Buccaneers earn low spot in latest rankings from ESPN ahead of 2025 season
They get to build their staff, top to bottom, in hopes they can execute the dream outcome they have in winning a Super Bowl. Of course, every year, there are some coaches being fired, assistants move around, while others get promoted and have their chance to lead a team.
All of these moving pieces can make things hard to track and grade, but ESPN's Benjamin Solak did it. He looked at all 32 teams and their staff and ranked them. Bucs fans won't be happy to know he ranked them 26th.
He explains his rankings of the Bucs staff, writing, "Come with me to a magical land in which Liam Coen actually stayed as the Bucs' OC this season (too soon, Bucs fans?) They'd probably be 12th or 13th on this list -- maybe even higher. . .But it isn't, so those little margins from the head coach glare all the more. I'm very excited to see what Grizzard, who has the vibe of a whiz kid, does at the helm. . .Color me intrigued. But even if Grizzard has the goods, it will be difficult to replicate just how prolific the Buccaneers' offense was last season. Tampa needs more from Bowles' in-game decision-making, and he needs more from his defense. . ."
While keeping Liam Coen remains a touchy subject, the team's excitement surrounding Josh Grizzard should keep readers and fans optimistic. As for Todd Bowles, the team has faith in him after he received a contract extension this offseason, but he still needs to do more than just win division titles.
A playoff run into the divisional round or an NFC championship game would also work.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Falcons rookie Walker returns from minor injury and hopes to play in preseason opener against Lions
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — After missing much of the first week of training camp with a minor hamstring injury, Atlanta Falcons first-round pick Jalon Walker returned to practice on Monday. Walker said he hopes to play in Friday night's first preseason game against the Detroit Lions. 'I feel good,' Walker said. 'I'm feeling so happy to be back out here. Happy for the week. It's a big week of this first preseason game and excited to get things going." The Falcons selected Walker from Georgia with the No. 15 overall pick in the draft. Walker won the 2024 Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker and has the potential to play a hybrid role in the NFL as a linebacker and edge rusher. For now, the Falcons want Walker to focus on edge rusher but plan to utilize his versatility. Coach Raheem Morris said Monday the opportunities at linebacker will come 'pretty quickly, you know, as soon as he gets more comfortable out there moving around.' Morris said Walker (6-2, 245) is 'already starting to pick some of those things up, cross training on some of those things already. He's very smart, very sharp, very detailed guy. So nothing you worry about from that standpoint. But I just want to give him a chance to be comfortable doing something first, see that happen, come to life.' Morris said the Falcons were careful to protect Walker from aggravating the injury last week even though the rookie was impatient to join his teammates. The caution continued on Monday as Walker's exposure to practice was limited. After drafting Walker, the Falcons traded with the Los Angeles Rams to add Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at No. 26. Penix, Cousins to sit out preseason opener Morris said starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and backup Kirk Cousins will not play in the preseason opener against Detroit. Easton Stick and Emory Jones will share the snaps. Penix said he might be considered for preseason games if not for his starts in the final three games of his 2024 rookie season. 'He feels confident in what I can do on game day,' said Penix of Morris. 'So he didn't feel like I needed to play this week. I'm going to be ready Week 1.' Morris said other decisions will be made following the team's scrimmage on Wednesday. Morris takes a tumble Morris lined up as a defensive back against wide receiver Drake London during practice. The coach didn't fare well, as he was pushed back and landed on his backside. Penix, who threw the pass to London on the play, paused when asked about Morris as a player. 'He's a coach now,' Penix said with a smile. 'He's got to leave the DB stuff back from when he was playing.' Pearce lands in another scuffle Pearce continued to build on his reputation for aggressive play by landing in another practice scuffle, this time with offensive lineman Tyrone Wheatley Jr. The rookie had encounters with right tackle Kaleb McGary and right guard Matthew Bergeron last week. 'It's just the competitor in him,' said Walker of Pearce. 'You get after it. And like I said, we've got that one speed and once we click it on, it's on.' Asked about Pearce's early impact in practice, Penix said 'I notice his love for the game. He works extremely hard each and every day. ... Whatever happens after the play, we definitely want to clean that stuff up. But at the same time he's a competitor and he wants to compete at a high level. That's what he does each and every day and that's what we appreciate and that's what we're going to love come game day.' Contract extension for McGary McGary agreed to a two-year, $30 million extension, according to his agent, Collin Roberts. The deal was first reported by ESPN. McGary, a first-round pick in 2019, has started 92 of 93 games in six seasons. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jaguars sign OL Tremayne Anchrum
Offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum is making a bid for a roster spot in Jacksonville. The Jaguars announce Anchrum's signing on Monday. They also confirmed their reported signing of defensive lineman Austin Johnson and announced that they have waived wide receiver J.J. Jones. Anchrum was a Rams seventh-round pick in 2020 and he appeared in 31 games for the team. He made one start on offense and saw most of his playing time on special teams. Anchrum signed with the Seahawks last March, but got cut before camp. He's also spent time on rosters in New Orleans, Houston, and Kansas City without seeing any further regular season action.
