Tampa Bay Buccaneers Release Depth Chart | What To Watch vs Bengals | Bucky Irving A Player To Watch

the Buccaneers released their first official depth chart ahead of this weekend's game in Cincinnati that and more on today's episode of Locked on [Music] bucks you are locked on Buccaneers your daily Tampa Bay Buccaneers podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day what's up and welcome into this WTSP Wednesday episode of Locked on bucks your daily podcast covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day I want to thank you for making locked on bucks your first listener viw every day don't forget you can subscribe or follow for free on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast and of course you can follow along on Twitter I am James Yaro jaroor buug he is Evan kosy at e closy WTSP we are your credential members of the media covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers I'm the deputy editor of sbnation.com Evan is of course on 10 Tampa Bay and at tent Tampa bay.com and you can catch the show Monday through Friday along with the every dayers for that I want to share my appreciation for your continued support of the show one of the ways you can support the show is become a lock on bucks Insider you're going to get news rumors updates General thoughts 101 conversations with me via text message go to joins sub text.com loock onbu or click the link in the show notes to become an Insider today this episode is brought to you by LinkedIn jobs LinkedIn jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to faster so post your job for free at linkedin.com lockon NFL that's linkedin.com lockon NFL to post your job for free terms and conditions applied getting Evans take on what he's looking for this weekend when the Bucks take on the Bengals that's coming up in a little bit but let's start with the release of the bucks first official depth chart of 2024 and Evan I took a little glance at it I saw a few things popped out to me but what stood out to you the most looking over some of the starters that the Bucks have listed I think the number one thing that pointed out to me was how um they don't want they don't want to ruffle any feathers right now it it seems like they're not gonna tell the rookies that they have won the job without earning the job and that's why we're seeing guys like Robert hany as the starting center uh Trey Palmer as that wide receiver three uh we even have Christian iian ahead of ta Smith we have Bucky Irving behind Chase Edmonds so it's very clear that this depth chart which sometimes coaches don't put much thought into it right uh but I I think that really out of the gates it's very clear that they're saying if you're a veteran on this team we're still we're still putting you in the lead rookies you better you better do more right like I think it's just part of like earning your spot and not um not making things too easy for the the rookies who are coming in yeah well taking a look at it and I don't know maybe I overlooked it but there's really no well no way to tell who they kind of have lined up as the starting nickel corner right they had Christian Ian as a second team safety and then tyi Smith and tavier Thomas as third team saf so not really sure how that's looking I would assume that Ian is the starter followed by you know taii and and tavier Thomas but then something else that kind of jumped out you you mentioned you know they're not crowning any rookies early on which is which is true and and probably kind of the point but Bucky Irving as the starting kick returner which you know he's made some noise that yeah in in training camp as a as a kick returner so far to be there the kick returner position is mostly a string of rookies outside of Shawn Tucker who's giving the other starting gig uh was right now running back four so they're at least willing to kind of give that that nod um and and rockim Jared is is like fifth or sixth option at kick returner but other than that you know looking at Trey Palmer kind of in the lead there is punt returner but Cameron Johnson being back up to kick returner and punt returner that's interesting because he's a a wide receiver who's made a lot of noise in training camp uh thus far and Jaylen McMillan kind of being on the back end of things was uh was maybe a little bit surprising kind of noting that hey you we're probably gonna take you out of this mix which signals a little bit to me that he's going to be a uh utilized pretty heavily on the offensive side of things typically you don't want your you know your heavily used players as your kick returner your punt returner you can definitely do it um It's just sometimes you you increase the risk of injury that way and with the new kick like I would say kick return is whatever before this year because it's a Touchback but now you're gonna be having a run into a wall of people so there's going to be a little bit more contact that way so just interesting how That Shook out period yeah another thing that really jumped out to me I I talked a lot about this guy uh I think it was last week um aen Delo the undrafted rookie linebacker listed as the second team linebacker and he kind of gets a nod over JJ Russell yeah he's been making a lot of noise and and you know making some plays there on the defensive side of the ball and I had pegged him as one of the undrafted rookies that really had a chance to end up making this team I mean any thoughts on on a guy in JJ Russell who started for the Buccaneers last year when both Levante and Devon white were down now kind of you know fighting for his job against this undrafted rookie yeah I mean I I certainly noticed that too and it and it's 100% worthy to make a comment about uh we do believe that he's going to make the roster when it's it's all said and done I do wonder if um like