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How the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can win the NFC South

By Russell S. Baxter

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 26: Bucs Head Coach Bruce Arians speaks to the gathered media during the introductory press conference for 2019 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1st round pick Devin White on April 26, 2019 at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa,FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 26: Bucs Head Coach Bruce Arians speaks to the gathered media during the introductory press conference for 2019 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1st round pick Devin White on April 26, 2019 at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa,FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 30: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gets sacked by Vic Beasley Jr. #44 and Bruce Irvin #52 of the Atlanta Falcons during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Falcons won 34-32. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 30: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gets sacked by Vic Beasley Jr. #44 and Bruce Irvin #52 of the Atlanta Falcons during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Falcons won 34-32. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1. Take care of the football

Regardless of who was behind center this past season, taking care the football was a major problem for the Buccaneers and has been for quite a spell. No team in the league turned over the football more times (35) than this squad. And much of that fell on quarterbacks James Winston (17) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (13), who combined for all but five of those miscues.

Of course, the latter is now a member of the Miami Dolphins while the first-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft embarks on his fifth season in the league still in Tampa. It’s been a career that has displayed obvious talent but erratic play. In four years and a total of 56 games (54 starts), Winston has a 61.6 completion percentage, 88 touchdown passes and 76 turnovers. That latter number has to change in a big way if the team is to make its way up the standings.

And perhaps new head coach Bruce Arians is the right man for the job. He’s done his share of work with other notable quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck and Carson Palmer. While those performers also made their share of mistakes, the positives far outweighed the negatives and all were ultimately successful.

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In each of the past five seasons, the Buccaneers have committed a minimum of 27 turnovers and have given away the football a combined 150 times in 80 contests. It’s a number that predates Winston’s arrival in 2015 but certainly hasn’t gotten any better with him. Can Arians fix this major shortcoming?

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