With Tampa Bay kicking off the preseason in Cincinnati towards the Bengals on Saturday night time, 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 outdoors linebackers Chris Braswell (43) and Jose Ramirez (33) together with defensive lineman Eric Banks (93). All three are anticipated to play loads 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 attributable to accidents, the Bucs will likely be getting a much-needed prolonged have a look at their reserve outdoors linebackers. Tampa Bay might or might not play veteran Anthony Nelson towards the Bengals, however the three outdoors linebackers who determine to get probably the most snaps are rookie Chris Braswell, the staff’s second-round decide, and a pair of second-year edge rushers in Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez.
All three had an excellent week of observe with elevated reps. Watts and Braswell made spectacular performs in protection, with Braswell developing together with his first decide, which got here off Baker Mayfield. Watts, who has an exclusive Camp Diary on PewterReport.com, and Ramirez had a number of would-be sacks in observe, and Ramirez has made progress setting the sting and stuffing the run.
Tampa Bay is keen to see if anybody can unseat Tryon-Shoyinka for the beginning spot reverse Diaby. That participant may very well be Braswell in time. He may very well be a late bloomer like Diaby was final yr. Bear 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 may very well be on an analogous 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 decide, is predicted to not solely lead the Bucs in dashing this August, however probably in whole yardage, too. With veteran Chase Edmonds out of motion because the first coaching camp observe on July 24, Irving has seen an elevated workload in observe. 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 stay tackling in coaching camp practices – only a thud tempo – the staff is curious to see how effectively 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 yr.
Irving is predicted to begin towards the Bengals, and with Rachaad White not anticipated to play and Edmonds injured, that leaves Tampa Bay with simply 4 accessible backs. Sean Tucker can also be anticipated to play important snaps within the preseason, however all eyes will likely be on Irving to see if he can break and shake tackles as simply as he did at Oregon.
Bucs Are Disillusioned 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 observe 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 the perfect sort of means is availability.
Dennis performed within the preseason opener final yr after which missed the following two video games and the beginning of the common season with a hamstring damage. He acquired his first begin on protection at Indianapolis in Week 12 throughout his rookie season, however then missed the possibility for an additional begin the following week by getting sick and lacking the Carolina sport.
The previous fifth-round decide has missed loads of worthwhile on-field developmental time. Dennis just isn’t in peril of shedding his roster spot this yr. 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 attributable to his means to blitz and canopy, however he’s acquired to see the second-year linebacker do it in observe and in video games to totally belief him with that anticipated enhance in enjoying time. Dennis must return to motion sooner quite than later and reap the benefits 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 heart Graham Barton has had a couple of fumbled snaps in coaching camp to this point, and that’s not sudden. Tampa Bay’s first-round decide is making the transition from left deal with in school to heart within the NFL. The final time he performed in a sport at heart was his freshman yr at Duke.
The staff would quite have Barton fumble snaps in observe than in a sport, and get them out of his system in August quite than in September. Barton has been going up towards the likes of Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey in observe, so he’s getting ready to play among the larger and stronger defensive tackles within the NFL, in addition to among the faster, extra athletic defensive linemen.
He definitely hasn’t gained each rep, however Barton has fared effectively up to now and is on observe to beat out veteran Robert Hainsey for the beginning heart job. Barton may have his fingers full towards maybe the perfect defensive deal with 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 decide.
Washington head coach Dan Quinn will seemingly be stunting his defensive tackles and deploying some A spot blitzes together with his linebackers to assault the rookie heart within the season opener. Barton might want to snap cleanly in all three preseason video games to indicate the coaches he’s prepared and never enable them to contemplate Hainsey as an alternative.
Veterans, Former Starters Who Might Be In Jeopardy
Bucs DL Will Gholston Photograph by: USA At the moment
Some Bucs gamers price protecting a detailed eye on within the preseason are defensive deal with Will Gholston, veteran broad receiver Sterling Shepard, who’s a relative newcomer, tight finish Ko Kieft and defensive again Christian Izien. These 4 gamers usually are not locks to make the 2024 Buccaneers.
Gholston is 33 years outdated and is tied with lengthy snapper Zach Triner for the excellence of being the second-oldest Buccaneer on the staff. Linebacker Lavonte David is the oldest Buc at age 34. Tampa Bay is happy concerning 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 effectively, they might unseat each Gholston and Mike Greene from the 53-man roster, as I advised in my 53-man roster prediction in 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 staff. The Bucs have loads 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 seemingly gained’t play on particular groups, which could damage his trigger. He must get wholesome and play within the ultimate two preseason video games.
Bucs DB Tykee Smith – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Kieft just isn’t 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 staff’s seventh-round decide, for the No. 3 tight finish position, or make the staff as TE4 if the staff retains greater than three tight ends. Kieft wants a standout preseason to extend his probabilities.
Izien, who was the beginning nickelback final yr, has not had a exceptional 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 staff want to see. With the addition of Tykee Smith, the staff’s third-rounder, veteran free agent Tavierre Thomas and undrafted free agent Tyrek Funderburk all impressing, Izien just isn’t a lock to make the staff. 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 staff, it’ll seemingly be as a backup security.
