The Tampa Bay Buccaneers endured a disappointing campaign in the NFC South. Finishing with a 4-12 record, they ended bottom of the pile behind playoff contenders Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints, and injury-hit fellow strugglers the Atlanta Falcons.
Having completed the 2012 with a losing record of 7-9, a second poor season on the bounce cost head coach Greg Schiano his job in Florida.
Sport Mole looks back at their 2013 season.
Pre-season expectations
In truth, the Buccaneers were not expected to challenge too much for a playoff spot, with many feeling that they would come up a tad short when the going got tough. Cornerback Jonathan Banks and quarterback Mike Glennon were drafted into the franchise to challenge for starting spots, while the team again held hopes for the previous season's star Doug Martin. ESPN predicted them to end with a winning record but just fall short of the post-season, with number one signal caller Josh Freeman "playing well enough in his contract year to ensure the team will want him around long-term".
Highlight of the season
In a year where a team begins with eight loses in a row, highlights are few and far between. However, a five-week period in November and early December saw the Buccaneers pick up their four victories of the season, with the week 11 win over divisional rivals Atlanta the pick of the bunch.
It was one of those few occasions for them where everything clicked on both sides of the ball. On offense, running back Bobby Rainey rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns while Vincent Jackson caught 10 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown and Glennon had two scores to his name come the end of the game. On defense, Gerald McCoy posted three sacks, Mason Foster and Dashon Goldson both had an interception and Dekoda Watson blocked a punt. Schiano saw his team score over 40 points for the only time all season, as the Falcons were dispatched 41-28.
Biggest disappointment
Three elements of Tampa Bay's season were disappointing in truth, and it's difficult to determine which had the biggest impact. Firstly, Freeman's falling out with Schiano before the campaign even begun didn't help either the team or the coaching staff. The quarterback suffered from awful form in the early part of the season, and after being benched in favour of Glennon in week four, he was cut from the team and ended the season with the Minnesota Vikings.
As well as Freeman's form and then absence, Doug Martin sustained a season-ending shoulder injury and was placed on the team's IR list. After playing such a key role the previous season, the second year back ended this season with under 500 rushing yards and just one touchdown to his name.
Lastly, on the field, the Buccaneers were tied third for takeaways across the NFL with 31 - a excellent haul. However, it was their failure to convert ball recovery into points which cost them big, with every other team in the top five of the takeaways list making the NFL post-season.
Player of the season
There is no looking past the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for this award, so there is little argument that second-year linebacker Lavonte David was the standout man this season. With 144 total tackles, six sacks, five interceptions and a fumble recovery, David was a real weapon on defense, with many comparing him to Bucs legend Derrick Brooks. A young player with speed, awareness and exceptional instincts when it comes to defending the ball, David could well become an NFL star for years to come.
Unsung hero
Another member of the defense, this time Gerald McCoy, who has now been selected for back-to-back Pro Bowls. Though McCoy made just 50 total tackles, his ability to get to the opposition quarterback saw him record an impressive team-high 9.5 sacks. Drafted third overall in 2010, McCoy is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract with the franchise, so they will need to start looking at tying him down for the long-term future.
Off-season changes
Just a day after the Buccaneers completed their NFL season, Schiano was fired as coach, while Mark Dominik left his position as general manager too. 2014 will see former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith take over and try to turn the fortunes of the side around, building on the form of players like David and Darrelle Revis and hoping that Martin can rediscover his explosiveness once he recovers from injury. At quarterback, Glennon will likely have competition for his position, with the team keen to find a franchise QB that they can build their long-term future around.
2014 prospects
With Smith at the helm, he'll look to draw on his experience from his six years in charge in Chicago, which included a Super Bowl appearance in 2006. His biggest problem is leading the Buccaneers from an extremely tough division. The Saints and Panthers both qualified for the playoffs last season, while the injury-hit Falcons featured in the NFC championship game themselves just 13 months ago. Much will depend on how the team drafts and uses free agency, and whether they can strengthen in the positions which they need to in order to really challenge in their division.
Joe McPhee
