The Bucs closed out their 2024 preseason with a formidable general efficiency towards the Miami Dolphins, profitable 24-14. Given an entire staff win the place a number of phases of the staff regarded clear for a lot of the sport, there are lots of people included on this week’s most spectacular.
WR Jalen McMillan
McMillan received the nod because the beginning receiver reverse Chris Godwin, and it didn’t take him very lengthy to make an affect. On the Bucs’ first drive of the sport McMillan made a highlight-reel catch alongside the best sideline for 28 yards right down to the Dolphins four-yard line. McMillan displayed improbable ball monitoring, physique management and arms to make the seize and keep in bounds whereas coping with strong protection and a closing security as well. The catch set the Bucs as much as rating on their subsequent play.
RB Rachaad White
White made probably the most of his first preseason motion. He was the featured participant on the Bucs first drive of the sport, touching the ball on 5 of the staff’s seven performs. For the drive White had 4 carries for 16 yards and a landing whereas including a catch on a display screen play which he took up discipline for 17 yards. White was affected person as a runner discovering holes and transferring up discipline constantly.
QB Baker Mayfield
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA At the moment
Mayfield performed little or no, however made his restricted snaps rely. His official line was 3-3 for 54 yards. Two of his completions have been gimmes on display screen passes. However his third throw was an absolute dime as he put the 28-yarder to McMillan completely on McMillan’s again shoulder in a spot solely McMillan might get to it. The outcome was an enormous time throw for an explosive outcome that arrange a landing to place the Bucs up early.
Greater than that, Mayfield regarded comfy and assured working the offense. He seems like he has a robust mastery of the offense and is prepared for week one.
Bucs OL
The Bucs offensive line received out to a quick begin towards the Dolphins as they opened up holes within the working sport and received out in entrance for White’s display screen. Rookie middle Graham Barton continued to indicate why the Bucs have been so excited to pick him within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft. His athleticism was absolutely on show mixing power, velocity and agility as he was one of many lead blockers on White’s longest play. Tristan Wirfs additionally had a terrific block sealing the sting on that exact play as properly.
When the backups entered, rookie Elijah Klein popped as he had in his first two preseason video games. Klein was exhibiting thunderous pop in his arms, climbing to the second degree and overlaying up linebackers higher than he beforehand had and was constantly holding his floor with heavy anchors in move safety. Between him and Barton, when added to Cody Mauch, Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, the way forward for the Bucs offensive line seems very shiny.
All-in-all the Bucs offensive line saved their quarterbacks clear on the evening, surrendering no sacks whereas the run sport was useful at 3.6 yards per carry.
LB Antonio Grier Jr.
Grier was the playmaker-du jour on the evening. He scooped and scored on the would-be strip sack by Earnest Brown IV within the first half, displaying spectacular expertise in avoiding tackles, altering instructions and in the end discovering the endzone. Within the second half he left little question {that a} turnover was going to remain on the board when he stepped in entrance of a Skylar Thompson move over the center for an interception. Grier was in all places on the evening recording six tackles on protection and including one other one on particular groups.
Bucs Defensive Line
The Dolphins first offensive drive of the sport was a three-and-out regardless of a seven-yard achieve on a fast first down move. However on second and third down the Bucs protection stiffened up with defensive finish Logan Corridor and nostril sort out Vita Vea taking turns penetrating the Dolphins offensive line to stuff Miami working again Jeff Wilson to only one internet yard on these two carries.
The Bucs lastly let Vea unfastened and that is how he responded.
Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea
aka Vita Vea 💪 pic.twitter.com/RCaf6o7WhD
— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2024
On the next drive exterior linebacker Chris Braswell tacked on a fast sack on third right down to get the protection off the sector as soon as once more. Earnest Brown IV added a close to strip sack that was returned for a landing, nevertheless it was dominated an incomplete move.
