With Tampa Bay kicking off the preseason in Cincinnati towards the Bengals on Saturday evening, right here is a few inside scoop from yours really to get you prepared for some Bucs soccer.
Within the image above, you’ll see exterior linebackers Chris Braswell (43) and Jose Ramirez (33) together with defensive lineman Eric Banks (93). All three are anticipated to play lots of snaps in Cincinnati and the remainder of the preseason and all three have impressed this week in coaching camp. Take pleasure in!
All Eyes On Bucs Edge Rushers
Bucs OLB Markees Watts – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
With Yaya Diaby lacking the preseason and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka lacking the preason opener resulting from accidents, the Bucs can be getting a much-needed prolonged take a look at their reserve exterior linebackers. Tampa Bay might or might not play veteran Anthony Nelson towards the Bengals, however the three exterior linebackers who determine to get essentially the most snaps are rookie Chris Braswell, the crew’s second-round choose, and a pair of second-year edge rushers in Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez.
All three had an excellent week of apply with elevated reps. Watts and Braswell made spectacular performs in protection, with Braswell developing along with his first choose, which got here off Baker Mayfield. Watts, who has an unique Camp Diary on PewterReport.com, and Ramirez had a number of would-be sacks in apply, and Ramirez has made progress setting the sting and stuffing the run.
Tampa Bay is raring to see if anybody can unseat Tryon-Shoyinka for the beginning spot reverse Diaby. That participant might be Braswell in time. He might be a late bloomer like Diaby was final 12 months. Keep in mind, Diaby didn’t get his first sack till Buffalo in Week 8 and he wound up getting all 7.5 sacks within the second half of his rookie season. Braswell might be on an identical trajectory.
Bucky Irving Will Have A Heavy Workload In The Preseason
Bucs RB Bucky Irving and QB Kyle Trask – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Working again Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay’s fourth-round choose, is anticipated to not solely lead the Bucs in speeding this August, however doubtlessly in whole yardage, too. With veteran Chase Edmonds out of motion for the reason that first coaching camp apply on July 24, Irving has seen an elevated workload in apply. He’s labored with the starters and the backups as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield.
As a result of the Bucs don’t do any dwell tackling in coaching camp practices – only a thud tempo – the crew is curious to see how nicely the 5-foot-8, 192-pound again will maintain as much as working between the tackles within the NFL and what number of carries he can deal with in 1 / 4 and in a sport. Irving was the function again at Oregon the final two years and averaged 171 carries per season. Plus, he additionally caught 87 passes, together with 51 final 12 months.
Irving is anticipated to begin towards the Bengals, and with Rachaad White not anticipated to play and Edmonds injured, that leaves Tampa Bay with simply 4 out there backs. Sean Tucker can also be anticipated to play important snaps within the preseason, however all eyes can be on Irving to see if he can break and shake tackles as simply as he did at Oregon.
Bucs Are Upset SirVocea Dennis Is Injured – Once more
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay has been thrilled with the play of second-year inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis – when he’s been on the sector. However Dennis has missed the previous week of apply in coaching camp with an undisclosed damage and gained’t play within the preseason opener at Cincinnati. The Bucs are rising a bit involved about him as a result of one of the best type of means is availability.
Dennis performed within the preseason opener final 12 months after which missed the following two video games and the beginning of the common season with a hamstring damage. He obtained his first begin on protection at Indianapolis in Week 12 throughout his rookie season, however then missed the prospect for one more begin the following week by getting sick and lacking the Carolina sport.
The previous fifth-round choose has missed lots of helpful on-field developmental time. Dennis shouldn’t be at risk of dropping his roster spot this 12 months. However his absence will create alternatives for J.J. Russell and rookie Kalen DeLoach to impress the Bucs coaches and scouts.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has designs on utilizing Dennis in some third down packages resulting from his means to blitz and canopy, however he’s obtained to see the second-year linebacker do it in apply and in video games to totally belief him with that anticipated improve in taking part in time. Dennis must return to motion sooner moderately than later and make the most of the final two preseason video games to proceed to develop.
