The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off their preseason schedule against the Cincinnati Bengals. It was an interesting game that came down to the wire in a 17-14 Buccaneers win. And while it was nice to come out on top, the final score was the least important thing about this game.
This was a chance to see these players in action for the first time this year. Scrimmages like these are a great opportunity to see where you players are at. Think of it like an open practice and everything put on the field is just film study.
Overall, I was pretty impressed with all the players. There were ups and downs naturally, but overall it was a lot more good than bad. Even when the Bucs backups went against the Bengals starters early on, I thought they showed well.
Here are my takeaways from the Buccaneers preseason opener against the Bengals.
Depth players answering questions
I was really impressed by a few guys who needed to make an impression. JJ Russell, Jose Ramirez and Kaevon Merriweather were among the biggest stars for the Bucs in this game. They consistently flashed and showed that they are more than just warm bodies on the roster.
Both Ramirez and Russell were guys who could be considered on the roster bubble coming in. It was nice to see them consistently look like the best players on the field when they got a chance. Ramirez forced several holding calls against him and caused havoc in the backfield while Russell made plays all over the field from his linebacker spot.
Merriweather also felt like he was in on every play. He is listed as the back up safety, but don’t forget that he was an undrafted rookie last year. He did a nice job leaving no doubt that he belongs on this team.
Rookie offensive linemen showed well
We got our first look at first round center Graham Barton and sixth round guard Elijah Klein. Both are competing for jobs, Barton for the starting job and Klein for the primary backup job. Both impressed for the most part.
Barton showed off both his athletic ability and his nasty run blocking. He had a key block on the Bucky Irving touchdown run and looked good in pass protection overall. He also had some bad moments with his hand usage, but he was much more good than bad.
Klein was able to play most of the game. He did well as a run blocker, winning at the point of attack and climbing to the second level. However, he was also beat soundly a couple of times. But again, more good than bad.
Trask’s uneven day
It was a very up and down day for Kyle Trask. There were moments where his velocity and accuracy both looked impressive. He led the Bucs on a touchdown drive and another drive that ended with a missed field goal.
However, I took more bad out of this game than good. Trask threw an interception as well as another pass that looked like an interception, but the defender dropped it when he went to the ground. Trask also led his pass catchers into a few big hits, including one that knocked rookie tight end Devin Culp out of the game.
It’s one thing if the Buccaneers can’t survive a few games with their back up quarterback. After all, most teams are in big trouble if their starter goes down. But at this point, I’m not sure his teammates can survive significant playing time alongside Trask.
Jalen McMillan is the real deal
It seems to be the case every time he takes the field, but I was impressed with Jalen McMillan in this game. He only has two catches for 23 yards, but his second catch was a high difficulty one in traffic. Overall, I thought he was the most impressive player with the starting offense.
It’s worth noting that Trey Palmer had a nice catch too that set up a touchdown two plays later. However, it feels like McMillan just keeps pulling away from him in the battle for the third wide receiver job. I have no doubt that McMillan is the real deal.
Tight end competition
If you’re a tight end and your name isn’t Cade Otton then there’s a real chance you don’t make the Bucs roster. There is also a chance that you could be the primary backup up. That’s how thin the line is in this competition.
I thought all three of Devin Culp, Payne Durham and Ko Kieft had nice moments in this game. I’d also say that none of them really gained any ground over the other. With only two of the three likely to make the roster it is still wide open in that tight end room.
Running back depth!
Last night we got our first look at Bucky Irving. He looked quick and decisive and left everyone feeling good about his prospects as the primary backup to Rachaad White. He finished the night with 6 Carrie’s for 28 yards and a touchdown.
This was also our first chance to see Sean Tucker this season. Tucker has reportedly had a great camp after disappointing as a rookie last year. Tucker looked fast and confident and was even able to break off a nice 26 yard run. He finished with 10 Carrie’s for 68 yards overall.
In a year where running the football has been emphasized, it was nice to see both of these two have a strong outing. Both are hoping to play an important role for this team and last night was just another step forward in that.
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