Though each team resides in a different conference, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans are on similar trajectories. Usually, when two or more quarterbacks are considered as close as Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston are, their career paths are always compared. Look at the Andrew Luck-Robert Griffin III debate from 2012.
Before it was realized that RG3’s leg was made of paper mache, this was a hotly contested argument. One got the sense that it was always going to be that way – as if the two were destined to be tied together for their entire careers. And, hell, to this day, you still hear about Ryan Leaf vs. Peyton Manning and what a debacle that was for the San Diego Chargers. But if you take a step back and look at these two franchises as a whole, you’ll see a lot more that makes these two teams similar.
The Quarterbacks
The similarities are obviously going to begin and end with the two young quarterbacks. Mariota vs. Winston is a fair debate right now. Both guys came out of college with a Heisman Trophy. Both guys played for teams in the College Football Playoff. Winston won a National Championship as a part of the 2013 Florida State Seminoles. A year later, Mariota’s Oregon Ducks slaughtered the ‘Noles in the Rose Bowl.
Fast forward to their careers in the NFL, and they’ve both become two of the most promising young signal-callers in the league. If you’re building a franchise and need a quarterback for the next 10 years, either of these guys could be the selection. Mariota was injured for the conclusion of the season, but finished with a quarterback rating of 95.6 (good for 10th in the league). Winston was rated at 86.1, but if he cuts down on interceptions, that rating will self-correct in a hurry. Only Philip Rivers (21) had more interceptions than Winston (18) in 2016.
The Ascension
Both teams finished 9-7 last season, good for 2nd in their respective divisions. Both are just a season removed from being the worst team in their respective conference. Things seem to have turned around for both teams after drafting their franchise quarterbacks in 2015. For both of their rises to mirror each other so closely is a little odd. You don’t usually see something like this happen.
The Head Coaches
Both Dirk Koetter (Bucs) and Mike Mularkey (Titans) are former offensive coordinators. Both are entering their third (full) season as a head coach in the NFL. Mularkey is certainly more embattled – having two previous runs as a head coach in the NFL (Buffalo & Jacksonville). Both of these guys spent a part of their journey in the Jacksonville Jaguars organization.
While it hasn’t panned out quite yet in Tampa Bay, Koetter was known for getting the run game going. It helped having Maurice Jones-Drew, sure, but during his five years in Jacksonville, the Jaguars were always one of the best rushing teams in the NFL. And, we’ve all heard about Mularkey’s affinity for the run game here in Nashville. For good reason, his ‘exotic smashmouth’ dynamic rushing attack was one of the best in the NFL in 2016.
The Team Needs
On offense, both the Titans and Bucs are only one playmaker or two away from being elite, high-powered offenses. Philosophies may be different, but in terms of personnel, they aren’t far apart at all. The Titans need a number one receiver, a speedster, a tight end, or some combination of all three (lookin’ at you, O.J. Howard). The Bucs need a running back and some youth at wide receiver to complement Mike Evans. If Tennessee gets Howard or Mike Williams, that could put the Titans offense over the top. Should Tampa Bay land Dalvin Cook or John Ross, that could put them among the NFL elite.
Both defenses need talent and youth in the secondary, but already have a defensive back to build around. The Titans have Kevin Byard. The Bucs have Vernon Hargreaves III. Both need quality starters opposite them. Tennessee runs a 3-4 while Tampa Bay runs a 4-3, so of course, the schemes are very different, but in terms of personnel, they’re close.
The talent that these two teams have is eerily similar. Both organizations have done a wonderful job of stockpiling players.
The Face of the Defense
I was just in Tampa not too long ago for a New York Yankees Spring training game. When we drove by Raymond James Stadium, guess whose face was on the giant poster outside the stadium? Gerald McCoy (along with Winston, to be fair). I live in Nashville and see it every day. Jurrell Casey’s likeness is hanging from the side of Nissan Stadium. These two guys have become the unofficial face of their defense.
It’ll be interesting to see where these teams go in 2017. We’ll have a better idea of where each roster stands after the draft. But, the way they’re building, we’ll see a Tampa Bay vs. Tennessee Super Bowl before long.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @WrestlingNewsCo
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