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cam Skattebo remains out of Giants training camp as New York's injuries on offense pile up
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Cam Skattebo is not practicing with the New York Giants after experiencing a setback, fellow rookie Beaux Collins has also been sidelined by an undisclosed injury and standout left tackle Andrew Thomas has yet to make an appearance on the field at training camp after landing on the physically unable to perform list. While there is still a month to go before the NFL season begins, the injuries are starting to pile up for the Giants on offense. Skattebo, their fourth-round pick out of Arizona State who was expected to be part of the running back rotation, was among those not participating Monday because of a hamstring injury. 'With all the guys that are hurt, they're all making progress,' coach Brian Daboll said when asked about Skattebo. 'If they can be out there, they'll be out there. ... Well see where we're at each day. Everybody is day by day.' Thomas appears further away than that as he works back from surgery in October for a Lisfranc injury in his right foot. Asked about Thomas ramping up this week with the stated goal of him being ready for the opener Sept. 7 at Washington, Daboll said only, 'He'll just keep working his rehab and continue to get better.' Going into his sixth pro season, the concern for Thomas is more about getting him fully healthy and less about the snaps he is missing. That is not so much the case for rookies such as Skattebo and Collins — the latter of whom is an undrafted free agent wide receiver trying to make the team at a crowded position. 'Any time you can't be out there, it doesn't help you,' Daboll said. 'Take advantage of the meeting time, but there's no substitute for being out on the field playing, particularly young players that are trying to earn a spot.' With Collins and veteran Darius Slayton not taking part in team practice and Bryce Ford-Wheaton on injured reserve after after tearing an Achilles tendon, 26-year-old Montrell Washington has impressed when given the opportunity to run with the first- and second-team offenses. Washington made a dazzling one-handed catch on a pass from first-round pick Jaxson Dart during 7-on-7 drills Monday, adding to his growing list of camp highlights. 'My motto is, 'A play a day keeps the coaches away,' so I'm trying to make as many plays as I can,' Washington said. 'We don't like when guys go down, but I'm just trying to be there to show the guys I'm available, I'm locked in (and) I can be that guy to make a play for you guys when y'all need me to.' Whereas Washington is a newcomer after joining as a free agent following stints with Kansas City and Denver, running back Devin Singletary is very familiar with Daboll's system from their time together in Buffalo and has embraced getting more carries with Skattebo, Rushawn Baker and Eric Gray all out. 'Every day you've got to prove yourself,' Singletary said. 'Every day, we like to say, the rent is due, so for me, it doesn't matter if it's one opportunity or 30. I'm trying to make the most of every opportunity because nothing is given. Everything is earned in the league, and when you get an opportunity, you want to make the best of it every time and that's how you get more opportunities.' Daboll called Singletary 'a vet that's having a really good camp' by keeping his head down and working. Usurped for the starting job last year by Tyrone Tracy in part because of a groin injury that hampered him, Singletary feels he's back to 100% now and ready to contribute. 'Me, personally, I'm feeling good,' Singletary said. 'Just trying to make plays when my number is called. That's the name of the game." ___ AP NFL:
