Open Rants by cah13d

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the more vastly underrated teams of the season. Granted that the Bucs missed the post-season for the 10^th straight season, it was still the second straight season of noticeable growth, the first consecutive seasons of growth that I can remember in my short 21 years of life. For the first time since the historic defenses of the late 90’s and early 2000’s, there is legitimate optimism and expectations from the fan base going forward

Saying all of that, they are still criminally underrated nationally. Even in the midst of the great 5 game run that saw a middling team turn it all around and have one of the best teams in the league, the only major pundit(s) doing any kind of stumping for the Bucs, was Peter Schrager from FOX who was massively infatuated with the Bucs.

Granted many of the reasons that they are not getting the love is for their lack of production over recent seasons. But one of the best stories in the league is down in Tampa. The team is not lacking interesting characters, nor are they lacking elite playmakers. Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, and Mike Evans are arguably the greatest young QB-WR combo in the league.

The offensive line was stellar at some points, and other points had the lack of depth and the ineptness of the Right Tackle position exploited at will. Cameron Brate on the other hand has turned into one of the leagues premier young- TE’s while Adam Humphries has turned into the typical white slot-reciever that has led the Patriots for so many years, an organization the Bucs seem to molding themselves after, given Jason Lichts past with them.

Gerald McCoy is arguably the best 3-technique lineman in the league, while LaVonte David has consistently been one of the premier 4-3 outside linebackers in the league. Vernon Hargreaves, after an up and down rookie year, is primed to have a terrific career in Tampa, so long as they get him a partner on the other side of the field.

The Bucs are one or two pieces away from being serious contenders for not only a playoff spot, but to be serious Super Bowl contenders. The true turn can come as early as next season, assuming the Bucs are able to plug the right side of that line, find some kind of stability out wide with Mike Evans. The final piece of the puzzle, and probably the most glaring deficiency on the defensive side of the ball, is the need for another corner opposite VH3.