aint' no cure for the Summertime Blitz
- Thread starter BlitzBandit
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BlitzBandit
Friend of CTG
NFC SOUTH DIVISION
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Projected Finish (NFC South): 2nd Place
Projected Wins: 9-11 wins
There is some key positions on this team that makes it look old. Garcia (QB) is 38 and Joey Galloway (their main receiver) will be 37 come November. That's not exactly good news. And even though Ike Hilliard is only 32, the guy runs like he's 40.
With all that aside, there is one thing I do like that is very young with this team. The Offensive line... Arron Sears, Davin Joseph, and Jeremy Trueblood were all first and second round picks in 06' and 07'. They are all the real deal. They boosted a team that was 28th at stopping the run two years ago to 11th in that department last year. Now, they have added Jeff Faine at Center from New Orleans... and Luke Petitgout is back from injury. Donald Penn did a helluva job last year filling in for Petitgout during his injury... so he should be good to go again if Petitgout goes down again... This line should be solid as hell.
With the older receivers aside (Galloway and Hilliard), the other options are Michael Clayton, who has been nothing great to look at since catching 80 passes and 7 tds his rookie season (although he caught 16 passes in the last 4 games last year when they put him ahead of Hilliard) and Antonio Bryant, who can be a headache to deal with and who has already been dumped by 3 other teams... but he still has the ability to step up and produce if he gets his shit in gear. Galloway, aside from getting older, needs to make himself more available to Garcia inside the redzone. Of the 26 pass attempts the Bucs had inside the 10 yard line last year, Galloway was NEVER an intended target... that's pretty screwed up right there, but then again, Garcia usually turns to his tight ends when he's that close.
With Gruden and Garcia, I'll be expecting much of the same stuff as last season. Alot of conservative running and good defense. Garcia is not the high stats quarterback we used to see in San Francisco anymore. In fact, he hardly throws deep balls anymore.... but he has excellent vision and great pocket presence. He is good at scrambling and avoiding mistakes (sacks and ints). As long as he keeps the same formula this year, I don't see why they can't compete for the division lead.
The Offensive backfield is pretty much loaded with former first round picks (Cadillac Williams, Michael Bennett, and Warrick Dunn), but the funny thing is, neither will be the main man... the guy who came in from the streets (Earnest Graham) should be the one with the most carries when the day is done. It'll be a committee approach, but he should carry most of the load. This group should produce well behind one of the better rushing offensive lines in the league.
The defense is still loaded on this team. Cato June, Barrett Ruud, and Derrick Brooks all return at the Linebacker positions, Chris Hovan and Jovan Haye both return at the defensive tackle positions, and Gaines Adams, who was the sack leader for all rookies last season, will be the full-timer at right defensive end. The other side was left vacant after Greg Spires split to Oakland, but they'll have capable guys competing over there (Marques Douglas, Greg White, and Kevin Carter). Of those three, one will win the starter role and the other two will add pretty good depth for that position. The Bucs look pretty set on the front line.
The Secondary is returning just the same as well. They still have Ronde Barber and Phillip Buchanon as the corners and Jermaine Phillips as the strong safety and Tanard Jackson as the free. Now with Aqib Talib added into the mix, they have more talent and more depth. There's not much that isn't to like here.
I think this team will be solid again. The defense will keep them in most games and may even win a few themselves. The offense should be conservative and smart. They have an average strength of schedule and should be able to compete against New Orleans for the Division crown... and may even have the ability to take it from them. I personally think they will fall just short of that, but will definitely be a team to reckon with.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Projected Finish (NFC South): 2nd Place
Projected Wins: 9-11 wins
There is some key positions on this team that makes it look old. Garcia (QB) is 38 and Joey Galloway (their main receiver) will be 37 come November. That's not exactly good news. And even though Ike Hilliard is only 32, the guy runs like he's 40.
With all that aside, there is one thing I do like that is very young with this team. The Offensive line... Arron Sears, Davin Joseph, and Jeremy Trueblood were all first and second round picks in 06' and 07'. They are all the real deal. They boosted a team that was 28th at stopping the run two years ago to 11th in that department last year. Now, they have added Jeff Faine at Center from New Orleans... and Luke Petitgout is back from injury. Donald Penn did a helluva job last year filling in for Petitgout during his injury... so he should be good to go again if Petitgout goes down again... This line should be solid as hell.
With the older receivers aside (Galloway and Hilliard), the other options are Michael Clayton, who has been nothing great to look at since catching 80 passes and 7 tds his rookie season (although he caught 16 passes in the last 4 games last year when they put him ahead of Hilliard) and Antonio Bryant, who can be a headache to deal with and who has already been dumped by 3 other teams... but he still has the ability to step up and produce if he gets his shit in gear. Galloway, aside from getting older, needs to make himself more available to Garcia inside the redzone. Of the 26 pass attempts the Bucs had inside the 10 yard line last year, Galloway was NEVER an intended target... that's pretty screwed up right there, but then again, Garcia usually turns to his tight ends when he's that close.
