TAMPA, Fla. – With some of the moves by teams this offseason in the NFC South, especially the Atlanta Falcons bringing in quarterback Kirk Cousins, some experts are not picking the Bucs to win the NFC DSouth. The so-called lack of respect actually amuses Bucs head coach Todd Bowles.
“You talkin’ about respect,” Bowles said. “Aretha Franklin is about the only one that gets that,” Bowles said the Bucs are just going with the flow this spring and summer.
“We’re not trying to win the offseason,” Bowles said. “We’re trying to win the season. It feels like a lot of the players will get ready to come back and defend our title; that’s all we really worry about at this time of year.”
The Bucs have not been as busy in free agency this season as have many teams, but GM Jason Licht said his priority was re-signing his core players.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans, safety Antoine Winfield Jr, and linebacker Lavonte David are coming back, and Bowles feels that the NFL draft and picking up a few players here and there will suit the Bucs just fine. Bowles also thinks second year players like defensive lineman Calijah Kancey and outside linebacker Ya Ya Diaby will be better but you have to be careful just assuming that.
“Young guys got experience for how long the season is and the ups and downs of it,” Bowles said. “You can’t carry that momentum into next year because you have a different team. Have some new guys, we have to start over with a new coordinator on the offensive side of the ball. We have to establish the culture and the chemistry but we do have guys that have played in tough games.”
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Tampa Bay is a three-time winner in the NFC South the last three years, two with Tom Brady and last year without.
Mayfield did a good job following one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time but will now have to learn a new offense under Liam Coen. Dave Canales departed to take the head coaching gig in Carolina.
Bowles likes what he sees so far from Coen, “The coaching staff is jelling so quickly with the guys we’ve had and the guys he’s brought in,” Bowles said. .”It’s been a real joy to see. Those guys, when they go in and lock the door, I told Liam you gotta get on Liam to those guys for a bathroom break ’cause he doesn’t let them outta the room.”
The Bucs seem to be set at quarterback with Mayfield as the starter and Kyle Trask and John Wolford as the backups, but Bowles says they’ll keep their eyes open for a QB in the draft, most likely in the later rounds.
“You never know who’s going to fall in the latter rounds so you have to take a peek at him, Bowles said. “The quarterbacks are more than just the top five guys. There are a lot more quarterbacks who can help you, if not immediately but down the line that you look at but those are hard to come by.”
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