Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rookie DT Akeem Spence hasn�t hesitated to show he�s out to make a statement to coaches and veterans alike.

Do you guys think we can take the division this year? I believe we have a good chance but, Atlanta is looking to make up for last years NFC championship and are going to be Super Bowl hungry. and Sean Payton is back to coach the Saints so thats a big bag of mystery! Lastly we have the Panthers....I just cant see them doing it. they need someone else to throw to besides Steve Smith and Greg Olson. I'll leave a poll at the bottom and you can answer and if you dont think its going to be the Bucs tell which of the other three you think it will be. Do you guys think we can take the division this year? I believe we have a good chance but, Atlanta is looking to make up for last years NFC championship and are going to be Super Bowl hungry. and Sean Payton is back to coach the Saints so thats a big bag of mystery! Lastly we have the Panthers....I just cant see them doing it. they need someone else to throw to besides Steve Smith and Greg Olson. I'll leave a poll at the bottom and you can answer and if you dont think its going to be the Bucs tell which of the other three you think it will be. Poll Who will win the NFC South? Tampa Bay Buccaneers Atlanta Falcons New Orleans Saints Carolina Panther 0 votes | Results

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are focused on getting Darrelle Revis ready for the start of the season. Whereas the Bucs saw defensive end Adrian Clayborn return back to the field from an ACL injury today, and Davin Joseph and Carl Nicks are expected to return from their injuries in time for training camp, Greg Schiano gave no time table beyond the first week of the season for Darrelle Revis. "All aimed at having him ready at the beginning of the season," Schiano said, "that's the main goal." The cornerback has progressed steadily and is, as far as we know, still on schedule to play at the start of the season. He has been doing individual work with the Bucs' trainer in Tampa throughout the offseason since his acquisition by Tampa Bay. RIght now he's learning the verbiage, scheme and techniques, as far as he can without actually participating in practice. Of course, this means that he may miss training camp and even the preseason, and that could be a hindrance both to the Bucs' installation of the scheme, which is expected to revolve around Revis' skills, and in getting Revis ready to play. The Buccaneers appear comfortable with Revis, though. Dominik noted that part of the reason why they were comfortable in acquiring him was their knowledge of Revis in an interview with NFL Network as part of their feature on Revis, part of which you can watch here. "I think it's the makeup of the man," Dominik said. "Knowing how hard he works at everything he does. He's going to give everything he can to be better than he was." One interesting fact revealed by Mark Dominik to NFL Network's Andrea Kremer: the Buccaneers started thinking of acquiring Revis when he tore his ACL in week three of the 2012 NFL season. "I actually went into director of player personnel Dennis Hickey's office and I said 'That could be a reason why he could leave the Jets'," Mark Dominik told Kremer. "I knew what his contract situation was. So when he hurt his knee, I thought that's going to be an out possibility." The plan to acquire Revis was a long time coming. Now we get to see if it pays off. Read more: OTA Notes: Clayborn practices, Spence fights Schiano's costing his team wins Schiano says he is not looking to replace Freeman Watson, Banks played with the first-team defense

