All eyes are on Jameis Winston entering his third season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Winston has everything he could possibly want, thanks to a front office that has tried its best to make him a success. Tampa Bay went out and signed a big-play machine at wide receiver and used a first-round pick on the most talented tight end in the draft. There is plenty of skill position talent for Winston to work with and now it’s up for him to put it all together.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Futures Odds at BookMaker.eu
Buccaneers Over 8 Wins -120
Buccaneers Under 8 Wins +100
2017 Buccaneers Offense Preview
There are playmakers all over this offense. Winston now has one of the best receiving duos in the NFL in DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans. Evans has been a 1,000-yard receiver in each of his first three seasons and posted his best numbers yet last year. He is ready to explode not that he is paired with a receiver that can take the top off of defenses like Jackson can. The team also used a third-round pick on Chris Godwin who figures to battle Adam Humphries to be the slot receiver.
Tampa Bay joined the growing trend of NFL teams who frequently use two tight ends with the selection of OJ Howard. Howard shined when given the opportunity at Alabama, but wasn’t always given the option too. His measurables are incredible and he has the potential to instantly be one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He will be working with Cameron Brate, who has been a reliable option over the last two seasons.
Offensive line is the one worry for Dirk Koetter’s offense. The Buccaneers lost some of their depth along the line and shifted the interior linemen around this offseason. The unit failed to open up lanes for Doug Martin to run through all too often in 2016. Tampa Bay didn’t make any moves to improve this area, instead hoping that another year would smooth over some of the issues.
2017 Buccaneers Defense Preview
Everything Tampa wants to do defensively starts up front with Gerald McCoy. McCoy has been the team’s one constant this decade and is still one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times and has shown no signs of slowing down yet. Defensive end William Gholston has one side locked down, but Noah Spence and Robert Ayers are battling for the other starting end spot.
The linebackers are the strength of the defense. Kwon Alexander has been one of the league’s best in the middle and Lavonte David is a very good weakside linebacker.
Tampa Bay is hoping for Vernon Hargreaves III to continue to improve in his second year. Despite being 5’10, he has the potential to be a solid cornerback for years in this league and has the speed to match up with anyone. If he can be a true No. 1 cornerback by the end of the season, that will be a huge plus in a division with receivers like Julio Jones, Kelvin Benjamin, and Michael Thomas.
2017 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Schedule Analysis
Tampa Bay is fortunate to play against the AFC East in cross-divisional play. The Buccaneers should be favored against three of those four teams. Additionally, they are matched up against the NFC North in inter-conference play and get games against a bad Chicago team and a Detroit squad that is likely to regress.
The Final Verdict
Do you believe in Winston or not? That’s the question you have to ask yourself when considering this bet. We are believers. There is a reason that Winston was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015 and you can see the potential in some of the throws he makes. His big problem has been the amount of interceptions he throws, but if he can cut down on those he can be great.
NFL Odds: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Over 8 Wins
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