2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Review
Record: 4-12 (T-last NFC South)
Head Coach: Greg Schiano
Notable Assistants: Mike Sullivan (offensive coordinator), Bill Sheridan (defensive coordinator), Butch Davis (special advisor), Dave Wannstedt (special teams coordinator)
Regular Season Overview
Well Bucs-nation this one wasn’t pretty. After former Buccaneer and current Minnesota Viking Josh Freeman was ostracized after only two games, Tampa Bay’s faithful knew they were in for a long haul. Greg Schiano drove a talented roster into the dirt, and an abysmal season in the process. With playoff aspirations in the preseason, hopes were dashed after the Buccaneers went winless in their first eight contests; the first nail in the now-unemployed Schiano’s coffin.
Averaging just 18 points per game, the 30th ranked offense sputtered without sophomore standout rusher Doug Martin who missed the season due to a shoulder injury. To make matters worse for Florida’s western-most franchise, wide receiver Mike Williams missed all but six of the team’s games due to an ACL injury.
Perhaps the lone bright spot of this season was in the form of the Buc’s new multi-million dollar corner, Darrelle Revis who played well in all 16 of his team’s games this season.
Defense wins championships or so they say, just ask the Seattle Seahawks. But defense was not the name of the game in Tampa this season, as the team finished with a -101 point differential and allowed 24.3 points per contest, 21st in the NFL. In this sarcophagus of mediocrity that was the 2013 Buccaneers, fans must take solace in the young talent still on the roster, and look to a future full of love; Lovie Smith that is.
Biggest Win
This category in terms of the Buccaneers is like picking which of your cousins to play spin the bottle with, there is no correct answer! But for the love of the game and my spot at eDraft, let’s go with Tampa Bay’s first win of 2013, a 22-19 win over the then-contending Miami Dolphins.
An in-state rivalry, a team’s first win, and hope for a new coach certainly constitute this game as the biggest win for the Buccaneers in 2013, outside of firing Greg Schiano. Heck this surprise back on Monday Night Football set the Buccaneers on a three game win streak, their longest of the season. Season-long disappointment aside, this was one victory Buccaneers fans can take solace in.
Toughest Loss
In this bargain-bin sale of a loss category, there were twelve embarrassing performances to choose from in various forms of ineptitude and hilarity. The team that lost by 19 or more points four times had quite a sample size for us to scoff at. But what was likely the tipping point in Greg Schiano’s tenure by the bay had to be their season finale, a 42-17 embarrassment at the hands of the division-rival New Orleans Saints. The team gave up, and Tampa’s front office gave Schiano his walking papers, thus turning the page on a forgettable 2013 campaign
Offensive MVP
Let’s quiet down all the Bobby Rainey fans now… After that brief pause for crickets, there was really only one choice for the Buccaneers’ offensive MVP: rookie quarterback Mike Glennon.
It couldn’t be easy to take over the reigns of a team in such turmoil that their starting quarterback was out of work after two games.
Completing just under %60 of his passes and throwing for 2608 yards with 19 touchdowns and just 9 interceptions on a four-win team makes the rookie Tampa Bay’s 2013 offensive MVP.
Defensive MVP
The dominating force on Tampa Bay’s defense was not on an island this season i.e. Revis, but a weak-side linebacker. Lavonte David stood out on an otherwise putrid unit securing 106 tackles, six sacks, five interceptions, nine passes defended and forcing two fumbles. David did it all for the Buc’s in 2013, and should continue to be a base for he new regime in Tampa Bay to build upon.
Most Disappointing Player
As with the “toughest loss” category, there was a plethora of options to choose from in this category. However, Tampa Bay’s other major signing from the 2013 offseason did not quite play up to his financial par. Dashon Goldson did not seem to earn his $4.5 million salary in 2013, even missing time due to suspension for aggression on the field. The Buccaneers brought in the former 49ers safety to become a mentor and perfect counter-weight to Mark Barron and Goldson honeslty did neither. After signing a five-year $41.25 million contact in 2013, Tampa Bay will expect much more out of Goldson in the 2014 season.
Best Rookie
Because Glennon already received his honor in this article, I decided to go with Buccaneers second-round selection Johnthan Banks as the best rookie from a forgettable season. Playing in all 16 of Tampa Bay’s games, Banks recorded three interceptions and 55 tackles.
These stats are all the more impressive from a rookie due to the caliber of corner Banks’ played across from. Revis is not targeted often by quarterbacks, so Banks’ job is made that much tougher due to the relative fear factor associated with the man some deem the best cover corner in football.
Regardless, Banks’ rookie campaign showed enough development to lead many Bucs' fans to believe in their pick from Mississippi State.
Statistical Leaders
QB- Mike Glennon- 247-416, 2608 yards, %59.4 completion, 19 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
RB- Bobby Rainey- 137 attempts, 532 yards, 5 touchdowns
WR- Vincent Jackson - 78 receptions, 1224 yards, 7 touchdowns
TE- Timothy Wright - 54 receptions, 571 yards, 5 touchdowns
Tackles- Lavonte David- 106 tackles
Sacks- Gerald McCoy - nine sacks
Interceptions- Lavonte David, five interceptions