Wide receiver Antonio Brown signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 1 year, $1.05 million.
Brown has not played since week 2 last year with the New England Patriots.
This will be the first time Brown is playing since the NFL suspended him for 8 games for his off-field incidents with the Steelers.
More from the NFL on Antonio Brown’s eight-game suspension (at least). He’d be allowed to participate in training camp if a team signs him, with the suspension taking effect Sept. 5. pic.twitter.com/kXHbrkyBSo
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 31, 2020
AB was allowed to serve his suspension while not on a team, so he will be eligible to play in week 9.
He will be joining an offense that is led by a future Hall of Fame QB in Tom Brady and ranks 3rd in the league in scoring offense (31.7 PPG).
Tampa has one of the best receiving corps in the league in Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Scottie Miller.
They also have two good receiving tight ends in Rob Gronkowski and OJ Howard.
The Bucs currently rank in the top 8 in the league in the following passing categories:
Passing Yards per Game – 266.1 (8th)
Receiving TDs – 18 (2nd)
Passing First Downs – 95 (T-8th)
Their passing attack is complemented by an average rushing attack (105.7 yards per game – 19th).
Antonio Brown has the talent to take this already dangerous offense to potentially new heights.
Time of Possession
As it currently sits, Tampa is only an average team in terms of the average time of possession per game and the average time per drive.
In Brown, they add a receiver who consistently kept the chains moving while in Pittsburgh.
He had 6 seasons with at least 60 first downs with 3 of those topping 70.
He also holds 2 of the top 5 seasons all-time for receptions.
The Buccaneers adding AB is an instance of the rich getting richer.
Tampa Bay’s team grades (rank) through week 6
🔴 Overall – 86.5 (1st)
🔴 Offense – 79.5 (8th)
🔴 Defense – 74.9 (3rd)#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/krFWNb01la— PFF TB Buccaneers (@PFF_Buccaneers) October 20, 2020
Tampa already ranked in the top 10 in terms of passing first downs and now they add a receiver who consistently helps move the chains.
If Tampa can chew up more clock on offense by extending drives, it will be bad news for opposing teams.
Not only will it wear down opposing defenses, but it will also allow Tampa’s defense to rest more.
A defense that ranks 8th in the league in points allowed per game (20.3) and 3rd in the league in yards allowed per game (291.3).
Home Run Potential
It’s no secret AB is one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL because of his “home run” ability.
He has the potential to turn a quick slant into a long touchdown or burn his defender deep.
Tampa ranks as a bottom half team in both yards gained per attempt and yards gained per completion.
This is in part due to how Brady likes to operate.
He prefers the short, quick-hitters that keep drives moving.
Buc’s coach Bruce Arians prefers a more explosive passing attack that throws the ball down the field.
Adding Brown can give this team the ability to do both.
AB is a possession receiver who is explosive with the ball in his hands, as seen by his career average of 13 yards per touch.
Between Evans, Godwin, and Brown, it will be nearly impossible for opposing teams to plan for all three.
Potentially opening up the big-play aspect of the offense Arians loves to deploy.
Spreading out Defenses
Tampa is adding a former All-NFL caliber receiver to an already stacked receiving room.
This puts even more pressure on opposing defensive coordinators to plan for the Buccaneer offense.
With Evans, Brown, Gronk, and Godwin (once healthy) on the field, defenses will need to put extra defensive backs on the field to account for all the talent.
A look at what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense could look like with Antonio Brown. pic.twitter.com/tq6VPeH1Fg
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 23, 2020
In turn, this could help jumpstart the rushing attack that Tampa has been missing this year.
Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette are both talented backs who are proven in the NFL.
If teams are forced to limit the number of players in the box on defense, Jones and Fournette should find more room to run.
And once the defense has to plan for the run, Brady and his star receiving corp can exploit a depleted secondary.
Because Tampa has multiple options to account for in the passing attack, teams will be limited in their ability to send double teams.
Without a double team or safety help, Buccaneer receivers will be able to exploit mismatches in single coverage or find soft spots in a zone.
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