After lacking the playoffs in each season from 2008-2019, the Bucs have performed postseason soccer 4 years in a row. In fact, they made it in 2020 as a Wild Card crew and made a run to win their second-ever Tremendous Bowl. And within the three years since, Tampa Bay has gained back-to-back-to-back NFC South titles. That’s good for the NFC’s longest energetic streak of playoff appearances.
As they put together for the 2024 season, although, related doubts have emerged from the nationwide media and oddsmakers about their probabilities of returning to the playoffs for a fifth straight yr. They’re broadly considered as essentially the most weak defending division champion, largely because of the Falcons’ addition of quarterback Kirk Cousins. Tampa Bay’s final two division title wins have come all the way down to Week 17 and Week 18, respectively, so it’s not as if Todd Bowles’ crew has run away with it. Atlanta is certain to be a risk, as is New Orleans — as a result of they’re at all times within the combine.
However the Bucs have carried out effectively to maintain their key items intact this offseason, re-signing Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr. whereas including Jordan Whitehead and a promising rookie class. The tradition change in Tampa Bay since 2019 can’t be overstated, both. Whereas dropping was as soon as ingrained within the tradition, this has become a crew with a profitable mentality during the last 4 years.
So what in-house shortcomings may preserve the Bucs from making the playoffs as soon as once more? Professional Soccer Focus’ Gordon McGuinness just lately tried his hand at naming one motive every crew within the NFC may miss the playoffs in 2024. What was the potential motive chosen for Tampa Bay?
Bucs OLB YaYa Diaby and 49ers QB Brock Purdy – Picture by: USA Right now
“The protection fails to generate sufficient strain off the sting.”
Right here’s what McGuinness needed to say:
“The Buccaneers had only one participant file 40 or extra whole pressures within the common season in 2023, and that was Shaquil Barrett, whom the crew launched this offseason.
The Bucs’ beginning edge defenders are presently slated to be Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who wouldn’t have ranked among the many prime 30 edge defenders in regular-season QB pressures even when you mixed their output.”
Cross Rush Stays One Of Bucs’ Largest Questions
Bucs followers aren’t going to have many arguments towards this being a possible concern, because the crew’s four-man cross rush stays a major level of uncertainty heading into the brand new season. It’s between that and the questions/youth on the inside of the offensive line.
Alabama OLB Chris Braswell – Picture by: USA Right now
As PFF’s Gordon McGuinness factors out, Tampa Bay’s solely participant with greater than 40 whole pressures final yr was Shaq Barrett — and he’s now a Miami Dolphin.
The Bucs will hope that final yr’s main sacked YaYa Diaby can enhance his cross rush win fee and attain double-digit sacks. However much more than that, the crew has to hope that some mixture of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson, Randy Gregory, Chris Braswell, Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez could make sufficient strides to maintain the four-man rush from being a priority all season.
Todd Bowles will at all times get inventive with producing strain on the quarterback, however his defenses — particularly in Tampa Bay — have been at their finest after they’ve gotten manufacturing off the sting. The mixture of Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul was so key within the Bucs’ Tremendous Bowl season, however the edge rushers haven’t produced at that very same degree since.
Can Tryon-Shoyinka lastly reside as much as his first-round draft standing in 12 months 4? Can Nelson be greater than a rotational edge defender? Will Gregory keep wholesome and produce? May Braswell make an early affect as a rookie? May we see Watts or Ramirez emerge as true, constant threats?
Until the reply to a number of of these questions is sure, it’s truthful to wonder if an absence of strain off the sting may find yourself costing the Bucs their playoff streak in 2024.