Graham Barton’s Errant Snaps Are Not A Downside
Bucs C Graham Barton – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs rookie middle Graham Barton has had just a few fumbled snaps in coaching camp to this point, and that’s not surprising. Tampa Bay’s first-round choose is making the transition from left sort out in faculty to middle within the NFL. The final time he performed in a sport at middle was his freshman 12 months at Duke.
The crew would moderately have Barton fumble snaps in apply than in a sport, and get them out of his system in August moderately than in September. Barton has been going up towards the likes of Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey in apply, so he’s getting ready to play a number of the larger and stronger defensive tackles within the NFL, in addition to a number of the faster, extra athletic defensive linemen.
He definitely hasn’t gained each rep, however Barton has fared nicely to this point and is on observe to beat out veteran Robert Hainsey for the beginning middle job. Barton could have his arms full towards maybe one of the best defensive sort out duo within the league in Washington’s Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen in Week 1 – to not point out rookie Johnny Newton, the Commanders’ second-round choose.
Washington head coach Dan Quinn will doubtless be stunting his defensive tackles and deploying some A niche blitzes along with his linebackers to assault the rookie middle within the season opener. Barton might want to snap cleanly in all three preseason video games to point out the coaches he’s prepared and never permit them to contemplate Hainsey as an alternative.
Veterans, Former Starters Who May Be In Jeopardy
Bucs DL Will Gholston Photograph by: USA As we speak
Some Bucs gamers price retaining an in depth eye on within the preseason are defensive sort out Will Gholston, veteran extensive receiver Sterling Shepard, who’s a relative newcomer, tight finish Ko Kieft and defensive again Christian Izien. These 4 gamers are usually not locks to make the 2024 Buccaneers.
Gholston is 33 years previous and is tied with lengthy snapper Zach Triner for the excellence of being the second-oldest Buccaneer on the crew. Linebacker Lavonte David is the oldest Buc at age 34. Tampa Bay is happy in regards to the potential of a pair of younger new defensive tackles in Eric Banks, 26, and Earnest Brown, 25. Keep watch over No. 93 (Banks) and No. 74 (Brown) within the preseason. In the event that they each carry out nicely, they may unseat each Gholston and Mike Greene from the 53-man roster, as I advised in my 53-man roster prediction on this week’s SR’s Fab 5.
Shepard has a historical past of accidents from his days with the New York Giants, and him lacking this previous week with an undisclosed damage doesn’t assist his trigger making the crew. The Bucs have lots of younger receivers they’re enthusiastic about. Jalen McMillan and Trey Palmer are locks to make the roster, and Rakim Jarrett and undrafted free agent Kameron Johnson have been spectacular in camp. At age 30, Shepard doubtless gained’t play on particular groups, which could harm his trigger. He must get wholesome and play within the last two preseason video games.
Bucs DB Tykee Smith – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Kieft shouldn’t be a receiving tight finish, and Liam Coen needs his tight ends concerned within the passing sport. He’s additionally not a dominant blocker, so he should shine on particular groups to beat out rookie Devin Culp, the crew’s seventh-round choose, for the No. 3 tight finish position, or make the crew as TE4 if the crew retains greater than three tight ends. Kieft wants a standout preseason to extend his probabilities.
Izien, who was the beginning nickelback final 12 months, has not had a outstanding coaching camp to this point. He lastly picked off a go on a deflection on Thursday, however he’s been crushed in protection greater than the crew want to see. With the addition of Tykee Smith, the crew’s third-rounder, veteran free agent Tavierre Thomas and undrafted free agent Tyrek Funderburk all impressing, Izien shouldn’t be a lock to make the crew. All three can play nickelback, and Thomas leads the Bucs with three interceptions in camp and is starring on particular groups. If Izien makes the crew, it can doubtless be as a backup security.
