red zone.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
The Bucs spent a pair of second-round draft picks on the line last year, using them on tackle Donovan Smith and right guard Ali Marpet. In all, the offensive line improved, allowing just 27 sacks and helping Tampa Bay finish in the top five in rushing.
J.R. Sweezy comes over from Seattle to play left guard, although he is currently dealing with a back injury. Joe Hawley returns as the starter at center and right tackle DeMar Dotson is back despite dealing with a plethora of injuries last year.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
At 6’4, 295, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is a bit taller than most three technique. He has great length, size, quickness, body control, great power in his hands and a high motor. He plays with great technique and natural leverage. It’s amazing how much pressure he gets on the quarterback considering the lack of disruption McCoy got from Tampa Bay’s outside rushers.
If McCoy does have a weakness in his game it’s when teams run at him, but when they don’t he can penetrate into the backfield. He’s not known as a player who has a mean streak, which is something you’d like to see out of a defensive tackle. Clinton McDonald is an underrated player and joins McCoy as a starter.
The offseason acquisition of Robert Ayers should help McCoy immensely. He has powerful hands and sets the edge in the running game very well. William Gholston starts opposite of him. Tampa Bay also picked up Noah Spence in the second round and Jacquies Smith provides depth as well.
LINEBACKERS
Outside linebacker Lavonte David’s instincts and nose for the ball are outstanding, he’s so active. At 6’1 233, David is a bit on the small side, but did play some safety in college and uses his anticipation and speed to excel in the run game. He wins with leverage, almost always beats his blocker and can chase down a back no matter where they are on the field.
David uses his experience at safety to help him in coverage. His fluidity and agility allows him to cut and dart after the ball when asked to drop back in zone. I’ve also seem him do well when going up against a slot receiver. David isn’t asked to blitz often, but when he does, he times it well, takes the proper angles and closes in on the quarterback quickly using his lightning fast speed.
Tampa Bay picked up the aging Daryl Smith to play the other outside linebacker spot. The 34-year-old remains a playmaker. Last year’s fourth-round pick Kwon Alexander will start in the middle.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Buccaneers overhauled the cornerbacks, drafting Vernon Hargreaves in the first round and signing the 33-year-old Brent Grimes. Neither have great size, but both are very good cover corners.
Tampa Bay’s acquisitions push Johnthan Banks and Alterraun Verner into backup roles.
Bradley McDougald is a playmaker and an underrated safety, while Chris Conte is the starter alongside him.
TEAM PREVIEWS
Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots | Miami Dolphins | New York Jets
Baltimore Ravens | Cincinnati Bengals | Pittsburgh Steelers | Cleveland Browns
Indianapolis Colts | Houston Texans | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tennessee Titans
Denver Broncos | Kansas City Chiefs | San Diego Chargers | Oakland Raiders
Los Angeles Rams | San Francisco 49ers
NFL PLAYER RANKINGS