2019 NFL Team Preview - TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS                                     

2018 Record - 5-11-0


Head Coach - Bruce Arians



Newcomers for 2019 - Blaine Gabbert (QB), Earl Watford (OL), Shaquil Barrett (LB), Deone Bucannon (LB), Kentrell Brice (DB), Breshad Perriman (WR), Bradley Pinion (P)


Keys on Offense - Jameis Winston will be the quarterback after an injury plagued 2018 season in which he passed 2,992 yards with 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Blaine Gabbert is the back up this season. Peyton Barber (871 yards, 3.7 ypc average and five TD) is the primary running back.
Mike Evans (86 receptions, 1,524 yards and eight TD) is a premier wide receiver in the NFL and is flanked by Chris Godwin (58, 842, seven TD). Breshad Perriman comes over from Cleveland in free agency and had 16 receptions for 340 yards and two touchdowns. The tight ends include O.J. Howard (34, 565, five TD) and Cameron Brate, who had 30 receptions for 289 yards and six touchdowns.


Keys on Defense - Two main players for the Buccaneers defense are not available as training camp opened as Jason Pierre-Paul (12 1/2 QB sacks) suffered a severe neck injury in the off-season and Gerald McCoy moved on to the Carolina Panthers. Pierre-Paul is on the non active list and it's possible he could play later into this season.
Those likely to make an impact this season will be Carl Nassib (6 1/2 sacks), Vita Vea (three sacks) and Beau Allen up front along with linebackers Shaquil Barrett (three sacks with Denver last year), Lavonte David (3 1/2 sacks) and top rookie pick Devin White (LSU). The secondary features Carlton Davis and Vernon Heargraves III at cornerback along with safeties Justin Evans and Kentrell Brice. Rookies Sean Bunting (Central Michigan), Jamel Dean (Auburn) and Mike Edwards (Kentucky) will vie for playing time as well.


OUTLOOK - The Buccaneers last winning season was three years ago and they haven't made the playoffs since the 2007 season, so new Head Coach Bruce Arians has his work cut out for him this season. Arians had success in Arizona following an interim top coaching job with Indianapolis seven years ago.
He will look to get QB Jameis Winston in top form following a lost season due to injuries as the Buccaneers offense turned the ball over way too much, evidenced by their next to league worst minus-18 in the turnover category.
There is potential with the passing game, which was tops in the NFL a year ago, averaging 320 yards per game. However, the running game has to step it up after averaging just 95 yards a game (29th rank) last season.
On defense, there will be many questions to be answered as the Bucs look to fill the voids of Pierre-Paul and McCoy up front along with as many as six rookies vying for starting roles. The team only had 38 QB sacks a year ago while getting only nine interceptions. Better pressure on opposing quarterbacks is vital to success or failure this season.
In addition, Tampa Bay allowed 29 points per game, which was 31st in the NFL. Another 5-11 season appears to be the likelihood for this team as they look toward the future with a new coaching staff taking over.



TEAM SCHEDULE 
Week 1 - vs. San Francisco
Week 2 - at Carolina
Week 3 - vs. NY Giants
Week 4 - at LA Rams
Week 5 - at New Orleans
Week 6 - vs. Carolina (in London)
Week 7 - BYE
Week 8 - at Tennessee
Week 9 - at Seattle
Week 10 - vs. Arizona
Week 11 - vs. New Orleans
Week 12 - at Atlanta
Week 13 - at Jacksonville
Week 14 - vs. Indianapolis
Week 15 - at Detroit
Week 16 - vs. Houston
Week 17 - vs. Atlanta