The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to trim their rosters down to a maximum of 53 players in just 10 short days.
The National Football League deadline for making final roster cuts is August 31. Let’s see how the Buccaneers’ roster is shaping up.
Quarterbacks (3)
Jameis Winston
Blaine Gabbert
Ryan Griffin
This might not go over terribly well with fans, but Blaine Gabbert will be the backup quarterback in Tampa Bay this season. It’s true he has not played well thus far in the preseason nor does he have a terribly impressive career resume.
However, he is a comfort veteran for head coach Bruce Arians. Gabbert is familiar with the system and has game experience within it and the coaching staff values that highly. He is one less problem to worry about. That is what comfort veterans do. Help the coaching staff sleep at night.
While Ryan Griffin has played better than Gabbert, he has no game experience. I do suspect they will keep him around anyway as Arians knows exactly what it’s like to be down to your third quarterback in meaningful late-season games.
Running Backs (4)
Peyton Barber
Ronald Jones II
Dare Ogunbowale
Andre Ellington
The complete absence of Peyton Barber in the preseason tells you all you need to know about his status. He’s the guy. Ronald Jones is locked in too. Dare Ogunbowale has made my winner’s list in both preseason games thus far and received a pat on the back from Arians in the media for his pass protection. He looks to have won the third-down back role and could end up kick returning as well. Andre Ellington should round out the group as a comfort veteran.
Wide Receivers (6)
Mike Evans
Chris Godwin
Breshad Perriman
Justin Watson
Scotty Miller
Spencer Schnell
This is the group with the most uncertainty. The top three are locked in. It was assumed Justin Watson would seize the fourth spot, but he has yet to distinguish himself through two preseason games.
Scotty Miller returned from injury to practice but has a lot of ground to make up.
Anthony Johnson can play all three receiver positions but hasn’t been used on special teams much. Bobo Wilson has the most kick and punt returning experience (though still very limited) but has been inconsistent offensively.
The guess here is Watson makes the team based on his size and athleticism. The coaching staff views him as a great fit for their system.
It is unlikely they are willing to expose Miller to waivers as he would almost certainly be claimed. In what may be seen as an upset, Spencer Schnell beats out Bobo Wilson for the returning duties.
Tight Ends (4)
O.J. Howard
Cameron Brate
Antony Auclair
Tanner Hudson
While the competition at wide receiver is a down to the wire battle, at tight end it is not. Tanner Hudson has earned the right to be Cameron Brate‘s understudy and possibly even his eventual replacement. Arians has stated multiple times that they are a “two-tight end offense.”.
Antony Auclair backs up O.J. Howard at in-line (Y) tight end while Hudson follows Brate in the move (F) role.
Offensive Line (9)
Donovan Smith
Ali Marpet
Ryan Jensen
Alex Cappa
Demar Dotson
Caleb Benenoch
Earl Watford
Williams Poehls
Nate Trewyn
The offensive line is tough to project as virtually no one has played well so far in the preseason.
The starting five appear locked in with Caleb Benenoch and Earl Watford backing up at tackle and guard respectively. The team felt comfortable enough with someone to release Evan Smith after just one preseason game.
The feeling here is that player was Nate Trewyn. William Poehls slots in as the only other tackle that has not performed dreadfully thus far.
While this is the group they should tentatively keep, It would be shocking if at least one new guy wasn’t added off of waivers. Possibly multiple players if things do not improve upfront these next two weeks.
Defensive Line (5)
Ndamukong Suh
Vita Vea
William Gholston
Beau Allen
Jeremiah Ledbetter
The defensive line group feels pretty solidified. If Vita Vea is not ready to go week one, Beau Allen will get the start. If the absence is expected to be longer, they may keep Rakeem Nunes-Roches as well. It is worth keeping an eye on the numbers here. If they only keep five it’s a good sign for Vea’s health.
Outside Linebackers (4)
Carl Nassib
Noah Spence
Shaquil Barrett
Anthony Nelson
Jason Pierre-Paul (IR with the designation to return)
With the re-emergence of Noah Spence and additions of Shaquil Barrett and Anthony Nelson, the outside linebacker spot is in good shape.
There are some others that have played well on the edge, but no one has impressed enough to make the final roster.
Inside Linebackers (5)
Devin White
Kevin Minter
Deone Bucannon
Devante Bond
Jack Cichy
Lavonte David (PUP)
The inside linebacker group has played remarkably well considering the losses they have sustained (Kwon Alexander, Kendall Beckwith, Lavonte David). Deone Bucannon and Kevin Minter are both comfort vets with versatility and a working knowledge of this defense.
Jack Cichy‘s high-motor and infectious energy force him onto the roster in this projection if Lavonte David opens on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) List. If David returns Cichy heads to the practice squad.
Cornerbacks (6)
Vernon Hargreaves III
Carlton Davis
Jamel Dean
Sean Murphy-Bunting
Ryan Smith
M.J. Stewart
There is a numbers crunch for defensive backs at the back of this roster. Lock in the top-four above and Ryan Smith is likely to make the team on his special team’s prowess. He played 285 snaps on return, block, and coverage units for the Buccaneers in 2018. Expect that to continue.
M.J. Stewart is the 53rd player in this projection and was a very difficult call. There are several directions this could go including keeping one less safety or one extra interior defender. Rookie Mazzi Wilkins, who the staff loves, could even nab the spot. It will come down on the health statuses of Vea, Evans, David, and Edwards primarily.
Safeties (4)
Jordan Whitehead
Mike Edwards
Kentrell Brice
Isaiah Johnson
Justin Evans (PUP)
At this point, it seems likely Justin Evans opens the season on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) list. If healthy, Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards would be the starters but have nagging injury issues of their own.
Isaiah Johnson was almost as active on special teams as Smith was with 273 snaps of his own in Tampa Bay last season. Kentrell Brice has played well defensively and has the most snaps on special teams this preseason with 34.
Special Teams (3)
K: Matt Gay
P: Bradley Pinion
LS: Zach Triner
KR: Spencer Schnell / Dare Ogunbowale
PR: Spencer Schnell
Not much mystery here. Barring a meltdown, Matt Gay has won the kicker job. Expect either Schnell or Wilson to open as the primary returner.
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