Who Will Be Bucs’ Bounce Back Player This Year?

For this weekend’s Pewter Report Roundtable, the crew tackles one other robust query. This week’s immediate: Who will probably be Bucs’ bounce again participant this yr?

Scott Reynolds: Brate Has A Likelihood To Have A Higher Yr With out Gronk

The Bucs would possibly signal one other veteran tight finish to interchange Rob Gronkowski. Or Gronkowski would possibly find yourself returning sooner or later this season, as his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, predicts. However one participant who stands to learn from Gronk’s retirement is veteran tight finish Cam Brate. Sure, Brate turns 31 on July 3. He’s not the younger, up-and-coming tight finish that caught 57 passes for 660 yards and and eight touchdowns like he did in 2016. However as the one skilled tight finish on the roster (for now), Brate ought to get extra targets now that Gronkowski is gone.

Not that the Bucs and QB Tom Brady are going to feed Brate (or one other veteran) the way in which they did with Gronk over the past two years. Brate was focused 57 instances final yr and caught 30 passes for 245 yards and 4 touchdowns. The 245 yards was the fewest yards he produced since his 2014 rookie season. However Brate appeared to be transferring round rather well through the OTAs and mini-camp, a few years faraway from hip surgical procedure. I believe there’s the potential for him 300 yards or extra for the primary time since Brate had 311 yards in 2019. May he hit 400 yards with out Gronk (or one other veteran)? It’s potential so long as he stays wholesome.

Gronkowski had 89 targets final yr and caught 55 passes for 802 yards yards and 6 scores. There’s no manner Brate will get wherever near that quantity of targets in 2022 – even when he’s the one veteran tight finish on the roster. Brady will goal receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage greater than he’ll goal Brate. On the similar time, Brate is a dependable purple zone weapon for Brady. I may see Brate getting 60 targets this yr and winding up with 40 catches for 370 yards and 6 touchdowns in consequence. That will be his finest season in 5 years.

Matt Matera: INTs Is The Identify Of The Recreation For Davis

I need it initially recognized that I don’t suppose cornerback Carlton Davis III had a foul season. I’m this by way of the lense of going from a very good nook to an incredible nook. Davis has stated that he’s an All-Professional caliber worthy nook. He can get there, he’ll simply want to supply a bit extra this yr. There’s a purpose Davis earned his new contract when negotiations went on this offseason with the Bucs. He’s with out query their high nook and has fared very properly in opposition to the most effective large receivers that their opponents have to supply.

A part of being the most effective is being accessible, and Davis missed seven video games final yr because of a quad damage in Week 4. Accidents are a part of the sport and generally can’t be prevented, so I’m not completely knocking Davis. He’s but to play each recreation in a full season, although, and that needs to be a purpose for him. Extra importantly, Davis has been very trustworthy and upfront about recording extra interceptions this season.

He has seven interceptions in his profession and 4 of them got here in 2020. In 10 video games final season he got here up with one choose and dropped a number of extra. Davis and his cornerback coach Kevin Ross have talked about the truth that he’s only a couple extra interceptions from reaching that elite stage of cornerbacks. Effectively, that is the yr to do it. Many, together with myself, maintain Davis in excessive regard already. Taking that subsequent step with the interceptions will make the remainder view him as an incredible participant at his place among the many relaxation within the league. Davis has proven he has the potential to get 4 or extra in a season. If he can keep wholesome and catch among the ones he dropped Davis will bounce again in an enormous manner in 2022.

J.C. Allen: Consistency Is The Key For “Get Dwell 45”

There isn’t a doubting the ability set and attributes Bucs linebacker Devin White possessess. There are nonetheless, query marks concerning his consistency. After an up-and-down rookie yr that noticed time misplaced because of damage, White burst onto the scene in 2020 with a 140 complete tackles and 9 sacks. He additionally capped off the Bucs’ Tremendous Bowl LV win with an enormous finish zone interception, preserving Kansas Metropolis out of the top zone.

Heading into the 2021 season some pundits have been calling him among the finest inside linebackers within the recreation. Quick ahead to the precise season and White had loads of struggles. His sack numbers dropped from 9 to three.5. He struggled with shedding blocks in run protection and was typically misplaced in protection. His velocity, which is the strongest a part of his recreation, typically misguided him. White typically over-ran the quarterback on blitzes or over-pursued on working performs. However White is aware of the place he wants to enhance and spoke about it size throughout a 2021 exit interview.

It wasn’t a horrible season for the previous LSU Tiger. He made his first Professional Bowl final yr and nonetheless racked up 128 tackles and 18 quarterback hits. Although, if White goes to transcend into one of many league’s finest, he’ll have to depend on extra than simply his velocity. White will have to be extra disciplined, whereas holding onto that aggressiveness that makes him so harmful. To White’s credit score, he stated this offseason he was going to make the most of extra movie research to be able to get higher. Working with new inside linebackers coach Larry Foote has additionally been an incredible studying expertise for White. If he can put all of it collectively, White has the power to be one of many extra dominant linebackers within the league and produce extra like he did in 2020.

Bailey Adams: Time To Take A Scooter Again To The High

The Scotty Miller we noticed in 2021 was not the Scotty Miller we got here to know in 2020. He landed on injured reserve early within the season with a foul case of turf toe. Ultimately returning in late November, he was resigned to extra of a particular groups function, which he accepted and exceled in. He got here by way of with a key fumble restoration in a dramatic highway win over Indianapolis in November as a gunner. Then, within the Bucs’ Wild Card win over the Eagles, he compelled a fumble by drilling Jalen Reagor on a punt. However as spectacular because it was to see Miller benefit from his particular groups spot, that’s not what he was drafted to do. And that’s not his ceiling.

Behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage, WR4 and WR5 jobs are up for grabs. It’s “open season,” as large receivers coach Kevin Garver stated final month. Miller is competing with the likes of Cyril Grayson Jr., Breshad Perriman, Tyler Johnson, Jaelon Darden and undrafted free brokers, corresponding to Deven Thompkins, Jerreth Sterns and Kaylon Geiger. And with Godwin probably unavailable early this season, these No. 4 and No. 5 receiver spots are much more necessary. So, Miller has an opportunity to carve out a much bigger function for himself in Tampa Bay’s offense this yr. And I believe he’ll. The important thing for Miller is to remain wholesome. He seemed good in OTAs, however then missed mini-camp with an damage. That’s one thing he must bounce again from when coaching camp opens later this month. If he does, he’ll be a significant bounce-back candidate for Tampa Bay.

It looks like some time in the past, however Miller was a significant component within the early levels of the Brady period in Tampa Bay. He had 400 yards and two touchdowns in seven video games to start out 2020, however then Antonio Brown got here to city and price him snaps. Miller can nonetheless climb again to the place he was. Pace is his No. 1 instrument. Everybody remembers his heroics late within the first half of the Bucs’ NFC Championship win over Inexperienced Bay two seasons in the past. These are the kinds of performs he could make as a deep risk. However he has loads extra to supply the offense, so long as it may possibly get the ball in his arms. That is Scooter’s yr to show that he’s an all-around playmaker who deserves a task within the Bucs’ prolific offense.