6 Things To Watch Tonight Against The Lions
August 24th, 2018
This will be one of the more fascinating and revealing Week 3 preseason games in Bucs history because of all the Bucs’ injuries and resulting question marks, as well as the usual make-or-break opportunities this annual “dress rehearsal” game offers.
Here’s a handful that will have Joe’s attention:
*Newcomer, big-money DE Vinny Curry had fantastic effort moments against the Titans but Joe’s looking to see him look more comfortable overall as well as more dangerous as a pass rusher. Curry was relied upon more as a run stuffer last year with the Eagles but the Bucs need him to rush this season — inside and outside.
*Justin Evans out injured at safety represents a prime-time opportunity for Keith Tandy to show he’s still got his late-2016 form, or for rookie Jordan Whitehead to possibly win himself a starting gig in the preseason opener, especially if Chris Conte can’t get his tackling up to speed in a hurry. A crap game tonight for Tandy and Whitehead could have the Bucs looking for safety help on the street next week, like they did last year with T.J. Ward.
*Joe is not delusional, but Joe is optimistic about what Michael Lietdke might do tonight starting at left tackle for Donovan Smith. Lietdke stuck around since 2016 for a reason and he’s looked solid in preseason, albeit against a lot of opponents who will be working substitute teaching jobs next month. Keep an eye on Lietdke.
*The Smith knee injury had many fans forgetting about the right guard competition that is wide open. Caleb Benenoch did not practice on Wednesday but Joe suspects he will play. Will Evan Smith get the start like he did in Miami. Alex Cappa hasn’t looked like starter material yet.
*Yeah, Peyton Barber is the guy at running back, but can we please get rookie Ronald Jones at least five or six carries with the first team offensive line? The kid needs confidence and the Bucs need to see more of what he can or can’t do. Jones has a whopping 11 yards on 12 preseason carriers.
*The Bucs averaged fractions over 8 points in the first half of all games last season, which is flat out brutal. That has to stop now, especially at home. No more excuses. Joe wants a first-half win. Last week, the Bucs were down 7-3 when the Titans pulled their starters.
August 24th, 2018 at 7:12 am
I think the play of the offensive & defensive lines will be crucial and important to watch…..we must be stronger in the trenches…..I think we have the pieces elsewhere to be a winning team.
August 24th, 2018 at 7:17 am
Barber has looked good and should not play at all. Jones needs reps and needs to feel something positive tonight. If we injure barber we don’t have another running back that is shown he can play at all in this league. Better start working with Jones big time tonight
August 24th, 2018 at 7:30 am
“Forrest needs to grab Josh Adams
21 year old RB from Notre Dame
6 2 225lbs. 4.48 at 40 yards
Josh Adams vs our Lightweight
http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400934578
August 24th, 2018 at 7:50 am
“Run Forrest Run..
Go get Josh Adams from philly
21 year old RB from Notre Dame
6 2” 225lb 4.48 forty
Kid had a ACL injury at high school
“Getter done”
Kobe Faker
***Jim Schwartz looks good in pewter
August 24th, 2018 at 7:54 am
In other words, what to watch tonight is the “test of depth”!!!!!!!!!!!!
#trust the coaches!!!!!! Fix the “real” problem, the roster!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!
August 24th, 2018 at 8:06 am
Greg
Agreed, Barber needs to sit the next 2 games out.
August 24th, 2018 at 8:28 am
That is the one thing that keeps my rating of Koetter down from what it could be – he is Lovie stubborn! These preseason games don’t count. Why is ROJO getting such little experience? We see Barber is doing great – put him on the shelf and give ROJO more very valuable reps!
August 24th, 2018 at 8:51 am
Where’s Tandyman at?!
This is your boy’s shot! I hope he comes up big, we kind of need him to.
I agree about Jones. He NEEDS something to get him juiced. A good run or two should do the trick. Put him with the 1’s.
The d-line needs to shine, IMO. We’ve seen flashes but nothing consistent. Unleash the hounds!
