Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Connected Franchise Mode Strategy

CFM Team Rating: 79

Offense: 81

Defense: 85

Offensive Scheme: Balanced

Defensive Scheme: Tampa 2

Strengths: WR, ROLB, DT

Weaknesses: HB, OL, S

2014 Team Rankings

4th NFC South (2-14-0)

Passing Offense: 25th

Rushing Offense: 29th

Passing Defense: 28th

Rushing Defense: 19th

2014 team leaders

Passing: Josh McCown: 2,206

Rushing: Doug Martin: 494

Receiving: Mike Evans: 1,051

Tackles: Lavonte David: 146

Sacks: Gerald McCoy: 8.5

Ints: Johnthan Banks: 4

Key Additions

DT Henry Melton

SS D.J. Swearinger

LB Bruce Carter

Key Rookies

QB Jameis Winston

T Donovan Smith

C Ali Marpet

Owner: Edgar Miller

Legacy Score: 0

Coach: Lovie Smith

Level: 5

Legacy Score: 750

Offensive Scheme: Balanced

Defensive Scheme: Tampa 2

Offensive Scouting Report

Start rookie QB Jameis Winston over Mike Glennon at the start of the season. You must protect his confidence and allow him to develop his amazing potential.
Give Bobby Rainey the bulk of the carries unless his 75 Carry rating becomes an issue. Practice short yardage with either Mike James or Jovorskie Lane. Neither is a great option but each has some decent trucking.
For the Bucs to be a successful team on the field this season, they need to keep developing WR Mike Evans. With Vincent Jackson across from him, this should be an easy task, but focus on building the young player over the veteran.

Defensive Scouting Report

The Bucs’ LB corps improved during the off season by bringing in Bruce Carter. Continue building the Zone Coverage ratings for Danny Lansanah and Carter to fit your scheme.
The Bucs have some nice players to fit into a three-safety scheme — try getting them on the field all at once and see how they fit. Don’t get sucked in on play-action fakes because they don’t have the speed to recover.
McCoy will have to be the anchor on the defensive line with the departure of DE Michael Johnson. The Bucs have some rushers with decent finesse moves at DE, so see if you can shed some blocks with user control and help out the coverage by pressuring the QB.

Schedule

Key Players

Evans has the size to be a tremendous threat in the red zone, so have confidence in throwing high-point passes to him.
It is extremely difficult to press Evans with his big frame and incredible Release rating.

David is the perfect LB for the Bucs’ scheme; let him roam free with that 88 Zone Coverage rating.
Make sure to lock up David for the long term, before he gets to free agency.

It only takes a one draft pick to turn around a franchise. Focus on getting Winston some confidence — and watch his career take off.
Winston will be best as a pocket passer, so build chemistry with the two outside WRs and utilize that excellent throwing power.

Try to develop Alexander into the next Lavonte David. It will take time but the athleticism is there.
Start Alexander on special teams immediately; his speed and hit power could change the tide of a game.

OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

POS	FIRST	LAST	OVR
QB	Jameis	Winston	81
QB	Mike	Glennon	73
QB	Seth	Lobato	59
HB	Doug	Martin	78
HB	Bobby	Rainey	75
HB	Charles	Sims	72
HB	Mike	James	72
FB	Jorvorskie	Lane	75
FB	Cameron	Brate	63
WR	Mike	Evans	87
WR	Vincent	Jackson	86
WR	Louis	Murphy Jr.	74
WR	Robert	Herron	67
WR	Russell	Shepard	67
WR	Tavarres	King	64
TE	Austin	Seferian-Jenkins	76
TE	Brandon	Myers	74
TE	Luke	Stocker	74
LT	Demar	Dotson	80
LT	Donovan	Smith	67
LG	Logan	Mankins	86
LG	Kadeem	Edwards	66
C	Evan	Smith	79
C	Garrett	Gilkey	64
C	Josh	Allen	62
RG	Patrick	Omameh	73
RG	Ali	Marpet	70
RT	Kevin	Pamphile	75
RT	Reid	Fragel	71

DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

POS	FIRST	LAST	OVR
LE	Jacquies	Smith	75
LE	William	Gholston	73
LE	T.J.	Fatinikun	71
DT	Gerald	McCoy	95
DT	Henry	Melton	83
DT	Clinton	McDonald	79
DT	Akeem	Spence	73
DT	Matthew	Masifilo	68
RE	George	Johnson	75
RE	Larry	English	72
RE	Lawrence	Sidbury Jr.	72
LOLB	Bruce	Carter	78
LOLB	Jason	Williams	67
MLB	Danny	Lansanah	79
MLB	Orie	Lemon	68
ROLB	Lavonte	David	91
ROLB	Larry	Dean	65
ROLB	Kwon	Alexander	63
CB	Johnthan	Banks	77
CB	Mike	Jenkins	75
CB	Leonard	Johnson	73
CB	Sterling	Moore	78
CB	Alterraun	Verner	87
FS	Chris	Conte	75
FS	Keith	Tandy	73
SS	Major	Wright	78
SS	Bradley	McDougald	74

SPECIAL TEAMS

POS	FIRST	LAST	OVR
K	Patrick	Murray	71
KR	Bobby	Rainey	75
KR	Kaelin	Clay	60
P	Michael	Koenen	68
PR	Bobby	Rainey	75

Best Offensive Plays

BEST RUN: Pistol Trips — HB Counter

Setup:

You should have a good sense before the snap if the counter is going to be a success; abandon it if you don’t feel confident.
To get the most from a counter, wait as long as possible before breaking it outside.