With Gruden and Garcia, I'll be expecting much of the same stuff as last season. Alot of conservative running and good defense. Garcia is not the high stats quarterback we used to see in San Francisco anymore. In fact, he hardly throws deep balls anymore.... but he has excellent vision and great pocket presence. He is good at scrambling and avoiding mistakes (sacks and ints). As long as he keeps the same formula this year, I don't see why they can't compete for the division lead.
The Offensive backfield is pretty much loaded with former first round picks (Cadillac Williams, Michael Bennett, and Warrick Dunn), but the funny thing is, neither will be the main man... the guy who came in from the streets (Earnest Graham) should be the one with the most carries when the day is done. It'll be a committee approach, but he should carry most of the load. This group should produce well behind one of the better rushing offensive lines in the league.
The defense is still loaded on this team. Cato June, Barrett Ruud, and Derrick Brooks all return at the Linebacker positions, Chris Hovan and Jovan Haye both return at the defensive tackle positions, and Gaines Adams, who was the sack leader for all rookies last season, will be the full-timer at right defensive end. The other side was left vacant after Greg Spires split to Oakland, but they'll have capable guys competing over there (Marques Douglas, Greg White, and Kevin Carter). Of those three, one will win the starter role and the other two will add pretty good depth for that position. The Bucs look pretty set on the front line.
The Secondary is returning just the same as well. They still have Ronde Barber and Phillip Buchanon as the corners and Jermaine Phillips as the strong safety and Tanard Jackson as the free. Now with Aqib Talib added into the mix, they have more talent and more depth. There's not much that isn't to like here.
I think this team will be solid again. The defense will keep them in most games and may even win a few themselves. The offense should be conservative and smart. They have an average strength of schedule and should be able to compete against New Orleans for the Division crown... and may even have the ability to take it from them. I personally think they will fall just short of that, but will definitely be a team to reckon with.
BlitzBandit
Friend of CTG
NFC PREDICTIONS
NFC SOUTH
Projected Finish:
Saints: 10-12 wins
Buccaneers: 9-11 wins
Panthers: 7-9 wins
Falcons: 2-4 wins
NFC NORTH
Projected Finish:
Packers: 9-11 wins
Vikings: 9-11 wins
Bears: 6-8 wins
Lions: 3-5 wins
NFC WEST
Projected Finish:
Seahawks: 10-12 wins
Cardinals: 6-8 wins
Rams: 6-8 wins
Niners: 3-5 wins
NFC EAST
Projected Finish:
Eagles: 10-12 wins
Cowboys: 10-12 wins
Giants: 10-12 wins
Redskins: 7-9 wins
NFC SOUTH
Projected Finish:
Saints: 10-12 wins
Buccaneers: 9-11 wins
Panthers: 7-9 wins
Falcons: 2-4 wins
NFC NORTH
Projected Finish:
Packers: 9-11 wins
Vikings: 9-11 wins
Bears: 6-8 wins
Lions: 3-5 wins
NFC WEST
Projected Finish:
Seahawks: 10-12 wins
Cardinals: 6-8 wins
Rams: 6-8 wins
Niners: 3-5 wins
NFC EAST
Projected Finish:
Eagles: 10-12 wins
Cowboys: 10-12 wins
Giants: 10-12 wins
Redskins: 7-9 wins
BlitzBandit
Friend of CTG
AFC PREDICTIONS
AFC WEST
Projected Finish:
Chargers: 11-13 wins
Broncos: 8-10 wins
Raiders: 4-6 wins
Chiefs: 4-6 wins
AFC EAST
Projected Finish:
Patriots: 13-15 wins
Bills: 8-10 wins
Jets: 6-8 wins
Dolphins: 3-5 wins
AFC SOUTH
Projected Finish:
Colts: 10-12 wins
Jaguars: 10-12 wins
Texans: 7-9 wins
Titans: 7-9 wins
AFC NORTH
Projected Finish:
Steelers: 9-11 wins
Browns: 9-11 wins
Bengals: 5-7 wins
Ravens: 4-6 wins
AFC WEST
Projected Finish:
Chargers: 11-13 wins
Broncos: 8-10 wins
Raiders: 4-6 wins
Chiefs: 4-6 wins
AFC EAST
Projected Finish:
Patriots: 13-15 wins
Bills: 8-10 wins
Jets: 6-8 wins
Dolphins: 3-5 wins
AFC SOUTH
Projected Finish:
Colts: 10-12 wins
Jaguars: 10-12 wins
Texans: 7-9 wins
Titans: 7-9 wins
AFC NORTH
Projected Finish:
Steelers: 9-11 wins
Browns: 9-11 wins
Bengals: 5-7 wins
Ravens: 4-6 wins
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