when you go like KJ Brit cassier Dennis JJ Russell um I feel like those are all guys who would who would wear the Green Dot right and then I mean Levante certainly could be that guy but he's never he's never really been that in his career he's always you know kind of push those duties onto the other so I just I wonder if that's sort of like where they they actually are training them is that uh kin's like the straight up backup if lante goes down and KJ and cassier are gonna rotate roles uh to where JJ gets in that rotation if cier goes down so to me I kind of I don't I didn't I know some people have and I don't necessarily think that's wrong um it could totally be it this is just a different perspective I viewed that as as kj1 cervas and JJ Russell kind of that that combo Lineback because we know that KJ's not gonna play in every down and he's gonna be taken off the field and certain matchups are gonna lend itself to different uh Personnel so I I kind of view cervas and JJ as like 2 a 2B and then really kayin kind of being like if Levante goes down we're going to have you learn what he's doing and devote you kind of to that role of the the oh crap option so yeah we don't want to I mean look we we we've kind of seen it a few times now you know we had a foot injury in 20 21 he had the I think he had a foot injury again last year didn't he uh it was either a foot or an ankle something along it was yeah so and he missed a couple of games and so yeah I mean that's when we had the whole JJ Russell got playing time and we had Ryan Neil at linebacker so yeah to be determined on that but you want to I mean we'll get to it but just foreshadowing right like Doo I mean this is somebody who in the preseason man there's an opportunity you gotta prove yourself yeah and it's a great point about the Green Dot you know that's not that's not a responsibility that's kind of always in the Forefront of my mind or I'm sure sure a lot of listeners or viewers Minds that there is a lot of responsibility that comes with wearing that dot and being the guy that's that's relaying the play calls maybe they don't want to trust kayin with that role quite yet and then again you make a great point that you know if if KJ goes down well now it's a combination of JJ and cassier or if cassier down it goes down it's a combination of KJ and JJ so to to have three guys that you could trust with that responsibility could be really huge for for this team what is Evan going to be keeping an eye on this weekend that is coming up next on today's episode of Locked on bucks part of the locked on podcast Network your team every [Music] day game time is an authorized ticket Marketplace of Major League Baseball which makes getting tickets faster and easier prices on the game time app actually go down the closer it gets to first pitch you want to catch an upcoming race game tickets when they the Oriol start at $30 then against the Astros you can get tickets as low as $14 and tickets against the Diamondbacks start at just $24 right now you can get Buccaneers regular season tickets as low as $49 and week one against the commanders starts at $67 and all of these prices that I mentioned include game 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sports but you want more than just the national narratives and you want the top stories without fake manufacturers scripted screaming at one another make the switch to locked on sports today a free 247 sports streaming Channel program for you every day to bring you the biggest stories without all the screaming lock on sports today streams 247 on YouTube or the free Amazon Fire TV channels app part of the lockon podcast Network your team every day I say it every year and I'm probably gonna say it at least two more times this week but preseason games can be entertaining and formative if you know what you're watching for if you're watching just to watch football because it's finally back you're going to have a good time if you're watching to see the kind of football that you expect in the regular season you are not going to have a good time but if you're focusing in on certain things position battles watching rookies chemistry things like that then you're going to enjoy yourself so Evan what is the number one thing that you are really going to focus in on watch ing at Saturday's game in Cincinnati uh trenches the trench where I mean we're going to probably see gr Barton get a lot of time we've heard seen the snaps be a struggle for him in a lot of these practices and I want to see how the game day operation goes on that front I I certainly need to see uh the the depth there considering they've already lost Su opeda but we probably we'll get a good look at some of those like backup players that might have to um be be a significant part if there's an injury so then on the flip side I would love to see somebody uh from that like outside linebacking corar pop you know Omar keis watad Jose Ramirez you know yaa and jts and Anthony Nelson we've talked about it it's it's a little bit of a it's a good group I don't know if it's a a great group um and they're gonna have to do a lot of success by everybody putting their hands in the pile so I'm curious if somebody from within those uh in that realm of things that position can they prove hey I deserve to be part of this rotation because all hands on deck baby um those three that I mentioned right they're obviously going to get a lot of playing time uh but but there there are certainly jobs to be had Chris brazwell I didn't mention him either but he will certainly get his first licks in the NFL and how does he go against mostly other teams twos right that's the other thing too you have to way is for the most part this is going to be a two versus two so if you pop doesn't necessarily mean that it's anything like you're ready for the big time