Want a sure thing? Take the Bucs under 6 wins this season

The only team they beat, by a single point, was the Jacksonville Jaguars, and their coach, Jack Del Rio, might not make it through the season. While the preseason is not always the best indication of how a team will fare in the regular season, disturbing trends have emerged.

[image-1]The Bucs are prone to giving up the big play. Against Tennessee, within a fifteen minute time span, the Bucs allowed a 37 yard touchdown pass, a 36 yard touchdown run and had an interception run back for a touchdown. They quickly went from up 12-6 to down 27-12 in minutes. Despite beating Jacksonville, they allowed a 74 yard touchdown pass in the opening seconds of the game. Against Miami, the Bucs failed to score a touchdown. Against Houston, they allowed an 87-yard touchdown completion. This does not bode well for a successful season. Wherefore art thou, Monte?

Although their rush defense led the preseason in yards allowed, that won’t matter much if the Bucs a) consistently turn the ball over on offense b) can’t move the football or c) allow big plays in the passing game. Those are momentum killers that the unorganized, Buccaneer offense will likely be unable to counter.

The offense ranked 21st in the preseason in yards per game and 22nd in points scored. The reason the Bucs melted down last year was because they were unable to move the football. This season doesn’t look like it will be any different.

Las Vegas lists the Buccaneer over/under for wins this season at six. Only the Lions, Rams, Raiders, Chiefs and Lions are slotted lower and those teams are god-awful. Aside from playing the NFC East and division rivals, New Orleans, Carolina and Atlanta twice, the Bucs also have to play Green Bay and the Jets at home, Buffalo, Miami and Seattle on the road, and the New England Patriots in Europe. If you can find six wins on that schedule, you were probably the kid who always found that last, strategically hidden Easter egg. Happy hunting!

Look, I am trying to be optimistic and I’m willing to be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I support the new regime, its efforts to put a winning product on the field and the renewed emphasis on community. I will still root for the team unabashedly. If I don’t frequent Raymond James, I will still watch every game and cheer loudly. But realistically, I fail to see how winning now is even a remote possibility. The preseason doesn’t always tell us much about a football team but in this case, mediocrity appears evident. Heck, mediocrity might even be wishful thinking.