Predict the Buccaneers’ 2017 offense

In 2015, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a top 5 offense based upon yards and heavily aided by a top rushing game. On average, the Bucs scored 21.4 points per game that year. In 2016, the Bucs were an 18^th ranked offense based upon yards. They still scored 22.1 points per game.

2016 NFL Scoring, Box and Whisker Diagram

Low = 14.0, Lower Quartile = 20.1 (the start of the box), Median = 22.4 (vertical line),

Upper Quartile = 25.65 (the end of the box), High = 33.8

The purple box represents scoring within that range by 16 teams. There are eight teams scoring below the box, which has a scoring range of 6.1 points. Another eight teams have scoring above the box, which has a range of 8.15 points. While the actual purple box has 16 teams with a scoring range differential of 5.5 points. Tampa was scoring near the median last year.

This offseason, the Bucs have accumulated a wealth of offensive weapons in speedster WR DeSean Jackson, tight end OJ Howard, a reception fiend with speed in Chris Godwin, and Canadian Football League’s second most receiving WR in Derel Walker, who played with Mike Evans at Texas A&M. With all these riches added to Evans and TE Cam Brate, the Bucs should be looking forward to scoring more points. Before I ask how many points per game the Bucs might have, let me show you a chart first.

In the chart above, I have recorded the total points scored for the teams that Dirk Koetter has been at the helm of the offense for the past five years. While Koetter is the current head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he is still calling the plays for the Buccaneers’ offense.

2012: 419 points, 26.2 ppg

2013: 353 points, 22.1 ppg

2014: 381 points, 23.8 ppg

2015: 342 points, 21.4 ppg

2016: 354 points, 22.1 ppg

In 2013, Koetter lost his top two receiving threats to injuries for parts of the season in Julio Jones and Roddy White. That left Koetter with only TE Anthony Gonzalez and WR Harry Douglas, which is similar to what Koetter experience last year with only WR Evans and TE Brate as his receiving options in 2016. Now, the Licht has amassed an abundance of upgraded receiving talent for Koetter to try to replicate his Atlanta days. The end goal is to score more points.

How many points per game do you predict the Bucs’ offense will put up this season? Vote in the poll below and tell us why in the comments section.