Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Why the Bucs Will Miss the Playoffs Next Year

Bucs fans, I have some bad news for you that I myself do not like.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will miss the playoffs next season.

Yes, I know we are supposed to be a lot better than last season. I agree with that statement. I think next season will be kind to the Bucs. Certainly we won't have anything like a losing record.

But the playoffs are not in the sights for next season. Let me rattle off some reasons why I doubt our ability to take such a huge step next season.

For one, look at the team itself.

Was there one category that we led in the entire year besides stuff like turnovers and points allowed?

There is a reason for that. Skill wise, the Bucs just haven't come into their stride yet.

On the offensive side of the ball, Freeman is really the one person that I am excited about in the coming years. He will surely rebound next year and become the Josh Freeman that we are used to. He just needs confidence, which is built from the performance of those around him.

That is where the problem lies.

LaGarrette Blount was admirable this season, and gave some memorable moments to cheer about. However, he was terribly inconsistent this year and simply did not show up some games. Blount could get better, but don't expect him to shatter any rushing records next year.

I was going to put something about wide receivers in this paragraph, but then I started to wonder if we actually had any (YOU'RE NOT FUNNY). All jesting aside, there was nothing to be happy about from this unit. They had no standouts in receiving and managed to overpay a tight end by millions. Can't really see much improvement in this squad of underachievers.

Moving to the defensive side, this is where I expect to see the most improvement. Some up-and-coming players would be Sean Jones, Gerald McCoy, Mason Foster and Da'Quan Bowers (yes, I still believe in him). If Tampa makes the right choice, maybe even Morris Claiborne will be included in these names.

The reason the Bucs defense performed so poorly was because of the youth and let's be honest: Besides those guys mentioned up there, who else really stood out? Ronde Barber seems to like the idea of retirement more and more, while people like Talib can't stay out of trouble. Don't think that this defense can't be good. It just needs time to develop.

Whether or not you like the hiring of Greg Schiano, everyone must agree that there will be growing pains within the team. Morris didn't exactly leave a thriving team for Schiano. It may take a year or two to iron out all the crumples.

Moving on from the team, look at our competition in the NFC South. The up-and-coming Panthers get better by the day with star QB Cam Newton, while the Falcons and Saints battle it out for the lead in the division with two mega-star quarterbacks. It will not be easy going for years to come.

Don't think I am saying that we can't improve. We can and we will. It just won't be big enough by next season. In two or three years though, watch out.

If the Bucs can make the playoffs next year (or even go far in them) I will happily eat crow by the pounds.

I really hope I'm wrong on this one.