Following a 24-14 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 3 of the preseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers end their preseason on a high note with a 2-1 record, a strong ending that leaves them in the perfect position for a good start to the regular season when they face the Washington Commanders at home for the first game of the year.
Here are four takeaways from their strong preseason, and what they mean going forward into the season.
What We Learned from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preseason
Baker Mayfield is Ready to Go; Kyle Trask Will Likely Fill In as QB2
There was little doubt heading into the preseason that Baker Mayfield would be the team’s starting quarterback going forward after he received a three-year, $100 million contract extension in the offseason. He only played in the last game against the Dolphins and completed just three passing attempts, but he was trusted to lead the team’s starting offense and will continue to fill the role during the season. John Wolford and Kyle Trask took turns leading the team’s second-team offense until Wolford had to exit the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter due to a rib injury. Trask has been the frontrunner for Tampa Bay’s QB2 job since the offseason, and Wolford’s injury, if anything, cements Trask at the job. But one thing is sure: Mayfield will be the Bucs’ QB1 as long as he stays healthy.
Roster Cutdowns Won’t Be Easy
Roster cutdowns won’t be easy decisions for the Buccaneers’ management after the reserves’ impressive showing during the three preseason games, most notably former South Florida Bull and Arkansas Razorback Antonio Grier, as he recorded 17 total tackles, two passes defended, and an interception return for seven yards. Other players with notable performances include safeties Marcus Banks (12 total tackles) and Rashad Wisdom (eight total tackles, one pass defended, and a fumble return for seven yards), cornerback Tavierre Thomas (16 tackles), and wide receiver Kameron Johnson (three receptions for 12 yards and two rushing attempts for 13 yards). The front office will have a tough time deciding who will make the final 53-man roster and play in the regular season, which means the Bucs will have a solid bench to back up their starters.
The Offensive Line Depth Does Not Look Good
However, not everything the Bucs showed on the field this preseason left a good impression of what the regular season will look like for the team. Particularly, the backup offensive line needs a major turnaround to become a dependable piece of Tampa Bay’s reserves. Wolford’s injury was the result of botched blocking by the offensive line, and the opposition’s defensive line continuously pressured Trask. The starting offensive line only played during the last game of the preseason against the Dolphins, and although they did have a good showing, they cannot be relied on to be Mayfield’s protectors for the whole season. Eventually, injuries will start piling up, and the reserve players must step up and deliver when needed. As of right now, if any starting offensive lineman were to get injured throughout the season, there would be no reliable option to replace him. And this is something the Buccaneers must be wary of heading into the regular season.
The Rushing Game Will Be the Centerpiece of the Offense
The arrival of former Los Angeles Rams and Kentucky Wildcats offensive coordinator Liam Coen offers a whole new array of possibilities for the Buccaneer offense. Coen said in an interview with Bucs senior writer Scott Smith that he wants to bring more variety to the running game and make better use of star running back Rachaad White. The preseason offered us a preview of what Coen’s offense will look like during the regular season–and it looks amazing so far. Bucs running backs averaged 4.8 yards per carry during the team’s lone loss against the Jaguars, and that’s with White not playing a single snap throughout the whole game. If White takes on the challenge to lead Tampa Bay’s backfield successfully, we could be in for an excellent season out of the Bucs backfield.
