NFC SOUTH BUCCANEERS 2014 STRENGTHS: • Big athletic receivers, physical defense Buccaneers Offense DON JUAN MOORE/GETTY IMAGES SPORT There’s nowhere to go but up—and upfield—for a unit that was dead last in the NFL in total offense and passing and 22nd in rushing in 2013. That should change with new offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford. A brilliant strategist, Tedford likely will start 35-year-old Josh McCown at quarterback and count on McCown rekindling his relationship with Smith in Chicago and getting the kind of results he got working with huge WRs Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Mike Glennon, who Smith has called “the QB of the future” waits in the wings following a strong finish to his rookie campaign. Whoever takes the snaps will have a nice cache of receivers to throw to, all big, strong and sure-handed. The main target will be All-Pro Vincent Jackson, who stands 6-5, 230. The Bucs got Jackson a running mate in 2014 first-round pick Mike Evans. The favorite target of Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M, Evans also stands 6-5, 230 has great athleticism and an uncanny ability to get free. At 6-5, 262, rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, drafted after Evans, also can get down field and could be a nightmare for opposing DBs. The 2014 WEAKNESSES: • Overhauled offensive line, possible quarterback controversy, youthful team lacking identity TAMPA BAY Bucs are counting on running back Doug Martin to return to his 2012 rookie form, during which he ran for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns and added 472 yards and a score on 49 receptions. Martin had a tough sophomore year, missing all but six games due to a torn labrum. Mike James and Bobby Rainey will push Martin. They were solid last season after he went down. 2014 third-round pick Charles Sims also could work himself into the mix. Part of the reason for the inability to run and to pass was the inability of the offensive line to generate anything. Most of that unit is gone. The lone holdover is RT Demar Dotson (all 6-9, 315 of him). Tampa hopes LG Carl Nicks stays healthy and regains his All-Pro form. Veterans Anthony Collins (LT) and Evan Dietrich-Smith (C) were key free agent signings, while hopes are high for big (6-4, 313) rookie guard Kadeem Edwards, selected in the fifth round (No. 143 overall). Offensive Player to watch The 31-year-old wideout gets better with age. Beginning his 10th NFL season, Jackson has had his two best seasons since coming to Tampa. He’s caught at least 70 passes (150 total) for over 1,200 yards (2,600) and at least seven scores both years (15). In 2013, he caught 78 passes (13th in the NFC, right behind Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald) for 1,224 yards (eighth in the conference and more than double the next Buccaneer) with seven TDs. His 19 catches over 20 yards tied for ninth in the NFL, while his 10 receptions topping 40 yards ranked 10th. He had a hamstring issue early in training camp, but Jackson has not missed a game with the Bucs, and has played every game since 2010. Buccaneers Defense Tampa Bay’s rushing defense finished 15th in the NFL in rushing last season—and that was the highlight for the unit. The group has better talent than that and will show that this season under new defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. It starts up front, where the Bucs start with arguably the best line in the division. They’ll stop the run better this season, as stud tackle Doug Martin
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