Buccaneers 2015 Preview: Complete Tampa Bay Guide for Preseason, Season

You can almost taste it, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans.

The sails are rolling out on the pirate ship and the cannons are getting primed for the 2015 NFL season, one filled with hope and high expectations for a franchise that finished with a league-worst 2014 record last year.

The Bucs have a new franchise quarterback in Jameis Winston, a new offensive coordinator with a proven track record of success, some new young talent on the offensive line and much more depth across the entire roster this year.

With preseason games just days away, here's everything you need to know about Tampa Bay heading into the 2015 season.

Full Schedule

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Preseason

Date	Opponent	Time
August 15	At Minnesota Vikings	8 p.m.
August 24	Cincinnati Bengals	8 p.m.
August 29	Cleveland Browns	7 p.m.
September 3	At Miami Dolphins	7 p.m.

Regular Season

Date	Opponent	Time
September 13	Tennessee Titans	4:25 p.m.
September 20	At New Orleans Saints	1 p.m.
September 27	At Houston Texans	1 p.m.
October 4	Carolina Panthers	1 p.m.
October 11	Jacksonville Jaguars	1 p.m.
	BYE WEEK
October 25	At Washington Redskins	1 p.m.
November 1	At Atlanta Falcons	1 p.m.
November 8	New York Giants	4:05 p.m.
November 15	Dallas Cowboys	1 p.m.
November 22	At Philadelphia Eagles	1 p.m.
November 29	At Indianapolis Colts	1 p.m.
December 6	Atlanta Falcons	1 p.m.
December 13	New Orleans Saints	1 p.m.
December 17	At St. Louis Rams	8:25 p.m.
December 27	Chicago Bears	1 p.m.
January 3	At Carolina Panthers	1 p.m.

*All times Eastern

What to Watch

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

All Eyes On Jameis

Top overall picks always garner plenty of attention, but Jameis Winston will be under a particularly large microscope as he takes the reins of Tampa Bay's offense, as well as the future of the franchise.

After an extremely successful college career that saw him win a Heisman Trophy and a national championship—but also end up in the news for his questionable off-field decisions—Winston will be tested by constant scrutiny and the likelihood he'll lose far more often than he did at Florida State.

Another Offensive Line Rebuild

Last offseason, the Bucs attempted to overhaul their maligned offensive line by bringing in veterans via trades and free agency. But the plan backfired, with Logan Mankins and Evan Smith struggling on the inside, while Anthony Collins played so poorly at left tackle he was inactive for the last three games of the year and cut just after the season ended.

This time around, Tampa Bay is attempting to bolster the unit through the draft, spending two second-round picks on blockers they hope can improve the group in a hurry. Penn State's Donovan Smith should be given every chance to start at left tackle in Week 1, while guard Ali Marpet could develop into an effective guard.

If the rookies can develop quickly and the veterans can bounce back from a disappointing 2014 campaign, this year's Tampa Bay offense could be far more effective.

Tampa 2, Year 2

Last year, Lovie Smith brought the Tampa 2 defense back to One Buc Place, with Leslie Frazier coordinating the scheme made famous by former Bucs mastermind Monte Kiffin.

Though the team struggled to adjust to the new scheme early in the season, they seemed to turn a corner around the halfway point, becoming more comfortable over the last eight games of the season.

With a full offseason and another training camp to refine their knowledge, look for this year's Bucs defense to be even more confident in their assignments and able to execute much more effectively in 2015.

Impact Additions

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The addition of Jameis Winston is obviously commanding most of the attention surrounding Tampa Bay, but here are a few other acquisitions that could make a big impact on the team's success in 2015:

DT Henry Melton

A free-agent signing from the Dallas Cowboys, Melton has plenty of experience playing in the Tampa 2 defense and was his most productive as a pass-rusher when he played under Lovie Smith with the Chicago Bears.

Melton will be part of a deep rotation at defensive tackle, but he'll be a key part of the defense, allowing Gerald McCoy to get vital rest throughout the game, leaving both fresh in the fourth quarter.

LB Bruce Carter

Mason Foster had been a solid player for the Bucs his entire career, but last year showed him to be a poor fit for the middle linebacker spot in the Tampa 2 scheme.

Another former Cowboy who played in the same scheme for former Bucs assistants Monte Kiffin and Rod Marinelli, Carter has the speed and athleticism to execute the responsibilities demanded of the position, and his presence should help improve the entire unit.

WR Kenny Bell

Tampa Bay went into the draft looking for a third receiver who could potentially transition into a starter once Vincent Jackson moves on, and they may have found their man with Bell.

Bell has all the tools needed to become a starting receiver, along with the toughness and hard-working attitude the Bucs covet. He's already impressing in training camp and building a strong chemistry with Winston, so don't be surprised if he gets plenty of action this season.

New Year, New Offense

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Bucs fans were excited last year to see new offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford bring his long track record of college success to the pro level, preaching speed in space and plenty of big plays.

But Tedford's leave of absence due to medical issues came just before the start of the regular season, and the coach wouldn't call a single play thereafter for Tampa Bay before parting ways with the team for good at the end of the year.

Without the architect of their scheme, Tampa Bay's offense floundered, struggling to find an identity or develop any kind of consistency throughout the entire season.

This year, Tampa Bay will have Dirk Koetter calling the shots on offense, who brings plenty of success at the pro level to the table and has a scheme that should maximize the personnel already on the roster. Koetter loves to attack the field vertically with the pass, which should bode well for Jameis Winston and his vast array of receiving weapons.

Bucs fans—and the NFL in general—shouldn't underestimate how big an impact Tedford's absence had on the entire team last year. Likewise, they should expect Koetter's presence to equal a big jump in production for the Bucs in 2015.

NFC South Outlook

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The Bucs may have nowhere to go but up, but while they made plenty of upgrades on paper, much of the NFC South appears to have taken a step back.

Drew Brees isn't getting any younger, and the Saints traded away his favorite target in Jimmy Graham, as well as a promising young deep threat in Kenny Stills. New Orleans was already looking at some serious salary-cap issues down the road before having to part ways with pass-rusher Junior Galette—whom they had just handed a lucrative contract last offseason—following his off-field issues.

The Atlanta Falcons cleaned house on the coaching side of things after a disappointing 2014 season, but a solid draft class will join a roster still full of proven talent. Led by quarterback Matt Ryan and one of the better receiving tandems in the league in Julio Jones and Roddy White, Atlanta's offense should still find success. Their offensive line and pass rush will have to improve considerably, though.

Last year's division champs despite a losing record, the Panthers should be the favorites to win the NFC South crown again this year. Cam Newton returns with plenty of dangerous targets to throw to, while the defense should continue to be the best unit in the division.

Tampa Bay might not be ready to challenge Carolina just yet, but jumping the Saints and Falcons isn't out of the question. Even doing that wouldn't necessarily result in a playoff berth, but it would be a huge step in the right direction for the franchise.