After opening the preseason with a 27-17 residence loss to the Steelers final Friday, the Bucs return to the sphere for extra preseason motion Saturday night time at MetLife Stadium. The brand new-look Jets shall be their hosts after the 2 groups squared off on the observe fields this previous Wednesday.
There are place battles occurring everywhere in the area for the Bucs, and Saturday’s sport would be the subsequent massive likelihood for anybody in these battles to get some separation. With that in thoughts, right here is one Buccaneer to look at at every place when Tampa Bay takes on New York in Week 2 of preseason play.
We’ll begin with the offensive facet of the ball.
Quarterback: Kyle Trask
Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Photograph By: Cliff Welch P/R
Final week, Baker Mayfield obtained the beginning towards the Steelers. He completed 8-of-9 for 63 yards and a landing, displaying good command of the offense and additional cementing himself as the favourite for the Bucs’ beginning quarterback job. However this week, as was deliberate, it’ll be Kyle Trask beginning towards the Jets. And this can be the ultimate likelihood for the 2021 second-round choose to make it actually tough for Todd Bowles and Tampa Bay’s teaching workers to decide on Mayfield over him to start out the season.
Trask actually performed clear soccer early on in camp and closed the hole between him and Mayfield, making it rather less clear who would begin come Week 1. However since he tightened the race, Mayfield has turned it on. He has minimize down on the turnovers in observe and had the higher sport within the preseason opener. It looks like his job to lose, but when Trask takes benefit of his reps on Saturday night time, possibly there’ll be extra to the coaches’ resolution for the preseason finale and common season opener.
Working Again: Chase Edmonds
There was zero doubt about who the perfect operating again on the sphere was for Tampa Bay final Friday. Whereas Ke’Shawn Vaughn struggled to seek out house and completed with simply 4 yards on seven carries, veteran Chase Edmonds was extra of a vibrant spot. The run sport wasn’t all that particular final week, however Edmonds confirmed actually good burst and imaginative and prescient to the tune of 18 yards on six carries. These numbers are on no account nice, however he did have a 20-yard run known as again as a result of a holding penalty.
Vaughn was assumed to be the Bucs’ RB2 this 12 months, as he’s in a contract 12 months and drew rave reviews from new offensive coordinator Dave Canales. However within the first two editions of the workforce’s depth chart (take these for what you’ll), it was Edmonds who was listed behind beginning operating again Rachaad White. It wasn’t a lot of a shock, as Edmonds has put collectively a robust camp and appears the a part of RB2 for an offense dedicated to operating the ball higher in 2023.
Vast Receiver: Rakim Jarrett
Bucs WR Rakim Jarrett Photograph By: Cliff Welch/PR
The primary of three carry-overs from last week on this record, Rakim Jarrett was a shock inactive for Tampa Bay’s preseason opener. He had what Todd Bowles known as a “leg harm” and missed his NFL debut. However he returned to observe this week and is now set for his debut Saturday night time towards the Jets, and he’ll be trying to construct on what has been a robust camp for him. Assuming he’s again to 100% from no matter ailed him final week, search for Jarrett to be closely concerned all through the night, because the team’s top receivers are set to sit out again.
The undrafted free agent out of Maryland has an inside monitor to a spot on the Bucs’ 53-man roster, particularly after Russell Gage suffered a season-ending injury this week. Jarrett could have pressured his approach onto the roster anyway, as he’s been a drive all through coaching camp thus far. However now, he’ll have an opportunity to solidify his spot on the depth chart, which figures to incorporate Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Deven Thompkins, Trey Palmer, David Moore and Jarrett.
Tight Finish: Payne Durham
Cade Otton and David Wells have gotten the highlight on the tight finish place for the Bucs over the previous few weeks, and that’s been warranted. It’s been one thing of a quiet camp for fifth-round choose Payne Durham, and he appears to be like to be extra like Tampa Bay’s TE4 proper now behind Otton, Wells and Ko Kieft. However he did have a giant second close to the top of final week’s preseason opener, as he caught a 3-yard landing move from John Wolford.
Maybe discovering the top zone shall be a pleasant springboard for Durham, who’s a big-bodied crimson zone risk the Bucs would like to belief come common season time. It’s not that he’s had a nasty camp, however the rookie has but to make a robust impression. That’s why Saturday night time’s sport at MetLife Stadium may very well be a giant alternative for him, as he ought to get loads of enjoying time and sufficient possibilities to make an influence on the sport.
Offensive Deal with: Luke Goedeke
The second carry-over from last week’s list, Luke Goedeke had a combined bag of an evening in his preseason debut at proper deal with. Early on, he had some big-time bully vibes — particularly within the run sport. He and rookie Cody Mauch had been destroyers up entrance, and it was an encouraging sight to see. However then issues got here again all the way down to earth for the second-year participant, who allowed a few sacks, was flagged for a maintain and didn’t get a lot of a push in a number of short-yardage conditions.
Bucs RT Luke Goedeke and RG Cody Mauch – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
As Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo wrote over the weekend, issues weren’t as unhealthy as they appeared for Goedeke towards the Steelers. Nonetheless, Tampa Bay wants higher, extra constant play out of him towards the Jets to get the boldness entering into the fitting course for him — and the workforce. He must proceed wrecking within the run sport whereas holding up higher in move safety. In any other case, the Bucs might have to hurry up any contingency plans they might have on the proper deal with place.
Offensive Guard: Cody Mauch
Mauch is the ultimate carry-over from last week’s offensive list. He had combined leads to his NFL debut towards the Steelers. An early false begin on fourth-and- 1 was a tough method to begin, and he had some robust moments all through the night time. However he additionally had some good moments, notably within the run sport. You may see why the Bucs like Mauch, and you may as well see why he (in partnership with Goedeke) will be be a work in progress.
There’s no higher trainer than expertise, particularly for a rookie offensive lineman. Early difficulties had been maybe to be anticipated for Mauch, a product of North Dakota State. He’s shifting as much as the NFL from Division II, plus he’s shifting to protect from the deal with place he’s performed in school. There was loads for the rookie to be taught from final week, and Saturday offers him an opportunity to point out some progress. He already began turning some heads in Wednesday’s joint observe with the Jets, which ought to assist his confidence.
Heart: Robert Hainsey
The Bucs’ middle state of affairs continues to be a bit puzzling. Ryan Jensen elected to not have knee surgical procedure when he suffered a critical harm in coaching camp final 12 months, and he returned to the sphere within the workforce’s playoff loss to Dallas in January. However he’s nonetheless being introduced alongside slowly all through camp, having evenly participated in 1-on-1s however not but getting concerned in full workforce drills. That has left Robert Hainsey because the workforce’s beginning middle. Hainsey began 17 video games for the Bucs at middle final 12 months, and with the way in which issues are going, he could have to start out some extra for them in 2023.
Jensen was given the week off this week, and there’s no assure he’s going to ramp up quick sufficient to start out Week 1 towards Minnesota. There’s additionally no assure he returns to his previous form. So, Tampa Bay wants Hainsey to be a stable fall-back, and he’s regarded like one thus far this summer season. Saturday night time is one other likelihood for him to point out the work he’s put in throughout the offseason and cement himself as somebody the coaches could be assured in if Jensen’s state of affairs stays unclear. Whether or not he’s the starter once more or the Bucs choose to provide Nick Leverett the beginning at middle, Hainsey must play very well every time he enters the sport.
