Who will be the 2019 Cleveland Browns of 2020? Part 1 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What constitutes being the 2019 Cleveland Browns of 2020
Last year the Browns were underwhelming, to say the least. Baker Mayfield’s Sophmore slump, Odell was disappointing, the Myles Garrett incident and Freddie Kitchens being fired after 1 season. In the 2019 Preseason, the Browns were dubbed to win the AFC North, potentially the AFC and possibly the Superbowl. Much like the Buccaneers this year. Will the Buccaneers be that team this year? In this series, I’m going to look at 5 teams who have the potential to be the all style no substance team this year? Will it be the Buccs?
An ageing Brady and Gronk
The 2020 Buccs are the most hyped up team in the last decade in the NFL. With Brady coming to Tampa Bay from the Patriots in Free Agency, he shocked the world by signing a two-year deal at $50 million guaranteed. Then in a move, nobody saw coming the Buccaneers traded a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft for Rob Gronkowski and a 7th round pick. I think this move was planned all along by Brady and Gronkowski. I don’t think they knew where but Brady knew his contract was going to be up. Gronkowski took a year off the NFL to let his body recover from 9 seasons on the Patriots. Gronk didn’t quit football. Gronk quit Belichick and Kraft.
Last year Brady ended his season and his Patriots career with a pick 6 against the Tennessee Titans in the Wildcard round. This tells you all you need to know about Brady’s 2019 season, that and the following stats:
- 2019 was Brady’s worst season in Touchdowns in a full season starting with 25.
- Brady also threw his lowest amount of yards since 2010.
- He also had his third worst season in completion percentage.
Brady and Gronk have always had an elite defence. Yes, the Patriots offence of the 2010s was by no stretch of the imagination weak, however, the defence was even better. This Buccs defence is inexperienced in parts and there is not a Stephon Gilmore or Dont’a Hightowler type who you can guarantee will make a play in that key moment when you need a play to be made. This Buccs defence is a superstar away from elite but more on that later.
An offence which has never seen the spotlight
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are a top 3 receiver duo in the NFL. The Buccaneers are the only team that had two top 15 receivers Chris Godwin(3rd) and Mike Evans(13th) in the 2019 season. They could be some of the best receivers that Tom Brady has played with, alongside Randy Moss and Julian Edelman. These two had almost 2,500 yards and 17 touchdowns last season but will they be able to perform when the world is watching and they are playing with the GOAT.
The Offensive Line is not perfect but they are good enough. Brady may struggle not having an elite O-Line as he has had in New England. Widely the running game is seen as sub-par and Ronald Jones is seen across the league as a bust. Its mainly to do with the offensive line. Marpet and Jensen were the best Centre and Guard combination at pass blocking. This is a good thing for Brady but it does mean that Brady has no run game to work within Tampa Bay.
Is the defence good enough?
The Buccs defence was ranked 15th in yards given up last year so they were not bad at all, but they also weren’t great. The defence made no free agent signings but they drafted safety Antoine Winfield Jr. with the 45th overall pick.
The Defensive Line features players like Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea who are both good players. Vea had 12 QB hits, 2.5 sacks and 4 TFLs last year. Suh had 14 QB hits, 2.5 sacks and 7 TFLs. On the edge, Shaquil Barrett had a breakout season last year with 19.5 sacks. Jason Pierre-Paul is also a notable member of the Tampa D with 8.5 sacks last year. Tampa Defence ranked 15th in sacks. Once again proving they are an average defence.
Devin White is going into his Sophomore year in 2020 after an astounding rookie year, had it not been for Nick Bosa’s success he would have been at the forefront of the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation, with 4 Turnovers created, 2.5 sacks and 91 combined tackles. White missed 2 weeks with a knee sprain last year and missed a week 15 game against the Lions too due to illness. White could turn into the superstar that this Buccs defence needs. Lavonte David is also an elite linebacker for the Buccs in 2020. Lavonte, like Devin White, caused 4 turnovers. David had 123 combined tackles a year ago and only one sack but 7 QB hits.
There is no clear number one cornerback in this secondary. Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis are the corners on the roster at the time of writing. Tampa Bay could be a potential landing spot for free agent corners like Logan Ryan, Tramon Williams or Aqib Talib.
The Safeties are also average with second rounder Antoine Winfield Jr and Jordan Whitehead who had one pick and 69 total tackles last year.
Why the Buccaneers could flop.
Brady is old. Last year Brady was average at best. This Buccs team went 7–9 last year with Jamies Winston. Tom Brady’s arm will not throw 5000 yards next season which helped the Buccaneer’s success in 2019. However, Brady won’t throw 30 interceptions either.
Gronk is injury prone and he will miss at least 3 or 4 games in the 2020 season. The rest of the team hasn’t been under the spotlight before and they will struggle under the lights of primetime. Playing with Tom Brady is a different experience than playing with Jamies Winston.
The NFC South is filled with talents. The New Orleans Saints have the most talented roster in the NFC South probably the NFC and maybe even the NFL. One of two things can happen. Brady’s experience takes them to the NFC Championship or the hype is too much, they get riddled with injuries and they go 6–10 like a certain team did in 2019.