but it definitely shows that you're right like this is like watching a a bunch of AAA players right who's ready to be impactful at the major league level yeah well in in mentioning The Trenches that kind of brings me to someone that we couldn't get to in the first segment that I also noticed on the depth chart another undrafted rookie Xavier Delgado listed as the backup for Ben bredes and it'll be interesting to watch him if they're already pegging him as the number two option there at left guard and maybe that's just kind of where they put him right Jason light you know you and I have talked about it on the show plenty of times they like to keep offensive linemen that can play multiple positions so it's certainly far from a lock that the Delgado is going to make this team but you know is that a player that people should be keeping an eye on given the the state of the depth chart yeah that that all is encompassing you know I mean going through Elijah Klein is is another guy that needs to be examined um and Walton we know you know he's going to get every opportunity to kind of solidify himself in maybe a couple of spots right I he's he's going to probably play right tackle to start I would not be surprised if he starts the game at right tackle and know assuming that gety and we don't know we're gonna find out soon who's playing who's not playing I'm assuming most of the starters will not play week one but I would not be surprised if we saw Brandon Walton start at right tackle and then wiggle his way into a guard roll later in the game to see how he's doing over there so it's it's very possible that that can be um that can happen as well so it's tough to play a guy like Baker Mayfield unless you're gonna have the number one oine out there otherwise you're really I mean it's a dicey situation so for the most part unless you're going to play all the starters then I don't expect to see them but yeah I I think it's it's very worthwhile to take a good look at him and you know as I said a few of these guys they'll they'll show a little bit of their depth in this game especially in the secondary you know guys like merow weather um I you know Thomas thunderberg Hayes Hall Isaac like they got a lot of depth there so certainly there's good competition of who can who can be that that that final cornerback that final secondary piece who makes the team I I think that's a lowkey exciting thing to follow yeah I mean and of course I think all of our listeners knew you were going to go with the trenches for for the number one thing especially that edge rush I I think uh we've talked about the the pass rush on every episode since about February yep uh but yeah you're 100% right watching all these guys in the secondary you know a couple of new additions we've talked about tavier Thomas and Bryce Hall on this show you know how are those guys kind of acclimating to the Todd bll system love tavier I mean tavier has been great in C you know he's a guy that that has certainly stood out yeah so you how are these guys going to fit who you know where is TA lining up are are we GNA see him more at nickel or are we gonna see him more back at safety so you know obviously the secondary is another big thing to keep an eye on and just if nothing nothing else just kind of the placement and the rotation of a lot of these players but what's maybe one more thing that you're really going to to focus in on from you know a a an all-encompassing aspect as far as you know position groups or schemes I know last year a lot of us got excited after the first pre preseason game because we saw so much Motion in the offense and then we got to the regular season and Dave Canales just completely forgot that that was a thing um so I don't want just became predictable motions yeah I I don't want to get too excited about something like that but maybe one more thing that you're really going to focus in on well and I mean I'll make this this wasn't the point I was gonna Focus I mean number two is the kickoffs like okay H how are the Bucks operating I want to see who's also on special teams because you got to remember that that's how positional battles at the bottom of your roster kind of figured out right like you know will will Devin Colt make make it over Co ke because he can play special teams in block and Co is maybe more of a thought in a different type of offense he doesn't quite fit here or is co proven to be a special teamer on the kickoffs that it's necessary and they they deal with kind of the lack of athleticism at tight end because they kind of do that you know the thing about the thing about the the Liam Cohen offense assuming he's taking a lot of the Rams cont Concepts is they don't need a fullback right fullbacks typically block a linebacker and that's you know how we all know that but with Liam Cohen who Luke gki mentioned has more motions than he's ever seen before in his life they can design the offense and this what the Rams do where the motion man clears out the linebacker that typically a fullback would clear out and now you've eliminated the necessity for essentially like a a tweener type player who is mostly a blocker and can catch a pass or two you've now taken that out of the equation and you've put a very athletic player in doing the same job just schematically doing it versus physically so uh you know like these are the little Nuance type of things that I'm looking at and we're not we are really get like a very foundational basic package like we're not going to be able to decipher too much uh Kate uton had a tremendous end round play in training camp uh sorry against um in the preseason last year that we never saw once so you just don't know what you're getting you're getting Concepts you're getting certain looks they're shielding all their good stuff every team is but it would be nice to get kind