Advanced Setup:

Motion a WR across the formation (optional).

Running Plays

1st Down	2nd and short	3rd and short	Goal Line	2nd and long	3rd and long
Singleback Ace—Outside Zone	Singleback Y-Trips— HB Zone Wk	I-Form Pro—FB Dive	Goal Line Normal— QB Sneak	Pistol Ace Twins— Read Option	Gun Buc Trips—HB Base
I-Form Pro—HB Blast	Singleback Doubles— 0 1 Trap	I-Form Twins Flex— HB Search	Goal Line Normal— HB Sting	Weak Pro Twins— Toss Weak	Gun Spread— Inside Zone
Singleback Bunch— HB Counter	I-Form Pro—Counter	Singleback Doubles—HB Cutback	Strong Close— Quick Toss	Pistol Trips— Strong Power	Gun Tight Flex— HB Counter

MAN COVERAGE ZONE COVERAGE MAN BLITZ ZONE BLITZ

BEST PASS: Gun Y-Trips HB Wk — Bucs Streak Post

Setup/Reads:

Against zone coverage look across the middle or take a shot to the post.
Against man coverage the TE/ HB combo should create some separation.
This is a big play as opposed to something that will keep the chains moving, so practice throwing downfield first.

Advanced Setup:

Slant the slot WR.

Passing Plays

1st Down	2nd and short	3rd and short	SHOT PLAYS	2nd and long	3rd and long
Pistol Trips— PA Ctr Waggle	Gun Y-Trips HB Wk— Y Trail	Gun Buc Trips— Quick Slants	I-Form Pro— PA Draw Shot	Gun Empty Trey— Bucs DBL Ins	Gun Spread— Deep Attack
Strong Close— Bucs Y-Trail	Gun Doubles— Angle Smash	Gun Empty Buc— X Slant	Singleback Ace— PA Stretch Over	Singleback Y-Trips— HB Slip Screen	Singleback Doubles—Slot Seam
Gun Tight Flex— WR Cross	I-Form Twins Flex—Flanker Curl	Gun Empty Trey—Stick	Singleback Ace Pair Twins—PA Misdirect Shot	Gun 5WR Trio— Four Verticals	Gun Bunch Wk— Bucs Verticals

MAN COVERAGE ZONE COVERAGE MAN BLITZ ZONE BLITZ

Best Defensive Plays

BEST RUN DEFENSE: 4-3 Wide 9 — Free Fire 3

Setup:

This play will blow up most runs without a lead blocker in the backfield.
The Wide 9 is best against teams that like to attack the edge — you may have to switch it up against true power running teams.

Player to control:

Either DT

Run Defense

1st Down	2nd and short	3rd and short	Goal Line	2nd and long	3rd and long
46 Bear Under—Cover 1	4-3 Stack— Cover 1 Robber Press	46 Bear Under— Gap Press	Goal Line 5-4-2— Jam Cover 1	4-3 Wide 9— 1 QB Contain Spy	Nickel Wide 9— Cov 1 Thief Press
46 Bear Under—Cover 3	4-3 Stack— Weak Slant 3	46 Bear Under— LB Dogs 3	Goal Line 5-4-2— Flat Buzz	4-3 Wide 9— Cover 2 Invert	Nickel Wide 9— Cov 3 Sky

MAN COVERAGE ZONE COVERAGE MAN BLITZ ZONE BLITZ

BEST PASS DEFENSE: Big Dime 4-1-6 — Buck Slant 3

Setup:

The flat will be open on this play. Let them have it early in the game before adjusting at halftime.
When facing a left-handed QB, flip this play and bring the pressure from the other side.
Adding a QB contain to the snap can help your defenders stay wide off the edge.

Player to control:

Blitzing LB on the left of the screen

Pass Defense

1st Down	2nd and short	3rd and short	Goal Line	2nd and long	3rd and long
46 Bear Under—Cover 1	4-3 Over Plus—Cover 1	Nickel Normal— Cover 2 Sink	Goal Line 5-3-3— GL Man	Nickel Wide 9— Odd LB Dogs	Big Dime 4-1-6— Cov 1 Thief Press
46 Bear Under—Cover 3	4-3 Over Plus— Mike Blitz 3	Nickel Normal— Slant Show 2	Goal Line 5-3-3— Pinch Zone	Nickel Wide 9— Odd 4 Blitz Show 2	Big Dime 4-1-6— Buck Slant 3

MAN COVERAGE ZONE COVERAGE MAN BLITZ ZONE BLITZ