Bucs OLB Chris Braswell – Photograph by: USA At the moment
The line of defense created strain on Dolphins quarterbacks all evening and have been disruptive by their run gaps. By the second half they’d the Dolphins offensive line false beginning in an try to beat the velocity and explosiveness the Bucs move rush was bringing. Outdoors linebacker Markees Watss added some high-end edge rushes displaying bend as properly. He added a formidable run cease close to the aim line within the third quarter the place he wrapped up Anthony McFarland from behind and wouldn’t give McFarland a single inch ahead.
DT C.J. Brewer
C.J. Brewer was probably the most dominant defensive lineman amidst a formidable efficiency by the unit as an entire. As my former colleague Jon Ledyard talked about in sport, he regarded like Chris Jones the best way he was always penetrating and creating unfavorable performs for the offense. He was chopping off runs, whereas including two tackles, one for a loss, a move protection and a quarterback hit. Brewer has made a compelling case to make the Bucs remaining 53-man roster as Scott Reynolds has detailed.
CJ Brewer seems like Chris Jones tonight lol. Destroying the Dolphins OL
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) August 24, 2024
WR Cody Thompson
The previous Seattle Seahawk has had a improbable preseason. Thompson has performed all the pieces he can to make the staff, exhibiting his talents as a blocker, a particular teamer and a dependable pair of arms within the receiving sport. Thompson constantly received open and displayed dependable arms with seven catches for 45 yards.
Thompson isn’t an explosive downfield risk, however he has proven he can work the short-to-intermediate choice who acts like a second tight finish in 11 personnel with dependable arms and excellent blocking efforts.
WR Kameron Johnson
Johnson made his long-awaited preseason debut and didn’t disappoint. Showcasing his shiftiness, route-running, and explosive actions the Bucs tried to get the ball in his arms in each the passing and working sport. Johnson was the point of interest for a number of designed touches. His stat line wouldn’t wow anybody simply perusing it (three catches for 12 yards and two carries for one more 13).His two most spectacular performs have been an 11-yard run on an finish round and an unbelievable catch on a tipped move on fourth and one to assist hold a drive alive.
QB Kyle Trask
Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Photograph by: Cliff Welch P/R
Following Mayfield’s exit after the Bucs first drive, Kyle Trask got here in and continued to function the offense effectively. Trask was decisive and labored by his progressions properly. His pocket consciousness was spectacular for the third straight sport, and he saved the ball out of hurt’s means. He added some troublesome throws underneath strain. His most spectacular play might have been when he was capable of navigate an onslaught of strain on the fourth down play to present Johnson an opportunity to make the drive-saving catch.
Trask has quietly had a strong preseason and confirmed he is an effective NFL backup quarterback who the staff shouldn’t be too apprehensive about if he has to play a sport or two this season.
On the cash from Kyle Trask
pic.twitter.com/xPakkeELgH
— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) August 24, 2024
Trask added one other dime early within the fourth quarter to Ryan Miller on a 3rd and aim that Miller ought to have caught for a landing. No worries for Trask although. He got here again the very subsequent play and put a reasonably throw on Tanner Knue and Knue rewarded him with an unbelievable catch showcasing spectacular ball monitoring expertise.
Trask completed the evening with 17 completions on 24 passes for 141 yards whereas averaging 5.9 yards per try and throwing two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Kick Off The Bucs’ 2024 Season On PewterReportTV With Pewter Pregame & Pewter GameDay
Be a part of Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera for a 30-minute Pewter Pregame LIVE at 9:00 a.m. ET on PewterReportTV. Pewter Pregame will at all times be at 9:00 a.m. ET on each sport day this season whatever the kickoff time. Should you can’t catch the present stay it will likely be archived on PewterReportTV so that you can watch any time previous to kickoff.
Then tune in to Pewter GameDay as Matera and a member of the Pewter Report employees will provide up particular LIVE in-game evaluation for all three hours of the Bucs vs. Commanders sport beginning at 4:25 p.m. ET on PewterReportTV.