of the taste of that so but so that's kind of kickoff is kind of my my big picture one and then ultimately looking at the Nuance things of of hey in the Run game are they using motion to clear out people or are they going right back to having a fullback in some plays and motioning him like the there are some sticky things we can kind of dig dig our our feet in on all right well we know what Evan is watching ing for but who is Evan watching for that is coming up next on today's episode of Locked on [Music] bucks you're hiring for your small business you want to find quality professionals that are right for the role that's why you have to check out LinkedIn jobs LinkedIn jobs has the tools to help you find the right Professionals for your team faster and for free LinkedIn isn't just a job board LinkedIn helps you hire professionals you can't find anywhere else even though who aren't actively searching for a new job but might be open for the perfect role in a given month over 70% of LinkedIn users don't visit other leading job sites so if you're not looking on LinkedIn you're looking in the wrong place on LinkedIn 86% of small businesses get a qualified candidate within 24 hours hire professionals like a professional on LinkedIn LinkedIn is constantly finding ways to make the process easier they even launched a feature feature that helps you write job descriptions making the process even easier and quicker post your job for free at linkedin.com lockon NFL that's linkedin.com lockon NFL to post your job for free terms and conditions [Music] apply wrapping things up here on a WTSP Wednesday edition of the locked on bucks podcast and the bucks first preseason action is right around the corner a lot of people are going to be excited to watch certain players now I know Cincinnati is going to be playing some of their starters which means I know Evan you are going to enjoy watching Illinois Legend Chase Brown take the field for the Bengals but a lot of Bucs fans local product well yeah yeah I mean I know he's not not he's born he's born north of the Border but he played his high school ball down here yeah uh of course I I got to talk about my Chase Brown I was still I'm still sad that the Bucks didn't draft him but that's neither here nor there uh I know here and there and uh and a lot of Bucs fans are looking forward to seeing these rookies in action for the first time others might want to see the new additions like breson if he gets the nod to be able to play maybe get him some reps uh you know we mentioned Bryce Hall tavier Thomas but Evan who is the player that you are most looking forward to watching against Cincinnati I'm gonna make this a tie between Bucky Irving and sha Tucker Sean Tucker has actually flashed a bit in Camp you know we we all kind of wrote him off he won the backup job last year played the first couple of games we never saw him again from all intents and purposes it seems like he was a little bit overwhelmed by The Playbook didn't really catch on but he's he's had some trunks plays this time around I want to see and and I want to see a and the reason I do this for a tie is because a I want to see if what people were concerned about with Bucky and his size is that as much of an issue as we think and with Shan Tucker is it hey remember the Bucks gave Shan Tucker money as an undrafted free agent he probably would have been drafted if it wasn't for the medical issue that he had entering the draft could we be going back and saying hey this is the guy you know we being like Jason light company this is the guy that we fell in love with last year so I'm very curious how that goes um so that's that's kind of my one a1b is that running back position and who's going to be that true backup Chase Edmonds will probably be involved but he regardless he's not the future uh if anything you know I don't know we we'll see we'll see with that but I think those two Bucky and and Shawn can certainly make some things happen uh so a a rookie and and a borderline red shirt rookie yeah yeah essentially and it's fitting that you know they're they're both on on the Special Teams it'll be interesting to see if they both get an opportunity to return kicks if if you know one is going to take priority over the other because you know teams are going to line up two returners um so it'll it'll I I'll enjoy watching if they kind of you know I'll get this one if it's kind of in the middle of the field you get the next one if it's kind of in the middle of the field see how they they work all that out but yeah you know I don't imagine Rashad white is gonna play much if at all so the primary backs that we're going to see in this game are going to be Bucky and sha Tucker I don't Chase Edmonds will be sprinkled in there a little bit as well but I think they really want to get a good look at those two guys yeah and then uh we we talked about him but but kin Deo is is uh certainly a point of emphasis to watch just considering how thin they are at linebacker and how much they need to develop there like cassier Dennis is injured again it's becoming a theme with him he was injured a lot last year year he's already not practicing again this year that's a problem like I'm just red flag that is a red flag for me you know you're only as good as your availability in this league he even said it himself before he got injured so I am very curious as this undrafted free agent who was highly touted entering the team from day one like rookie mini camp type of stuff and certainly had a had a good career at at Florida State what is his impact going to be and it's just that is such a position of need like entering the draft next year they were a they got Levante so they were able to push it down another year but like we know this team needs another linebacker right just like we know Evan's gonna complain about the