Most Anticipated Matchup In Bucs Training Camp

For this weekend’s Pewter Report Roundtable, the crew tackles one other robust query. This week’s immediate: Which matchup are you most trying ahead to watching throughout Bucs coaching camp?

Scott Reynolds: Russell Gage vs. Sean Murphy-Bunting

Bucs star receiver Chris Godwin shouldn’t be anticipated to be able to observe in the beginning of coaching camp. Godwin continues to be recovering from ACL knee surgical procedure. However the staff is hopeful that he’ll be able to go by the beginning of the season on September 11 in Dallas. Godwin performs the vital slot receiver place in Tampa Bay’s offense. It’s anticipated that newcomer Russell Gage and Tyler Johnson will break up these reps in camp in his absence. We haven’t seen Gage observe but, as a delicate tissue difficulty saved him out of the OTAs and mini-camp.

How he fares within the slot and on the Z receiver (flanker) place in camp will likely be attention-grabbing. Gage has quite a lot of catching as much as do by way of getting his routes down and his timing and rapport with quarterback Tom Brady. If Godwin isn’t prepared in the beginning of the season then Gage will likely be counted on much more in September. He’s smaller than Johnson is, however wiry robust and tenacious. And Gage is quicker and faster, so he ought to have the ability to separate higher than Johnson.

Nickel cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting is in a contract 12 months. Outdoors of creating some performs within the 2020 postseason, Murphy-Bunting has underwhelmed over the past two years. He wants a giant season to proceed his profession in coaching camp. Gage ought to supply an actual check for Murphy-Bunting. His lack of expertise within the Bucs offense would possibly initially give SMB the early edge in August. However as soon as he picks it up, Gage’s velocity ought to supply an actual check for Murphy-Bunting within the latter phases of camp. All eyes will likely be on the slot in just some weeks in Tampa Bay.

Matt Matera: Devin White vs. Leonard Fournette

For starters, we get a matchup of LSU vs. LSU! These two gamers are good associates so I like the concept they received’t take it straightforward on one another. It’s a giant 12 months as properly for each gamers, so it’ll be enjoyable to see who will get off to a greater begin in coaching camp. These two are going into their third 12 months collectively as teammates, and we’ll discover out if both participant will pull one thing out that we haven’t seen earlier than.

If we’re discussing who must have the higher 12 months, it’s in all probability White. He’s nonetheless very productive and really proficient, however he tends to get in his personal means at occasions. Nevertheless, White has been very open about bettering on his play and has taken measures to get higher finding out the sport and together with his exercise routine. With Larry Foote shifting to inside linebackers coach, I’m anticipated a giant 12 months for the staff captain, who made his first Professional Bowl final season.

Fournette received that wanted long run deal he was in search of with a three-year contract. For the primary time since becoming a member of the Bucs, it’s his job. He doesn’t need to look over his shoulder this 12 months within the operating again room. Rachaad White will get taking part in time, however Fournette is the principle man. There have been questions on Fournette’s weight in mini-camp, however I don’t assume that’ll be an issue for coaching camp or within the season. We’re going to get the very best model of him, and he can ball out to assist the Bucs offense. White and Fournette brings a stage of competitors that his wanted over the summer season. It’ll happen every day.

JC Allen: Luke Goedeke vs. Vita Vea and Akiem Hicks

When the Bucs chosen Luke Goedeke within the second spherical it signaled an open competitors for the vacant left guard spot. Veteran Aaron Stinnie will now need to fend off the rookie for the beginning spot. Whereas Stinnie has expertise on the place and together with his fellow linemates, Goedeke is making the transition from proper deal with. It’s a path identified all too properly for previous Bucs guards. Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa have been each tackles at small faculties and transitioned to protect with Tampa Bay. Now Goedeke will attempt to observe of their footsteps. However he’ll face a problem neither needed to overcome once they made they swap.

Vita Vea and Akiem Hicks.

Dubbed the very best defensive deal with duo within the league, Vea and Hicks are going to problem Goedke proper out of the gate. To say these two mountainous males are going to be an actual check for the rookie is an understatement. Coming from a small faculty, will probably be vital for Goedeke to point out he can deal with the soar in expertise and competitors. This matchup is extra about Goedeke displaying he generally is a constant down-to-down participant greater than something. We all know what Vea and Hicks are able to.

Goedeke’s acquired reward for his capability to know the offense shortly. Taking initiative, he’s  reached out to just lately retired Ali Marpet for recommendation on making the swap to protect as properly. We’ve but to see the rookie in pads, so once they come on we’ll have a greater concept of the place he’s at. One factor is for positive, we’re going to seek out out actual fast simply how a lot of a ‘glass eater’ Goedeke actually is.

Bailey Adams: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka vs. Tristan Wirfs

There’s a cause why Tryon-Shoyinka’s title is listed first, as this matchup is extra about him than it’s Wirfs. Wirfs is established. He earned Professional Bowl and All-Professional honors in 2021, and he was just lately ranked because the No. 2 deal with within the league. Tryon-Shoyinka, however, is trying to take the subsequent step in 2022. He flashed as a rookie final 12 months, posting 4 sacks in a rotational function behind Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul. Now, it’s Tryon-Shoyinka’s time to step up as a starter. And there was no scarcity of reward for him this offseason, as he has usually been picked because the Bucs’ subsequent huge factor/x-factor/breakout star.

Tryon-Shoyinka has an opportunity to take reps towards one of many NFL’s greatest tackles, which might solely make him higher. Iron sharpens iron, proper? That’s why “greatest towards greatest” durations are such a enjoyable a part of camp. Tampa Bay’s final two first-round picks squaring off for the second straight camp, with one persevering with to construct a legacy and the opposite trying to begin one. The storylines alone are cause sufficient to concentrate when Tryon-Shoyinka and Wirfs meet on the observe discipline.

Each of those guys are huge, robust and athletic. Wirfs has dealt with a few of the sport’s prime cross rushers over the past couple of years, so he’s not going to offer Tryon-Shoyinka something. Alternatively, Tryon-Shoyinka is explosive. He’ll give Wirfs check after check with every rep. He has lengthy arms and comes off the ball quick, which supplies him an opportunity to win leverage towards Tampa Bay’s proper deal with. We’ll see how usually we get this matchup vs. a matchup between Barrett and Wirfs. However when it does come to fruition, it’ll be nice enjoyable.