The Bucs will take the sphere at Raymond James Stadium Friday night time for the primary time since their playoff loss to the Cowboys on Jan. 16. The confines might be acquainted, however a few of the gamers gained’t, as there are quite a lot of new faces on Tampa Bay’s roster heading into 2023.
There are place battles occurring everywhere in the area for the Bucs, and Friday’s preseason opener towards the Steelers is the primary large probability for the gamers in these battles to get some separation.
With that in thoughts, right here is one participant at every place to observe when Tampa Bay hosts Pittsburgh on Friday night time. We’ll begin with the offensive facet of the ball.
Bucs Quarterback: Baker Mayfield
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
A lot of coaching camp has been concerning the quarterback competitors between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. They’re competing for the correct to switch Tom Brady because the Bucs’ beginning signal-caller, and the preseason — plus subsequent week’s joint practices with the Jets — will decide lots.
Friday might be about Mayfield, because it’s his probability to start out and play with the first-team offense. Head coach Todd Bowles hasn’t mentioned how a lot Mayfield will play, nor has he mentioned whether or not or not Trask will get any time with the beginning group in Friday’s sport. Regardless, Mayfield — who has the perspective of somebody who thrives beneath the lights — will get the primary crack at pulling forward in what has been a decent battle between the 2 quarterbacks so far.
Bucs Working Again: Sean Tucker
The large caveat right here is that it’s unclear whether or not Sean Tucker will play, and if he does, it’s arduous to say how a lot. The undrafted free agent could have been a late-Day 2 or early-Day 3 choose within the draft if not for a coronary heart situation that flared up throughout the pre-draft course of. The Bucs signed him after the draft and simply earlier than coaching camp, the situation had improved to the purpose the place he was cleared to follow.
However whether or not which means he’s prepared for full-on sport motion stays to be seen. If he’s, it’ll be a sight to see. Tucker (referred to by some as “Child Nick Chubb”) is Tampa Bay’s quickest operating again and maybe essentially the most intriguing, because the group largely is aware of what it has in Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Chase Edmonds, who’re behind Rachaad White — the brand new RB1 in purple and pewter. If Tucker is unable to go or finds himself on a snap rely, Shepherd’s Ronnie Brown — one other undrafted free agent — could be one other again to control.
Bucs Broad Receiver: Rakim Jarrett
Bucs WR Rakim Jarrett – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Jarrett has been one of many stars of coaching camp up to now, and he has himself in place to carve out a task on the Bucs’ 53-man roster. However his performances in follow might want to carry over to actual sport motion if he needs to solidify his spot in Tampa Bay’s receiver room. Friday’s matchup with Pittsburgh is his first probability to make an impression on a much bigger stage.
Jarrett, who hails from the College of Maryland, might be trying to beat out the likes of Kade Warner, Ryan Miller, Kaylon Geiger and Taye Barber for a roster spot. His velocity helps him separate, however he has additionally proven a capability to make contested catches throughout coaching camp. It wouldn’t be a shock to see him emerge as one of many prime performers within the second half of Friday night time’s exhibition contest. Search for Jarrett on kick return responsibility, too.
Bucs Tight Finish: David Wells
David Wells has been one of many surprises of camp up to now for the Bucs. From very early on, he started to ascertain himself as fairly the pass-catching menace, and he might find yourself positioning himself as Tampa Bay’s TE2 behind Cade Otton. The receiving potential is there, however he’ll have to point out that he’s a succesful blocker if his inventory goes to maintain rising.
Wells is definitely the oldest tight finish within the room for the Bucs, as he turned 28 in Could. The group is clearly set with Otton as the highest man and is more likely to hold Ko Kieft round on account of his blocking prowess, however Wells is in place to crack the opening day roster if he can block and translate his physique of labor as a receiver in follow to gameday.
Bucs Offensive Sort out: Luke Goedeke
The Bucs’ offensive line has undergone important adjustments this offseason, with all 5 positions set to be manned by somebody new in 2023. With Tristan Wirfs sliding to left sort out as Donovan Smith’s substitute, 2022 second-round choose Luke Goedeke will return to proper sort out, the place he performed at Central Michigan. After fighting a transfer to left guard final yr, he’s again at proper sort out and is penciled in as Tampa Bay’s starter.
Goedeke has improved this offseason and can profit from being at a extra pure place to him. His arm size is why he was moved inside on the NFL degree to start with, so it stays to be seen whether or not his shorter-than-ideal arms will hinder him at sort out. Nonetheless, Friday night time is the primary probability for him to quell any worries about him because the beginning proper sort out, so he’ll be one to observe whereas the beginning group is on the sphere early within the sport.
Bucs Offensive Guard: Cody Mauch
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Rookie debuts are all the time a enjoyable a part of preseason motion, and the Bucs could have a number of of these on Friday night time towards the Pittsburgh Steelers. However with Calijah Kancey sidelined on account of a calf damage, the best draft choose who might be making his debut is second-rounder Cody Mauch. Mauch, a 6-foot-5, 302-pound proper guard, is penciled in as considered one of Tampa Bay’s 5 starters alongside the offensive line. He’ll get his first crack at actual sport motion when Pittsburgh rolls into city.
There’s little or no concern about Mauch as a run blocker, however there may be room for him to enhance as a cross blocker. He’s gotten off to a superb begin in camp, and the Bucs are proud of what he’s finished up to now. However when the lights come on, he’ll must additional cement himself as not solely considered one of 5 starters on the offensive line — he’ll must show that he’s s dependable starter who the group gained’t have to fret about come Week 1 in Minnesota.
Bucs Heart: Nick Leverett
Ryan Jensen gained’t play Friday night time, as he’s nonetheless working his means again from the knee damage he suffered in coaching camp final yr. He noticed some one-on-one reps for the primary time earlier this week, however has but to return to full 11-on-11 work. So, Robert Hainsey is about to start out at heart, as he did for 17 video games final yr. The place there’s extra intrigue is with Nick Leverett.
Leverett is an especially invaluable depth piece for Tampa Bay, and he proved that in 2022 by stepping in at left guard and taking part in properly instead of an injured and struggling Luke Goedeke. However because it stands, there’s not a beginning spot for Leverett, and he’ll function a backup guard once more along with working as a third-team heart. Nonetheless, there have been some snap alternate issues for the 26-year-old within the final couple of practices, so which may be one thing to maintain a watch out for come Friday night time.
