TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking for their fourth coach since the end of the 2008 NFL season. Here are five things the next Bucs coach must do in order to have success next season and in the future:
Win: This might seem obvious, but it's something that hasn't happened often in Tampa Bay. Since the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in 2002, they have had just four winning seasons and none since 2010. The next coach will have to break that streak -- and soon. The Glazer family, which owns the Bucs, thinks the team is close and should be winning.
Develop Winston: Quarterback Jameis Winston, who just wrapped up his rookie season Sunday, seems to be the centerpiece for the Glazers. They appear to be totally behind the belief that he is a franchise quarterback. His first-year stats say this could be a possibility, but the new coach must make sure Winston continues to grow. If he falters, the team will be set back another five years.
Win the locker room: This will be especially important if offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is the new coach; some players, particularly on defense, will believe Koetter went behind Lovie Smith's back to get the job. With so many changes, the new coach must be able to connect with the leaders on the team and convince them to follow and lead by example. A divided locker room won't yield great results.
Be able to lead and motivate: Former Bucs coach Greg Schiano fell into the same trap many college coaches do when they are hired by an NFL team. Despite being a good leader, he didn't know how to motivate grown men. This new hire must know how to address and communicate with adults.
Fix the defense: The decline of the defense was a major reason why Smith was fired. Although the defense finished 10th in yards against, there were many other spots where the unit failed. The secondary is one area that has to be addressed, as well as the lack of consistent pass rush. Whoever is hired better get this right.