The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released their first “unofficial” depth chart on Tuesday on the heels of their final roster from Saturday. Here are my observations and some key questions left to be answered.
Bucs’ Week 1 depth chart released… pic.twitter.com/lFSYqURNlz
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) September 3, 2019
The biggest concern throughout the preseason was the health of Vita Vea, Lavonte David, Justin Evans, Mike Edwards, and Blaine Gabbert. Therefore, it is a great sign that none of them landed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List. In fact, Vea and David both returned to practice Tuesday. While this does not explicitly mean all of them will be ready and dressed on Sunday, Vea and David sure look like solid bets:
“It’s huge,” head coach Bruce Arians said of Vea and David’s return. “You’re talking about two of the best players we have.”
We will know more when the first official injury report is released this Friday.
On the subject of injuries, Evans was held out of the preseason finale due to a sore Achilles tendon. While this was probably precautionary he has not played in a live game in nine months so it will take him some time to get back into football shape both mentally and physically. I anticipate he will be worked in slowly as the third safety before eventually retaking his starting role.
The biggest change was newly acquired T.J. Logan being immediately listed as the starting kick returner. Logan was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round in 2017 when Arians was still the head coach. The Buccaneers head coach recently gushed about the former North Carolina Tar Heel:
“[He’s] a guy I loved when I drafted him – 4.3 speed at running back, great kick returner, punt returner,” said Arians. “[He] dislocated his wrist in the Hall of Fame game and we lost him. We had high hopes for him and kind of had been hoping that might happen. I was hearing he was having a great camp, so I didn’t think it would happen, but he gives us a pass receiving speed back and a kick returner.”
Arians then went on to confirm Logan’s status as the primary kick returner this Sunday:
“He will be [returning kickoffs],” said the coach. “Guys need to learn his name real quick.”
In my final roster projection, I moved Devante Bond to outside linebacker on a hunch. He looked solid coming off of the edge (one sack, one battle ball, two run stops) against the Miami Dolphins and Jack Cichy was making a case to be the fifth inside linebacker thus creating a numbers imbalance. Multiple lackluster performances by Noah Spence also likely figured in.
It appears my hunch was confirmed as Bond is now unofficially listed as the primary backup to Shaquil Barrett as the weakside outside linebacker. Although, the guess here is that he will see action both inside and outside this season. This coaching staff greatly values versatility.
Speaking of Shaquil Barrett, a stellar preseason of 13 pressures, eight hurries, three sacks, and five run stops on only 74 total snaps and just 44 pass-rush opportunities earned him a starting spot. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has a 91.1 overall preseason grade on Barrett, the highest grade of anyone on the team and third among all edges in the preseason with more than 45 snaps. I believe a breakout season for Barrett is in the making.
While Vernon Hargreaves III and Carlton Davis are listed as the starting corners, but the depth chart does not designate a nickel corner. Will second-round pick Sean Murphy-Bunting be the starter inside in nickel packages or will Hargreaves slide inside with M.J. Stewart filling his spot outside? Or, do they slide Edwards down to nickel and bring Evans in? Knowing defensive coordinator Todd Bowles the answer might be all of the above.
What will the nickel defensive line look like? It’s fair to assume Ndamukong Suh will be there and likely Vea as well. Carl Nassib figures to be the strongside end, but who puts their hand in the dirt on the weak side? Barrett? Bond? Nelson? It’s another situation where we may see multiple combinations throughout the game and certainly throughout the season.
Who is the dime linebacker? Veteran Pro Bowler David or first-round rookie Devin White? Who are the primary punt gunners now that Ryan Smith is suspended and Isaiah Johnson is no longer with the team? How will the backfield touches be divided? So many questions. I cannot wait until Sunday.