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The internet and television media have been filling the void of news this offseason with every rumor and quote they can get their hands on, and a recent quote from Greg Schiano about the competition at the quarterback position set off a flurry of speculation about the possibility of Mike Glennon starting for the Buccaneers in 2013. I gave my thoughts on the situation here. Our staff writer, Garrett, gave his thoughts here. But now we have the thoughts of Greg Schiano and Josh Freeman. Schiano told the media on Monday that this team is Josh Freeman’s team, and that he is the starting quarterback. The NFL Network reported that the Bucs’ head coach told assembled reporters he has a good relationship with Freeman, despite many reports to the contrary. This is all PR driven coachspeak, to be clear, but Schiano had the opportunity to further the notion that Glennon was his favored quarterback, but instead chose to defend the signal caller that has led the Buccaneers for the past few seasons. There is a difference between competition and open competition, and it’s apparent that while the QB job is open for competition, there is no opening at starting quarterback. The Buccaneers’ official website got the chance to speak to Josh himself, and he was very confident of where he stands on the team. When he was asked if this was still his team, he told the team’s reporters “No question.” Freeman also had the following to say: “That’s the way it works on any team, honestly. You want to have the best, most talented team you can possibly have.  They feel like, and it’s obviously true, that Mike is a very talented player.  You want the best possible option behind you.  I feel like Dan [Orlovsky] is obviously a great player.  They obviously wanted to grab a younger guy and Mike’s a perfect fit.  You look at it – if it’s down the road and we’re making a run and something happens to me, you want a guy who can come in and keep it going, win some games while you’re sitting out. “It will be fine.  We’re both competitors. We’re both going to work as hard as we can, trying to get more wins on the Buccaneers’ side.” So let’s make it clear, once and for all. Josh Freeman is the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback, and he’s going to have to be hurt, or turn into Mark Sanchez to lose his job. So keep calm, Buc Nation, because Josh Freeman is still at the helm of the Buccaneers’ offense. And that’s not changing anytime soon. Mike Glennon is a worthy backup, and a Josh said, he’ll be able to step in if anything happens to Josh. But the Bucs’ best chance of winning is with number 5 taking snaps and running the offense.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Great news surfaced today about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ newly acquired All-Pro cornerback, as NFL.com and the NFL Network reported that Darrelle Revis is confident he’ll back to his old self once he returns to the field this season, despite rehabbing from an ACL injury suffered last season. The NFL Network has been documenting Revis’ return from injury, and reported that he’s cutting, changing direction, and on track to get back on the field once he rehab is complete. Revis himself said “I’ll be fine,” when he gets back onto the field, something he seemed hesitant to say when he was first acquired, but instead insisted his focus was just on healing completely and neglecting to commit to any thoughts on his progress. But the Buccaneers have not been shy about letting the media know how Revis is progressing. Ever since the days leading up to the trade, when it was reported the Bucs leadership met to evaluate the images and reports on Revis’ health, the Bucs have been confident that their investment is in good condition, or at least he will be once he is fully rehabilitated. Todd Toriscelli, the head of sports medicine for the Bucs, told the NFL Network that Revis is on track to “train to play football” in July, and be ready for the preseason and regular season. Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times also chimed in, reporting that Revis was on the field today with trainers and medical staff, doing very calculated drills to work himself back to full use of his knee. These are all encouraging signs, and it proves the Bucs’ medical staff has done its homework, which will hopefully pay off on the field this fall and winter.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Last month, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Mike Glennon in the 3rd round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Fan reaction was mixed at best, with some fans crying outrage at the selection while others were exited at the prospect at the potential change at a position that has seen much scrutiny the past few seasons. But what does the selection of Glennon mean for Josh Freeman, Tampa’s incumbent starter? The questions surrounding Josh Freeman have been well documented. Freeman has flashed moments of brilliance over his now five-year career, but has also shown plenty of inconsistencies in his time in Tampa. Some games he has won solely on his arm, while others he has handicapped Tampa with a slew of interceptions and incompletions. But some things need to be considered before fans throw in the towel on the young signal caller. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Freeman is only 25 years old. By comparison, Joe Flacco is 28 and only just now turned in a consistent season, ending in a Super Bowl MVP. Freeman has room to grow, and most QBs in the NFL don’t reach that level of consistency until much later in their careers. That said, Freeman still has five years of NFL experience. In the NFL, you have to show growth from year to year, else you run the risk of losing the faith of your respective team. Freeman has shown improvements, but not quite enough to instill a feeling of comfort in the decision makers in Tampa. Freeman now heads into 2013 with 1 year left on his contract, and needs to show consistency if he wants to have a shiny new contract from Tampa Bay in 2014. Hence the Glennon selection. But Glennon provides more than just insurance in case Freeman disappoints this season. In 2008, 3rd round picks averaged $668,000 in guaranteed salary. By comparison, Dan Orvlosky was scheduled to make $2.25 million this year before being cut and resigned to a new contract for $850,000. This means that either way you slice it, Glennon will provide a much cheaper option for a backup QB than most  backups in the league. This, added alongside the fact that Glennon is a much better fit in Tampa Bay’s system than Orvlosky is, makes the selection much more sensible. But what makes Glennon such a good fit in Tampa schematically? For starters, Glennon has the arm to make throws down the field, something Tampa holds in high regard in its offensive scheme. Tampa loves taking shots on long throws down the field, breaking off huge chunks of yardage at a time. This was emphasized in 2012 with the free agent acquisition of Vincent Jackson, a big receiver who makes a living running past defenders on long routes. This allowed Freeman to make use of his greatest asset, his arm strength. Glennon possesses a similar  talent, and can make all the throws of the football field. Unfortunately, the similarity between Freeman and Glennon doesn’t end with the positives. Glennon also possesses the traits most Tampa fans find the most frustrating about Tampa’s incumbent starter. Glennon has a problem with accuracy, as well as some questionable decision-making. There is a reason he was a 3rd round pick this past draft. These questions will hold Glennon back in his first season in the NFL. And while Glennon could step into a starting role in 2014 should Freeman disappoint, don’t expect him to see the field much (or at all) in 2013. Glennon will sit behind Freeman and learn how to be an NFL starter this season, and despite what a quote from Coach Schiano would have you think, there is no QB controversy in Tampa this season.

Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made six draft picks in April’s draft, and added a few undrafted rookies to the training camp roster as well. But not all of these rookies will make the cut come training camp. Most of the undrafted free agents will probably be weeded out by the start of the season, but the big question is what about the 6 draft picks? Which will win starting jobs, and which will have to fight just to stay in the roster come August? That is what we will attempt to answer today. From 2nd rounder Jonathan Banks all the way down to 6th rounder Mike James, we examine them all to give you “the Verdict” on their chances on making it to opening day. Jonathan Banks, Cornerback Banks is one of the few members of this draft class that is almost guaranteed a roster spot. Banks, a 2nd round pick, joins what was the weakest secondary in the league last year. Tampa gave up a league worst 4758 yards passing last season. This offseason they spent heavily to fix that problem, from signing Dashon Goldson to trading for Darrel Revis. Banks now joins the fray and looks to entrench himself in the starting lineup. He will be competing with Eric Wright for the job next to Revis. Even should Wright win the job, Banks will almost certainly earn the nickel spot, though he could see competition from Leonard Johnson. The Verdict – Likely Nickel corner, could earn starting job. Mike Glennon, Quarterback Glennon is a bit more simple of a case than many want to make him out to be. He was drafted as the backup QB, and is not going to start unless Freeman sustains an injury this season. Glennon is a simple issue of value. He will be one of the cheapest backups in the league, and has all the physical traits Freeman possesses, making him the most obviously candidate for the backup job in Tampa. The Verdict – Backup QB. Akeem Spence, Defensive Tackle Spence comes in as the most likely starter of the 2013 draft class. The tilt nose tackle position is left vacated now that Roy Miller has left for Jacksonville, and Spence has the skill set to do everything that Miller could do but with a splash more pass rush ability than Miller brought to the table. Spence will see competition in the form of Derek Landri and Gary Gibson, but Spence should be a crucial part of the rotation, if not the opening day starter. The Verdict – Starting nose tackle on opening day. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports William Gholston, Defensive End The Gholston name is not exactly a positive one in the NFL. After all, the Jets once had a player by that name, and that did not turn out well. Now, Tampa hopes their Gholston can turn the names fortune around. Gholston heads into the NFL with low expectation and many questions surrounding him. In college, his issue was mostly his motor. In Tampa, he won’t be asked to start, which should help that issue. Gholston has two things working in his favor; the small workload he will be asked to take on initially, and the lack of quality depth along the defensive line. While those speak well to Gholston’s chances of making the roster, he will have to compete with Steven Means for any substantial play time. The Verdict – Makes the roster, but probably won’t see much action come Sundays. Steven Means, Defensive End Means is a dark horse to push for serious playing time in Tampa. Means physical talent is outstanding, but he is very raw and will need to polish up before he earns anything more than a rotational job at this point. If Means works on his technique, he will most certainly earn a large role in the line rotation. The Verdict- Backup defensive end behind Da’Quan Bowers. Mike James, Running Back James has been well hyped by GM Mark Dominik and Head Coach Greg Schiano. Both seem to indicate he is one the inside track to being Doug Martin’s backup. He will have to prove himself by beating out Brian Leonard and DJ

