Tampa's Preseason Pulse Check

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Starter
Offense:
Two weeks into the preseason and Tampa Bay is already under assault with the injury bug, all on offense. The young sensation at HB, Derrius Guice, is out until week 2 of the regular season with a dislocated right ankle. Rookies Donterius Dugans and Gregory Weems a TE and WR respectively. Despite this, there is hope, remember it is only the preseason and the Buccaneers are already trying to establish their new acquisition of Chris Conley as a deep threat due to his 6'3" stature and his speed to take the top off. Pass protection though has been an issue even with 1st team offense, something that is hoped to be fixed by the regular season. Doug Martin got off to a good stretch in week 2 of the preseason and rookie HB Jimmy Lockhart is making a case for more touches, even upon the return of Guice. Lockhart had 7 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown on the evening. The Buccaneers have to get their pass protection together to allow Winston to do his job in Tampa. They've been held to a combined 29 points, something that Tampa needs to change over the last two weeks of the preseason. Week 3 of the preseason had best be a big step towards that for the sake of progress in Tampa.
Defense:
This has been the unit to be concerned with, granted a big part of scores was the second team. Over the last two weeks of the preseason, the Bucs have given up a total of 75 points which is a big issue, a combined 21 of which came in the 1st quarter against the 1st team alone. The hope is there, but the backups are a definitive concern going forward for Tampa, particularly should someone get bitten by the injury bug in Tampa. Rashad Davie has beaten out Bradley McDougald for the starting spot at FS and it is not expected to change any time soon. The first team secondary is not done with change though as the young Marquez White has beat out E.J. Gaines for the corner role opposite Vernon Hargreaves III. But Gaines can't get complacent as Channing Stribling is making a push for the Nickel role. The next two weeks will be important to Tampa Bay to decide will be rolled out week 1 in the regular season.​
 
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