Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Photos: Five Buccaneer Milestone Pursuits
A number of Tampa Bay players are chasing significant records or milestones in the team's all-time annals. Here are five Bucs to watch as they track down a spot in franchise history during the remainder of the 2013 season
Last year, in his first season as a Buccaneer, WR Vincent Jackson amassed a whopping 1,384 receiving yards, just 38 shy of the franchise's single-season mark. WR Vincent Carrier set the record in 1989 when he rang up 1,422 yards; until last year, he was the only Buccaneer ever to surpass even 1,300 yards in a season. Jackson's impressive start to the 2013 campaign has him hot on Carrier's heals once again. In fact, with 623 yards through the first seven games, Jackson is one pace for...wait for it...1,424 yards. This one may go down to the wire.
As a rookie in 2012, LB Lavonte David was an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate for his incredible tackles-for-loss numbers and his work in Tampa Bay's top-ranked run defense. This year, David has added a dynamic pass-rush element to his game. Through seven outings, David already has a team-high five sacks, the first Buccaneer linebacker to get that many in one season since Lonnie Marts had seven in 1996. Now David can pursue a double-digit sack total, something no Buccaneer player at any position has done since DE Simeon Rice had 14.0 in 2005.
By virtue of the fact that he has the starting job in hand for the next nine weeks, QB Mike Glennon is a good bet to break the Buccaneers' rookie records for passing yards and touchdowns in 2013. The passer he replaced, Josh Freeman, set those marks at 1,855 yards and 10 touchdown passes, respectively in 2009. Through just four games, Glennon is already more than halfway to both of those marks; his 997 yards and six TD passes has him on pace for 3,240 yards and 20 touchdowns if he does indeed make 13 starts.
Rookie Tim Wright, a collegiate wide receiver who converted to tight end during training camp, has been one of the Buccaneers' most pleasant surprises in 2013. A rash of injuries at the tight end position gave Wright the chance to take on a lead role at the position, and he has made the most of it, ranking third on the team with 20 catches for 201 yards. If he keeps it up, Wright could actually end up with the best numbers ever by a Buccaneer rookie tight end. Right now, those marks belong to Alex Smith, who broke in with 41 receptions for 367 yards in 2005. Wright is on pace for 46 and 460, respectively.
DT Gerald McCoy's breakout season in 2012 earned him his first invitation to the Pro Bowl, and McCoy is once again playing at a high level in 2013. If he can repeat as an all-star selection this year, he would be the first Buccaneer to make back-to-back Pro Bowl trips since Ronde Barber and Derrick Brooks did so after the 2005 and 2006 seasons. (Jackson and RB Doug Martin could also achieve this feat after going to the Pro Bowl last year.) McCoy could be the first Tampa Bay defensive lineman to make the Hawaii trip twice in a row since Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice did so in 2003 and 2004.