According to Football Outsiders, Greg Schiano was the 28th least aggressive coach last season. Yes, the coach who rushes kneeldowns, talks about playing every down and wants to instill toughness beyond anything refuses to take risks when it comes to fourth down, preferring to lean on punter Michael Koenen and kicker Connor Barth over Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson. The Buccaneers invested heavily in their offensive line apparently to not use them, while their 6'5" quarterback who has historically been pretty damn good at sneaks stands on the sidelines. For all Schiano's talk of playing until the final whistle and rushing kneeldowns in the process, he's leaving a lot of actual football on the field. Towards the end of last season I tracked 14 instances of conservative playcalling that cost the Buccaneers. Given the fact that all but two of the Bucs' losses came by one score a few different decisions here and there could easily have made the difference between a win and a loss -- and between a 7-9 record and a playoff appearance at its most extreme. Poker's lesson The arguments for going for it on fourth down are old and not that complicated. Keeping possession is valuable (part of the reasons why turnovers are bad), so why would you voluntarily hand the ball back to the opponent instead of giving yourself a good shot of keeping possession? Add in the fact that failing to get a fourth down isn't disastrous, the benefit of gaining 30 yards or so in field position but losing possession is very limited (especially with the Bucs' porous pass defense of last season) and field goals aren't automatic and you have a clear case for regularly going for it on fourth down. That case is so clear that many different and varied studies have appeared all saying essentially the same thing: coaches should go for it on fourth down much, much more often. There is very widespread consensus on this subject, and really any analyst who has looked at the numbers will tell you the same thing: coaches are much too conservative. So why are NFL coaches still so enamored with feet on fourth down (I mean, aside from Rex Ryan)? Brian Burke has a few good theories, but it all boils down to one simple fact: humans are inherently risk averse and prefer to be conservative over taking aggressive chances. That's entirely logical, given the historical circumstances of many peoples, but it's not all that useful in the NFL. Anyone who played poker could observe this conservative tendency as the game was changing from the exceedingly passive and conservative 1990s to the (hyper)aggressive game it has become today, dominated by young players who understand the mathematics that call for aggression -- and hence, enjoy success. Football isn't poker, but in this specific area the two are pretty similar. A sad, conservative history of Buc football If there's one thing every football analyst with even a smidgen of affinity for statistics can agree upon it's that NFL coaches are much too conservative on fourth down. They routinely punt on fourth-and-short in opponent territory, gaining just a few yards where maintaining possession can be much more valuable. This tendency is pretty confusing: looking at the list of most aggressive decision makers, Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells, Sean Payton, Jimmy Johnson, Marty Schottenheimer and even Tony Dungy rank in the top 20. Aside from Payton, all of those coaches actually have a defensive background, too. The Buccaneers, though, have long since been saddled with conservative coaches. Jon Gruden and Raheem Morris rank among the 10 most conservative decision makers in the NFL, with Gruden's conservative streak only outdone by Jack Pardee and Chuck Knox -- not exactly people you want to emulate, there. And Schiano's current rate of fourth-down decision making would see him ranked 77th of 85 qualifying coaches. A decade of conservative pussyfooting isn't enough for the Bucs, huh? Now, none of this makes Greg Schiano a bad coac

As the Buccaneers begin the "OTA" portion of their offseason program, QB Josh Freeman talks about his comfort in Mike Sullivan’s offense and the specter of increased competition at his position.

As the Buccaneers begin the "OTA" portion of their offseason program, QB Josh Freeman talks about his comfort in Mike Sullivan’s offense and the specter of increased competition at his position.