With Tampa Bay kicking off the preseason in Cincinnati in opposition to the Bengals on Saturday night time, right here is a few inside scoop from yours actually 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 plenty 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 – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
With Yaya Diaby lacking the preseason and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka lacking the preason opener attributable to accidents, the Bucs shall be getting a much-needed prolonged take a look at their reserve outdoors linebackers. Tampa Bay might or might not play veteran Anthony Nelson in opposition to the Bengals, however the three outdoors linebackers who determine to get probably the most snaps are rookie Chris Braswell, the crew’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 follow 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 unique Camp Diary on PewterReport.com, and Ramirez had a number of would-be sacks in follow, 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 might be Braswell in time. He might be a late bloomer like Diaby was final yr. 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 the same trajectory.
Bucky Irving Will Have A Heavy Workload In The Preseason
Bucs RB Bucky Irving and QB Kyle Trask – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Operating again Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay’s fourth-round decide, is predicted to not solely lead the Bucs in speeding this August, however doubtlessly in complete yardage, too. With veteran Chase Edmonds out of motion for the reason that first coaching camp follow on July 24, Irving has seen an elevated workload in follow. 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 crew is curious to see how nicely the 5-foot-8, 192-pound again will maintain as much as operating 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 in opposition to 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 vital snaps within the preseason, however all eyes shall be on Irving to see if he can break and shake tackles as simply as he did at Oregon.
Bucs Are Dissatisfied SirVocea Dennis Is Injured – Once more
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Picture 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 sphere. However Dennis has missed the previous week of follow in coaching camp with an undisclosed damage and received’t play within the preseason opener at Cincinnati. The Bucs are rising a bit involved about him as a result of the perfect form of capability is availability.
Dennis performed within the preseason opener final yr after which missed the subsequent two video games and the beginning of the common season with a hamstring damage. He bought his first begin on protection at Indianapolis in Week 12 throughout his rookie season, however then missed the prospect for an additional begin the subsequent week by getting sick and lacking the Carolina sport.
The previous fifth-round decide has missed plenty of invaluable 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 capability to blitz and canopy, however he’s bought to see the second-year linebacker do it in follow and in video games to completely belief him with that anticipated improve in enjoying time. Dennis must return to motion sooner relatively 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 Drawback
Bucs C Graham Barton – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs rookie heart Graham Barton has had a number 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 faculty to heart within the NFL. The final time he performed in a sport at heart was his freshman yr at Duke.
The crew would relatively have Barton fumble snaps in follow than in a sport, and get them out of his system in August relatively than in September. Barton has been going up in opposition to the likes of Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey in follow, so he’s getting ready to play a few of the greater and stronger defensive tackles within the NFL, in addition to a few of the faster, extra athletic defensive linemen.
He actually hasn’t received each rep, however Barton has fared nicely thus far and is on monitor to beat out veteran Robert Hainsey for the beginning heart job. Barton may have his arms full in opposition to 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 possible 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 permit them to contemplate Hainsey as an alternative.
Veterans, Former Starters Who May Be In Jeopardy
Bucs DL Will Gholston Picture by: USA As we speak
Some Bucs gamers price maintaining an in depth eye on within the preseason are defensive deal with Will Gholston, veteran vast 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 crew. 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. Control No. 93 (Banks) and No. 74 (Brown) within the preseason. In the event that they each carry out nicely, they might unseat each Gholston and Mike Greene from the 53-man roster, as I recommended 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 plenty 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 possible received’t play on particular groups, which could damage his trigger. He must get wholesome and play within the last two preseason video games.
Bucs DB Tykee Smith – Picture 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 crew’s seventh-round decide, for the No. 3 tight finish function, or make the crew as TE4 if the crew retains greater than three tight ends. Kieft wants a standout preseason to extend his possibilities.
Izien, who was the beginning nickelback final yr, 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 overwhelmed in protection greater than the crew wish 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 just isn’t 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 is going to possible be as a backup security.
