Top 10 X-Factors For 2016 – No. 7
July 10th, 2016
The Bucs have a pile of key question marks entering the 2016 season. Most teams do.
For this countdown series, Joe looks at this year’s top X-factors, guys with question marks who could be great difference-makers, positive or negative, based on changes in their performances.
Jameis Winston – No. 7
Yes, any clown can make the argument that America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, should be No. 1 on this list. But that’s too easy, and it’s probably inaccurate.
The Bucs’ offense ranked fifth in the league in total yards last year. But it struggled to put points on the board (20th in the NFL) largely due a lack of talent around Jameis and gruesome field goal kicking (72.5 percent).
Look what happened when Vincent Jackson and Louis Murphy got hurt. Look at all those drops by Mike Evans. Look at those two fumbles by Doug Martin in a five-point home loss to the Bears. There was a hell of a lot going around Jameis that needs to be cleaned up.
Jameis drives the bus for the Bucs, but he’s not going to force a massive change to the win total with his play. Joe expects steady and simple growth from James this season.
Charles Sims – No. 8
J.R. Sweezy – No. 9
Gerald McCoy — No. 10
July 10th, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Jameis needs help at WR if Vjax misses the bucs are in trouble. Stop mentioning Murphy like he matters. Guy can’t play and can’t stay healthy he’s irrelevant and only he and his mother think he’s a 3
July 10th, 2016 at 12:13 pm
GhengisKwon has got to be coming up soon.
July 10th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Interesting that the bucs did nothing for Jameis, their most important commodity this off season. He struggled the last 4 games of the year and struggled w o vjax. I don’t think sweezy for mankind is an upgrade and I don’t think it’s safe to assume everyone around is a year older so everyone will be better. We will see. We should have given another wr for sure
July 10th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
Glad you brought field goals up,Joe. The Bucs had the second most field goals
attempts in the NFL.That is settling for less,and only 72 % even split the uprights. this is just one reason our offense didn’t score that many points.
July 10th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
I think Jameis is going to destroy defenses this season!
July 10th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Jameis is near certain to advance his game, so X factor #7 is this polls lucky number of the QB who touches the football most often and drives the production. Triple XXX factor in reality.
July 10th, 2016 at 12:36 pm
Gonna whoop some ass out there now….
July 10th, 2016 at 1:02 pm
Good job Joe!!!!! I was worried that you would put JW3 as the #1 X-factor!!! When we know what will be the most important X-Factor this year!!! Coaching!!!! This will be the first time for many players that will have true coaching , preparation and evaluation this training camp!!!! Not only will this far surpass what the last regime did, but thew will have done more by 11 AM then the Incompetent one did all day!!! To say he was mailing it in is a understatement!!!! There was a reason he held practice in late afternoon, coach my scheme was always looking for cpt time! (Can’t Practice for Thunder) and get the time off!!!!
Its a new day in Tampa!!!! The Bucs will be Hungry and well prepared to hit the field!!!!! I can smell the excitement in the air!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!
July 10th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
7 might be a little low in my opinion, I dont think he will be the biggest factor (agreed, coaching @Realist) but maybe a bit more. I think with the D being better and the offense having the ball more. Winston’s improvement on finding the endzone will be key in some of our bigger games.
July 10th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Proud of you joe!
July 10th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
Jajajajaja!
Love it!
I would wear that on the back of a fan jersey…
July 10th, 2016 at 1:56 pm
You just couldn’t wait to spit out all that LOVIE LOVE…..learn some restraint, wait your turn!
July 10th, 2016 at 2:04 pm
“It was, It is, and It will always be about the QB” Kobe Faker
Its a passing league, and we will have to wait (2018) till Jameis has developed enough to win superbowls. Jaboo will be ready and be at that stage to control his will to win playoff games
Nothing matters except Jameis development til 2018 (He will win at least 4 superbowls)
only 2 individuals matter at 1 buc place for the next 15 years
Jameis and the GM who can put pieces around Jameis
***Jason “I have bigger nipples than Serena William” Licht, You are on the clock
July 10th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
I could not disagree more.. How can you think Winston will not affect the win total? If anything he’s the sole reason the win total goes up. With his improved play and his leadership, that alone will improve the win total . I believe that is the single most stupid thing I’ve heard the Joes say. The rest of the article was fine but that sentence made my jaw drop. I went back and read 3 more times in case I read it wrong. If he doesn’t affect the win total then being drafted number 1 was a mistake. Especially when most good QB’s improve the most from year 1 to year 2.
July 10th, 2016 at 8:08 pm
BigHog, why do you love Lovie so much?
July 10th, 2016 at 8:11 pm
Kobe, bigger nipples that Serena Williams?? I’d love to know how big her nipples are!!
July 10th, 2016 at 9:10 pm
I myself don’t even care about Lovie Smith anymore.
July 10th, 2016 at 11:46 pm
@ BuccaneEric75 : I’m a Black man! Simple as that! LOVIE didn’t win enough games that’s why he was fired, I have to agree with that, what I love is he never had bitter words towards the organization or the fans of Tampa Bay, I’m talking about those who think he owes them some kind of apology or a thank you note, he left them nothing to spin.
July 11th, 2016 at 8:20 am
I have a feeling the defense has something to do with being the no. 1 X factor. Wouldn’t be suprised if it’s Mike smith. And maybe another D Lineman as well. That’s where this season hinges on, it’s weither the defense get get it right and learn coach smith’s new scheme.
And for the X factor on the other side of the ball I think Dougy plays a important role once again if this offensemble wants to be in the top 10 again. U can thank Dougy for a lot of Winston’s success last year, he thrived off the play action and defenses had to be honest because they knew Dougy could break one on them at any moment.
July 11th, 2016 at 8:22 am
Harry = Clown; Jameis is #1
July 11th, 2016 at 8:34 am
“…any clown can make the argument that America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, should be No. 1 on this list.”
Because it is obvious he IS #1. Jameis is the straw that stirs the Bucs! Take any of the other 9 choices out of the lineup and they will have less impact than the difference Jameis could make from last year to this year!