The Bucs is not going to solely use the 2024 offseason program to work on the gamers getting larger and stronger within the weight room in addition to getting sooner, but in addition to enhance in sure areas.
Whereas head coach Todd Bowles shall be putting in some new wrinkles on protection and new offensive coordinator Liam Coen and his new assistants shall be putting in a brand new playbook, every Bucs participant shall be tasked with honing their abilities and dealing on some particular person weaknesses.
With enter from the Bucs coaches and entrance workplace members, in addition to my very own evaluation and observations, I’ve give you one particular space for every participant to work on heading into coaching camp and the 2024 season. I’m solely evaluating gamers who noticed true taking part in time final yr in Tampa Bay, and leaving rookies and newly acquired free brokers who performed elsewhere out of the equation.
That is the primary of a seven-part collection that can study a place group or two of Bucs gamers. First up is Tampa Bay’s quarterback Baker Mayfield, who began all 19 video games and performed 99% of the snaps in 2023, and the group’s working backs. Subsequent up would be the Bucs’ extensive receivers and tight ends.
The place Every Bucs Participant Can Enhance: QB And RBs
QB Baker Mayfield – Cut back The Quantity Of Clunkers
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA Right now
Bucs quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis needs Mayfield to work on bettering his footwork this season when throwing the ball. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen needs Mayfield to work on avoiding staring down receivers to scale back the variety of batted balls on the line of scrimmage from defensive linemen. However what Mayfield actually must work on is lowering the variety of clunkers he had final yr.
Not each quarterback goes to have an ideal stat line each week over the course of a full season. Generally a QB has a clunker – a nasty sport by way of accuracy, interceptions and lack of landing manufacturing. In Tampa Bay – and in every single place else across the league, actually – so goes the quarterback, so goes the offense. When Mayfield performs nicely, the Bucs sometimes win. And when he doesn’t, the result is both a loss or struggling to win a detailed sport.
Mayfield’s sport log final yr, it’s my estimation that he had seven clunkers out of 17 video games, with 4 of these leading to losses.
Week 3 vs. Eagles – 25-11 Loss – 15-of-25 (60%) for 146 yards, TD, INTWeek 6 vs. Lions – 20-6 Loss – 19-of 37 (51.4%) for 206 yards, INTWeek 11 at 49ers – 27-14 Loss – 29-of-45 (64.4%) for 246 yards, TD, INT, fumbleWeek 13 vs. Panthers – 21-18 Win – 14-of-29 (48.3%) for 202 yards, TD, INTWeek 14 at Falcons – 29-25 Win – 14-of-29 (48.3%) for 144 yards, 2 TDsWeek 17 vs. Saints – 23-13 Loss – 22-of-33 (66.7%) for 309 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTsWeek 18 at Panthers – 9-0 Win – 20-of-32 (62.5%) for 137 yards
Although Tampa Bay had wins at Atlanta and at Carolina, Mayfield struggled early in each video games. His last-minute drive and last-second landing towards the Falcons have been clutch, however they didn’t erase an off day by way of Mayfield’s accuracy. And Mayfield had three dropped interceptions within the first half towards the Panthers within the season finale that definitely might have modified the result of that sport and saved the Bucs out of the playoffs if not for some success.
If Mayfield can minimize his variety of clunkers in half this yr to maybe simply three or 4 unhealthy video games, it might end in two or three extra wins for Tampa Bay. The end result could possibly be the Bucs going from a 9-8 group final yr to an 11- or 12-win group in 2024. Extra reps and chemistry along with his teammates will solely assist Mayfield as he enters his second season in purple and pewter.
RB Rachaad White – Hit The Entire Quicker, Run With Authority
Bucs RB Rachaad White and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA Right now
Bucs working backs coach Skip Peete and offensive coordinator Liam Coen each outlined that White must run with a larger sense of urgency on the handoff. Coen needs White to run “like he’s shot out of a cannon.” At instances final yr, White was too affected person and indecisive, however did make strides because the yr went on.
Within the first 9 video games of the yr, White had 429 yards dashing whereas averaging 3.3 yards per carry with three touchdowns. However over the ultimate eight video games of the season, White produced 561 yards dashing and averaged 4.0 yards per carry along with three scores. He solely posted 5 video games with 75 yards or extra on the bottom, together with two 100-yard video games, and so they all got here within the remaining eight weeks of the common season when he grew to become a extra decisive, pressing runner.
White is the group’s greatest again at 220 kilos, and Peete needs him to run with extra violence and authority. I agree wholeheartedly. If White will be an indignant and extra pressing runner, he’ll certainly high 1,000 yards dashing in 2024 if he stays wholesome.
RB Chase Edmonds – Make The Restricted Quantity Of Carries Rely
Bucs RB Chase Edmonds – Picture by: USA Right now
Edmonds averaged 3.6 yards per carry within the common season, however simply 2.8 yards per carry within the postseason with 31 yards on 11 totes. Edmonds had six video games wherein he had lower than three yards per carry, together with a four-game stretch from Weeks 7-10.
As a change-of-pace again final season, Edmonds was introduced in to spell Rachaad White – usually with contemporary legs. However he didn’t carry a lot juice to the desk till later within the yr. Edmonds, who brings loads of worth because the lone veteran working again within the room, missed 4 video games within the first half of the season with a knee harm and it took him some time to get again right into a groove.
The arrival of Bucky Irving, the group’s fourth-round decide, will solely minimize into Edmonds’ alternatives in 2024, and he had simply 49 carries and 17 targets within the passing sport through the 2023 common season. Edmonds should benefit from his restricted alternatives this yr – or lose much more reps to the rookie. Which means having a stronger sense of urgency to make large performs when his quantity is known as, and that begins in earnest in coaching camp.
RB Sean Tucker – Make The Proper Choices Whereas Making A Good First Impression
Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs working backs coach Skip Peete mentioned that it wasn’t essentially Tucker’s sub-par move safety that saved him off the sphere final yr. It was not hitting the appropriate holes on the proper time. Tucker missed all the Bucs’ offseason final yr with a coronary heart situation that cleared up by the point coaching camp rolled round, however that slowed down his growth and understanding of Dave Canales’ run scheme.
To his credit score, Tucker truly received the backup the working again job within the preseason, however had a lackluster exhibiting in restricted taking part in time at the beginning of the season. Tucker didn’t get a single carry after the Eagles sport in Week 3, and he totaled 23 yards on 15 carries for a woeful 1.5-yard common for the season. Tucker was inactive for eight video games final yr, together with the ultimate six video games of the common season and each playoff video games.
A brand new offensive coordinator and a brand new offense will give Tucker a clear slate and the prospect to make a contemporary begin with Liam Coen. The excellent news is that Tucker is wholesome and can have the ability to participate in all the OTAs this offseason and the mini-camp. That approach, he received’t be behind when he heads into coaching camp like he was final season. If Tucker can grasp this new offense and work his timing with the offensive line and realizing which gap to hit, he has an opportunity to climb the depth chart.
The addition of rookie working again Bucky Irving will put the stress on Tucker to make a giant leap this offseason or danger shedding a roster spot.
