It’s game day. That means football, wings, and tailgating will all return to its rightful place in the weekend hierarchy. Today’s week 1 matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Steelers will be a testament to just how deep of team they are. Players along the board will be out tonight, notably Vita Vea, as well as Jamel Dean, Anthony Nelson, and Scotty Miller.
The roster that will be on display this evening will be a mere shell of what we will actually see week 1 of the regular season. Position battles will not be won or lost and Winston’s future will not be told. We hope to walk away from the game with a feel for strengths and weaknesses. Whether this team has the depth it desperately needs to make its way through the long season ahead… or not.
Defense
Expect to see the starters on both sides of the ball for more than a quarter, excluding rookies. Speaking of rookies, linebacker Devin White and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting will get plenty of action tonight as the get their first taste of in the pros. Training camp standout Mike Edwards will also be making his debut for the pirates in pewter. Overall, you just want to see pressures and a more aggressive look from Todd Bowles’ defense.
Offense
On the offensive side of the ball, Jameis Winston will have a limited amount of snaps to show some sort of improvement from last season’s play. Amongst the wideouts, Justin Watson and Bobo Wilson will have an opportunity to duke it out for a higher seating on the wide receiver depth chart, with rookie Scotty Miller out tonight. In the running back stable, Ronald Jones looks to eat away at Peyton Barber’s playing time. Reserve players Dare Ogunbowale and rookie Bruce Anderson are in prove-it mode these next four games. The two backs will compete with Andre Ellington to show the coaches which is most worthy of the coveted third spot.
Three Bold Game Predictions
1. Dare Ogunbowale leads the team in rushing
2. Justin Watson scores a touchdown
3. Buccaneer defense notches four sacks
No one expects perfection from preseason. At the very least there will be something to build upon. It all starts at 7:30 p.m. and is nationally-televised. No pressure.
