2013 NFL PREDICTIONS!!! (TYLER)

AHOY MATEYS!

For Day 28 of my 2013 NFL Predictions i will break down the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS. 

Since the days of Jon Gruden as Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this team has never really been the same, no real consistent QB play. Josh Freeman is trying to fix that. Last year was not the best for Freeman but it was the best for RB Doug Martin who burst onto the NFL scene and turned some heads as one of the most productive backs last year. Freeman has WR Vincent Jackson to throw to and that's kinda where it ends. You could make a case for WR Kevin Ogletree, but since his departure from Dallas he hasn't been the same. The Defense of this team now boasts the talents of newly acquired CB Darrelle Revis along with Safeties Dashon Goldson from San Francisco to work alongside Mark Barron. Other than that the next "name" on this defense is youngster Da'Quan Bowers on the defensive line. Revis' health will be key to how this defense operates next year, but the thing i like about this team the most is the attitude Head Coach Greg Schiano brought and instilled into this team. They are ruthless, they play hard til the last whistle sounds as proven last year when Schiano called for his team to try and force a fumble when the opposing team call a QB Kneel. Gutsy i say, stupid others say, i love it. However this team does need help, lets see how they drafted and decide if they helped themselves or not.

ROUND 2: Johnthan Banks CB (Mississippi State)

ROUND 3: Mike Glennon QB (N.C. State)

ROUND 4: Akeem Spence DT (Illinois)

ROUND 4: William Gholston DE (Michigan State)

ROUND 5: Steven Means DE (Buffalo)

ROUND 6: Mike James RB (Miami)

I think that Tampa Bay could have used at least one of their picks on an offensive lineman, but i like this draft. Johnthan Banks will start opposite Revis (if Revis is healthy) or he will start in place of Revis. Mike Glennon is a good pick in the 3rd round to backup Freeman. Then the D-lineman avalance starts, each one of these defensive lineman will have a fair chance to push for starting time on offense. My favorite pick of their draft is actually RB Mike James. Watch for James this year, he will play alongside Doug Martin and create a pretty tough backfield for opposing defenses to stop. Now with that said lets take a look at how i predict the Buccaneers season to play out.

OPPONENTS                                W/L
@ NEW YORK JETS                        W
NEW ORLEANS                               W
@ NEW ENGLAND                          L
ARIZONA                                        W
BYE WEEK
PHILADELPHIA                               W
@ ATLANTA                                   L
CAROLINA (THURSDAY)               W
@ SEATTLE                                     L
MIAMI (MONDAY)                         L
ATLANTA                                        L
@ DETROIT                                     L
@ CAROLINA                                 W
BUFFALO                                        W
SAN FRANCISCO                             L
@ ST. LOUIS                                    L
@ NEW ORLEANS                           L

FINAL RECORD                            7 - 9

Analysis: Last year the Bucs finished 7-9, this year i have them doing basically the same thing. They will rely heavily on the run game with Doug Martin and Mike James, Josh Freeman will struggle and Mike Glennon will get starts later in the year. The beginning of the schedule is fairly favorable but the end of the year will prove to be too tough for them. I don't see Greg Schiano going anywhere, and i do see good things in store for this team if they could get more pieces to fall in place and maybe some help at wide receiver/tight end.

I predict similar results from last year. What do you think?