August 24th, 2018 at 8:54 am
Jones has no chance at rb with the second team hes usually tackled at the same time he gets the ball don’t know why coaches are crapping all over his confidence doesn’t make sense
August 24th, 2018 at 8:56 am
don’t know why my post are not being aired what is this a dem site wow
Your post is below. Joe is unaware of the right to see one’s comment within 5 seconds.–Joe
August 24th, 2018 at 9:11 am
Bucsfanman My Man!!! He will show up large tonight and Smith and Koetter will start Conte and Evans week one. He could have 3 interceptions and 19 tackles tonight and it won’t make any difference. They have already proven that. It is what it is. Tired of fighting that battle. Going 9 & 7 isn’t good enough. They both will be gone after this year and # 37 has one more year on his contract so maybe he will get the opportunity next season to start in Contes place!!!! LETS GOOOOOOO BUCS! Get this W tonight and be 3 & 0!!!
August 24th, 2018 at 9:17 am
Safeties always get hung out to dry in the system if the corners press it will take a lot off of everybody’s plate. I also agree about Ronald Jones needing a bunch of carries tonight the talent is clearly there we’ve all seen it his comfort level is at 0 right now though he needs to bust a couple decent runs and get that confidence level up
August 24th, 2018 at 9:18 am
“Alex Cappa hasn’t looked like starter material yet.”
Clearly not paying close attention to him at guard. No one defensive player has gotten past him yet.
I only want to see one thing in this game: no starter injuries.
This is the game where most preseason injuries occur. I could care less about the passing game. I know it is one of the best. The playbooks will be minimal and rookies will be trying to make the teams, playing reckless. They always end up taking a bad angle on someone, hitting late, etc.
Imagine if Fitz goes down in this game. Griffin has zero experience with the starters.
August 24th, 2018 at 9:23 am
need to find out if jones is the real deal or another busted pic. lets see what he has.
August 24th, 2018 at 9:27 am
@Dooshlarue … “Barber needs to sit the next 2 games out.” The 3rd preseason game is THE big warmup for the season Doosh. No way ANY of our able-bodied starters should be sitting because we’re worried about them getting hurt (Donovan was hurt in practice). The chemistry still isn’t where we need it to be right now, and allowing these guys to go full-speed is the only way to get them all on the same page.
I suspect that no one wants to see RoJo break out more than Dirk Koetter (he LOVES explosive plays). But I’m sure that RoJo’s already gotten plenty of chances in practice to run behind the #1 Oline. Koetter & Monken & Spencer may well be seeing something that we’re not seeing; maybe RoJo just hasn’t gotten it together yet. IF that’s the case, putting him in with the #1’s against the Lions may well do more damage than good to what self-confidence he does have at this point (poor performance doesn’t help the TEAM effort either).
August 24th, 2018 at 9:27 am
We need Donavan Smith back for season start. Fitz was uncomfortable for some reason last week,and it could be the absence of Smith affected him. So we need somebody to step up.
August 24th, 2018 at 9:29 am
Lewis stupid comments get posted too just give the Joe’s a chance they haven’t run this website this long without catering to the likes of you as well as more reasonable fans who finished school. Did you like that punctuation free run-on sentence? I left it that way so you might be able to understand it.
August 24th, 2018 at 9:39 am
I want to see red zone scoring and good pass defense…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
August 24th, 2018 at 10:13 am
My Man, Tandy’s going to get reps one way or another. I think he has a chance to supplant Conte if Conte doesn’t fare well tonight.
Not for nothing, but Conte must provide something that he can’t or hasn’t to this point. It is a head-scratcher that he did so well that season but failed to make an impact last year.
All I know is that having Tandy on the roster is valuable. Certainly Koetter and Licht think so too.
Go Bucs!
August 24th, 2018 at 10:47 am
Bucsfanman My Man!! Your my man as you understand the importance of #37. I get pissed when people get on here and say he’s a chump from W.V. That has had his chance and yada yada yada. You can’t have an impact if the Coaches don’t put you on the field. Got a Yacht and an Airplane that says Tandy outplays Conte tonight!
August 24th, 2018 at 11:01 am
Better see some pass rush tonight. Hasn’t been good yet.
August 24th, 2018 at 11:55 am
.” Last week, the Bucs were down 7-3 when the Titans pulled their starters.”
Jameis didn’t start
August 24th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
yes lewis, it’s a dem site now. Can’t you tell?
:: rolls eyes ::
#FloridaEducation
August 24th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
Blame it on those gosh darn “dems”! Hey, truth isn’t truth! 🙂