2014 Tampa Bay Bucs Preseason Preview

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  • Fans cheer during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers game at Raymond James Stadium, Sunday December 15, 2013 in Tampa Florida. The Bucs lost to the 49ers 33-14. (The Ledger/ Rick Runion)
    Turnaround year in 2014?

    Every year an NFL team transforms itself from lousy loser to playoff contender. Are the Tampa Bay Bucs (4-12 in 2013) that team this season? Herald-Tribune sports columnist Doug Fernandes takes an analytical look at the team as players begin training camp today. He breaks down top storylines, points out key newcomers and losses and we have a fans guide for attending training camp. Are the Bucs on the verge of a breakout season? 

  • Head Coach Lovie Smith of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during day 2 of Mini-Camp on April 23, 2014. (Photo by Matt May/Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
    2014 season outlook

    The Bucs get early looks at their divisional opponents, with games against Carolina, Atlanta and New Orleans in the season’s first five weeks. A road game at the Ravens on Oct. 12, followed by a bye, sends the Bucs on the road for three of their next five games, against the Browns, Redskins and Bears. After the game against Chicago on Nov. 23, the Bucs close their season with games against the Bengals, at Detroit, at Carolina, and home games against Green Bay, New Orleans and Cincinnati.

  • New Bucs Coach Lovie Smith sports his new team look in an offseason practice. (Herald-Tribune archive / 2014)
    What will Lovie Smith bring?

    WHAT WILL LOVIE SMITH BRING TO THE BUCS AS HEAD COACH?

    Experience and an even temperament, two things his predecessor, Greg Schiano, lacked. Familiarity is another factor — Smith got his NFL coaching start on Tony Dungy’s Tampa staff in 1996. There’s a definite comfort level between employer and employee that should make work around One Buc Place more pleasant for everyone concerned. Smith’s time as head coach of the Chicago Bears produced an 84-66 record in nine seasons and one Super Bowl appearance. With the Bucs he will teach while integrating new faces throughout the lineup. Smith wasn’t brought in to win in three years. The Bucs have to believe they got the guy who can succeed a lot quicker.

  • Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Rookie Mini Camp held at One Buccaneer Place on May 16, 2014, in Tampa, Florida. (Matt May/Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
    What will receiving duo of Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson bring?

    Simply, two 6-foot-5 receivers with the wingspans necessary to snare a lot of off-target passes. The Bucs needed someone to complement Jackson and lessen his load, and the Bucs spent their top draft pick to get him. Evans comes with a reputation of having strong hands and the ability to outleap smaller defenders for the ball. While the Bucs went defensive in free agency, the drafting of Evans illustrated a desire to surround McCown with as many offensive weapons as possible. The team also brought in tight ends Brandon Myers and Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Evans just has to stay healthy. He missed much of the Bucs’ offseason workout program with a strained hamstring.

  • Quarterback Josh McCown #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during day 1 of Mini-Camp on April 22, 2014. (Photo by Matt May/Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
    Will Josh McCown be a significant upgrade?

    The Bucs didn’t sign McCown to a two-year, $10 million contract for him not to be. Veteran head coaches like their veteran quarterbacks, and once McCown became available following a 2013 season for the Bears in which he threw 13 TDs and one interception in place of the injured Jay Cutler, the Bucs pounced. The facts are, the Bucs will be McCown’s sixth team, 13 of his career 50 touchdowns came last season, and he must become as comfortable in Jeff Tedford’s offense in Tampa as he was in Marc Trestman’s Bear attack. The Bucs think there’s still a bunch of good football inside this 35-year-old body.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams pulls in a touchdown pass from Josh Freeman as Tennessee Titans Alterraun Verner defends during the NFL preseason game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Aug, 17, 2012. (The Ledger/ Pierre DuCharme)
    Just who is Alterraun Verner?

    He’s the guy the Bucs threw $26.5 million at — $14 million guaranteed — to succeed Darrelle Revis at cornerback. The former Titan was one of the prized CBs available in free agency. He intercepted five passes last season to Revis’ two and is considered a much better zone defender than Revis. That will help in the Tampa 2 scheme expected to be used by head coach Lovie Smith. The tandem of Verner and CB Johnthan Banks on the other side could turn out to be a real Buc strength.

     

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    Carl Nicks (#77), a Pro Bowl free agent guard from New Orleans, blocks during the first day of practice at One Buc Place in Tampa, FL on Friday July 27, 2012. Scott Wheeler/The Ledger

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey (43) breaks free for a 80 yard touchdown on the second play of scrimmage during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Sunday. December 8, 2013. The Ledger/Michael Wilson
    OUR PREDICTION

    New GM, head coach, coordinators and slew of new players is pretty convincing evidence Buc ownership thought an overhaul was necessary. The conventional thinking is that head coach Lovie Smith’s team will try adhering to the Tony Dungy blueprint of strong defense and mistake-free offense. QB Josh McCown will be asked to manage the game, not win it. That will fall upon the shoulder pads of the team’s defense. How they start the season could set the tone for the rest of it. They’re at home for the Panthers and Rams, then on the road to Atlanta, Pittsburgh and New Orleans. Five games, three versus divisional foes. That only four of Tampa’s opponents made the playoffs last season means little. If this defense plays up to its on-paper potential, and if the 2014 McCown can replicate the 2013 version, these Bucs could surprise. To a handful of teams, it happens every season. Prediction: 7-9.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Donald Penn, right, catches a 1-yard pass for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Nov. 11, 2013.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
    Key departures, key newcomers

    KEY DEPARTURES: OL Donald Penn, OL Davin Joseph, CB Darrelle Revis

    KEY NEWCOMERS: QB Josh McCown, WR Mike Evans, DE Michael Johnson, LT Anthony Collins, CB Alterraun Verner

  • Schedule, maps and more

    CLICK HERE to see schedules, maps and more from the Tampa Bay Bucs training camp.