Tampa Bay Buccaneers OTA Standouts Worth Keeping an Eye on This Offseason
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into the 2014 season with enough hope to fill a pirate ship, but they crashed and burned into a 2-14 record in Lovie Smith's first season as head coach.
Heading into the 2015 season, fans may be a bit cynical thanks to last year's failures, but the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston has the Bucs faithful feeling like the bounce-back season they expected last year could come this time around.
The team finally hit the field for its first round of organized team activities last week, getting its first look at a roster that has been heavily overhauled for the second offseason in the row.
Which players have already made a positive statement at OTAs and should have a significant impact once the regular season rolls around?
WR Kenny Bell
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The Bucs struck gold at wide receiver with last year's first-round pick in Mike Evans, but they might be almost as excited about this year's fifth-round pick—Nebraska's Kenny Bell.
An explosive playmaker with a solid combination of size and speed, Bell has already made his presence felt at OTAs with some impressive catches, per Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com:
"(Bell) has made a number of sensational, acrobatic catches in practice during the Bucs OTAs, including a couple on Thursday, which was the first day the media got to watch.
The well-built Bell is 6-foot-1, 197 pounds and is bigger and more muscular than he was last year at Nebraska. And while he still has a ways to go before he looks like the chiseled Vincent Jackson, Bell spends a considerable time picking the brains of the veteran receiver, as well as Mike Evans, last year’s rookie phenom.
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Bell is wise to seek the counsel of both Jackson and Evans, and he should also benefit from opposing defenses having to focus most of their attention in the passing game on the two starters.
The former Cornhusker has the skills to make an immediate impact and could easily develop into Jackson's eventual replacement down the road.
CB Alterraun Verner
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After the Bucs released Darrelle Revis last offseason, they signed Alterraun Verner in free agency, billing him as a younger, cheaper option who was a better fit for the team's Tampa 2 scheme.
Verner struggled in his first season with Tampa Bay, dealing with injuries and taking longer than expected to get comfortable in the scheme.
Early word out of OTAs, however, suggests Verner is looking like the former Pro Bowler Tampa Bay fans expected last season, per JoeBucsFan.com:
"Today’s spotlight shines on two former Pro Bowl cornerbacks signed last offseason, Alterraun Verner and Mike Jenkins. Both were razor sharp and left some wiping drool from their mouths.
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Verner, 26, is super intelligent and very committed. His injuries last season were the first of his five-year career, and he openly talked about how the learning curve of Lovie’s defense was quite steep for him.
If Verner becomes the guy the Bucs envisioned when they signed him, then the Bucs defense might actually win a few games for the team this year.
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Verner showed signs of improvement down the stretch last season, and a full offseason to continue getting familiar with the defense should certainly keep him moving in the right direction.
Johnthan Banks emerged as the team's top corner last year, but if Verner can push him for that title this year, Tampa Bay's secondary could be light-years ahead of where it was for much of 2014.
RB Dominique Brown
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Tampa Bay has a trio of decent running backs to handle most of the duties in the backfield—Doug Martin, Charles Sims and Bobby Rainey—but it's still looking for a back who can be consistently effective in short-yardage situations.
Though it's rare for an undrafted free agent to earn a roster spot, former Louisville running back Dominique Brown may be in the perfect situation to do just that as the team's short-yardage back.
According to Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com, Brown has already caught the eye of Tampa Bay's coaching staff during rookie minicamp and OTAs so far.
"Brown has impressed the Bucs coaches and scouts with the way he attacks the line of scrimmage and gets to full speed in an instant," Reynolds wrote. "(Offensive coordinator Dirk) Koetter wants a big back to run between the tackles in his offense, and Brown can do that and more."
A converted quarterback, the 6'2", 241-pound Brown has impressive speed and athleticism for his size, as well as the power necessary to move the pile in clutch situations.
If he continues to impress through offseason workouts and into training camp, he could end up being an important role player for the Bucs in his first NFL season.
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DT Henry Melton
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Especially compared to recent years, the Bucs were fairly quiet in free agency this offseason. But though the additions they made didn't necessarily steal any headlines, they brought in some solid role players at economical prices.
One such player is Henry Melton, who is already impressing at OTAs, per JoeBucsFan.com:
"The most exciting word of the day came on the defensive side of the ball. That’s where former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Henry Melton clearly was “explosive” and impressed all who took in his work.
There’s some real juice to the enthusiasm for Melton, who battled injuries with Dallas last season and fizzled late in the year, but still had five sacks.
With the Bucs, Melton is slated to relieve Gerald McCoy, so GMC stays dangerously fresh. And Melton would serve as an emergency defensive end, a “swing” role he served with the Cowboys, too.
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Melton was most successful as a pass-rusher during his tenure with the Chicago Bears, playing for current Bucs head coach Lovie Smith. He's already familiar with the scheme and will be part of a deep rotation of talented players at defensive tackle, which should keep him fresh and able to make a big impact this season.
QB Jameis Winston
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It's one thing for a rookie quarterback to set the tone for his team during a minicamp with just fellow first-year players, but it's far more difficult to command the respect of the veterans once the entire team hits the field.
But that's exactly what Jameis Winston seems to have done.
Winston missed a day of OTAs while attending the NFLPA's Rookie Premiere event, and defensive end Jacquies Smith says his absence was noticeable, per JoeBucsFan.com:
"You feel his competitive spirit and his energy. It’s a different energy, you know, when he’s in the locker room or around. You feel it missing [Thursday]. You know, I’ve had a couple of sit-down conversations with him and talked to him. He’s a great guy, and we’re looking forward to seeing him grow.
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Winston has done nothing but impress in just about every way since being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. His on-field talent is obvious, and he seems to already be building a strong rapport with the veterans on the team.
If he can avoid any off-field trouble, he could end up leading a dramatic turnaround for Tampa Bay in 2015.
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