Tampa Bay Buccaneers Who've Turned Heads in Offseason Workouts
After the team failed to meet high expectations last season, nobody could blame fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for meeting this season's high hopes with the optimism of a preconversion Ebenezer Scrooge.
But even the most cynical among Bucs fans have to be at least the slightest bit cheery at the thought of No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston slinging the ball all over the field to the likes of Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson while they pray that another stab at overhauling the offensive line and a second season for the defense to get comfy in the Tampa 2 scheme will give them the turnaround they expected a year ago.
Tampa Bay will have plenty of fresh faces peering through the chrome facemasks in 2015, as head coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Licht continue their attempt to rebuild a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game since hoisting the Lombardi Trophy following the 2002 season.
With rookie minicamp barely visible in the rearview mirror and two weeks of organized team activities in the books, which players have caught the attention of coaches and teammates alike so far this offseason?
WR Kenny Bell
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Tampa Bay's starting receivers are set on the outside with Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, but coming into the offseason, the team lacked overall depth and a reliable third option who could allow it some flexibility with the slot position.
Enter fifth-round pick Kenny Bell, who didn't waste any time making a strong first impression this offseason, per Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com:
"The team is just as high on wide receiver Kenny Bell, Tampa Bay’s fifth-round selection, who 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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The Bucs drafted Robert Herron in the sixth round last year to help fill the void in the slot, but he hasn't progressed as much as the team would have liked. Bell is best suited as an outside receiver, so don't be surprised if he gets plenty of action there, with either Jackson or Evans working in the slot to create mismatches against opposing defenses.
Bell has the size and skills to make an immediate impact as well as potentially develop into Jackson's eventual replacement in the starting lineup.
DT Henry Melton
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Tampa Bay's depth chart was already impressive at defensive tackle, but that didn't stop the team from adding more talent in free agency this offseason, signing former Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears lineman Henry Melton.
According to JoeBucsFan.com, Melton has already flashed the ability that earned him a Pro Bowl berth following the 2012 season:
"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.
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Melton was most productive as a pass-rusher during his time playing for Lovie Smith in Chicago, so it should come as no surprise that he already seems comfortable in his new surroundings. Tampa Bay's deep rotation at the position should keep him fresh and capable of making a big impact, especially late in games.
G Logan Mankins
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Just before the start of the 2014 regular season, the Bucs made a bold move to address their desperate need to improve either of their starting guard spots, trading for six-time Pro Bowler Logan Mankins.
But the former Patriots star struggled in his first season in Tampa Bay, failing to live up to the high expectations that came with him following a track record of consistent success in New England.
But the veteran has returned to the Bucs this offseason as a new man, dropping weight and looking like he's in the best shape of his career, per Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com:
"But Mankins, now 33 years old, is a man on a mission, telling the Bucs organization that he started working out earlier in the offseason than he ever did before. He showed up in April for offseason conditioning with six-pack abs – for the first time in his NFL career – which shocked the Bucs’ brass, coaches and players with how he’s transformed his body over the past few months.
Mankins informed Bucs management that he will make amends for last season and that he intends to prove all of his critics wrong this year. Mankins said he’s driven to make the Pro Bowl in 2015 after missing it last season, which snapped a five-year streak.
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Mankins should feel more comfortable this season, especially without the instability of an absent offensive coordinator (with Dirk Koetter joining the coaching staff this year), which dogged the entire offense a year ago. His leadership in the locker room is invaluable, and it looks like his play on the field could be on the same level this season.
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WR Russell Shepard
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The Bucs look much deeper on paper at receiver this year than they were at this point last offseason, making it certain that there will be some fierce competition throughout OTAs and into training camp.
Much ado has been made about the rookies who have made solid first impressions, but don't overlook one of the grizzled veterans of the group in Russell Shepard, who has made his living as a stellar special teams player over the last few years for the Bucs.
Per Joe Kania of Buccaneers.com, the former LSU Tigers star has been flashing his skills as a pass-catcher during OTAs as well:
"Shepard, one of the Bucs’ best special teams players a year ago, had a couple nice catches during Thursday’s practice, including a touchdown in the middle of the field from Jameis Winston during 11-on-11 drills. In what might have been the highlight of the day, Winston placed the ball nicely in between defenders and Shepard came down with the ball in the end zone. Earlier in the practice, Shepard hauled in an over-the-shoulder pass in the corner of the end zone that appeared to be headed five yards out of bounds.
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Shepard faces a tough road to making the roster with the additions of Kenny Bell and Kaelin Clay via the draft as well as some promising undrafted free agents at the position. But his value on special teams should give him an edge, and fans shouldn't be surprised to see him make the final 53-man roster.
LB Kwon Alexander
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It may not have been their biggest need, but bolstering the depth at linebacker was on the list of possibilities for the Bucs heading into Day 3 of this year's NFL draft.
In fact, the Bucs were so enamored with LSU's Kwon Alexander that they traded up to secure him, snagging a player who fits the undersized-but-athletic prototype that Tampa 2 defenses covet.
As Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com points out, Alexander is already making his presence felt on the practice field:
"Out of all of Tampa Bay’s draft picks, perhaps the most impressive during the rookie mini-camp was fourth-round linebacker Kwon Alexander – and that’s really saying something because all of the members of the Bucs’ 2015 draft class shined, especially quarterback Jameis Winston. The coaches were raving about Alexander’s intellect and maturity during the meetings and classroom sessions, and his speed and explosiveness on the field.
The early impression from the Bucs coaches is that Alexander could be the fastest and most athletic linebacker on Tampa Bay’s roster. And considering that Pro Bowl alternate linebacker Lavonte David is on the roster, that’s truly saying something.
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David is locked in as the starter on the weak side, while the newly signed Bruce Carter will likely replace the departed Mason Foster in the middle. Look for Alexander to push one of last year's more pleasant surprises, Danny Lansanah, for the starting gig on the strong side.
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