outside linebackers uh there's the the inside linebackers and he's also going to complain about the outside linebackers right that we know when their weaknesses are those two positions one of the Guard spots so I'm curious if maybe they they CAU gold here so typically one to two undrafted free agents make the Buccaneers under Todd BS it seems like kayin Delo is going to be in that running to to be the guy this year all right well you know lots lots to keep an eye of course I'm going to be watching uh you know one of the big players I'll be keeping an eye on is jayen McMillan uh I think we already kind of have an idea as to what he could be it'll be nice to you know he he got a lot of hype when they were in shells and shorts then he continued to produce when they put on pads now let's see if if he continues to take that next step and and do it in real life snaps when he's going up against guys that are literally you know scratching fighting clawing for a job and do not have have his health or best interest in in mind and and are literally trying to take his head off um I think I should force you to you know do your bold prediction your player prediction your score prediction because it's the preseason game but uh I'll I'll save that for the uh the dress rehearsal preseason game we can get your dress rehearsal crystal ball yeah let's do that and you know what these teams now now that they have the inter Squad scrimmages with the hope of them not like beating themselves up like the Giants are doing currently but you know a lot a lot of teams get get work in in those situations as well so this actually leading up into this game they're not getting that but versus Jacksonville versus um M or sorry they have the right the Dolphins yeah and Miami they both will have joint practices so typically when you have that the ones get a lot of work that on game day you don't really need it maybe operationally you want to see it that final game but considering I think last year they only had they only had the trip to New York as their their joint practice situation yeah I think so I can't I can't remember another time that the Buccaneers have had two joint practices I don't remember one either I know uh of course when the Dolphins did The Joint practices in Tampa was when Brady disappeared for 10 days yeah then I think it was backto back years before that that they did uh joint practices with the Titans they definitely did the Titans uh Zion mccullum's rookie year so was two years ago because that's where he he heard his hamstring was in was in Nashville so that definitely happened that must have been 21 right yeah so maybe it was it was twice in in three years I know they had a seon so like but we're in agreement we you can't think of the last time they had two yeah so that so that's why I'm kind of wondering if we'll see less of the like if there's any time to actually do it it's week one but because you're so far out from the from the regular season it makes no point um right so uh just given how the schedule laid out not you know there's there's the logistics of when the regular season starts and then there's the logistics of how the week is with them going up against each other again so I like I I certainly suspect especially with the amount of veterans they bought back and invested in I don't know how many starters we're gonna see and typically I'm a man that likes to see their starters play in the preseason games at least a series and even I'm a little bit wary of that by game three I'm in at least for a little bit but because of those joint practices I'm actually this season going to soften on stance yeah and it it makes a lot of sense and then of course even if you do kind of that dress rehearsal that that teams typically did where they were playing into the second half that was usually the third preseason game there was still another preseason game after that now there's essentially a bye-week or might be two uh I can't remember exactly but you know it's still a long time from game three to kickoff weekend so teams have have it's been weird to see how different teams have adjusted to the three preseason game schedule and and kind of the layout of everything but you know I me I'm 100% do we need to see Mike Evans Chris Godwin Tristan werfs like uh I mean yeah uh who Levante David Jamal Dean Anto Winfield Jr Jordan Whitehead like we don't need to see these guys they've done a they've had a million reps they're good yep yeah I'm I'm trusting each and every one of those guys to to show up against the commanders in week one ready to go so all right that is going to do it for this episode of Locked on bucks please check out everything going on over at bucsnation.com Evan let everybody know what you have going on over on T Tampa Bay and at tent Tampa bay.com and we're uh we're going to be out at uh Buck practice today for military day it's the final practice that is open to the the public you know they General Public practices there season ticket holders military day last one where anybody on the outside can come watch them so we're going to be there and we will continue to get you prepared for the season opener come September 8th right uh September 8th September 7th uh 8th I was right first time uh so 10A Bay uh plus tent bay.com and then at eosi WTSP you can always hit me up with your questions thoughts concerns 99% the time I will respond as long as you're not a jerk that's right he does respond to me even though I'm a little bit of a jerk because he's he's Grand he was grandfathered in I was grandfathered in uh my jerkiness is strictly based on Collegiate Sports so outside of that we're we're good yeah check out everything going on over on tent Tampa Bay at Tampa bay.com follow on Twitter at lockon bucks jorb eosi WTSP become a lock on bucks Insider go go to join sub tex.com loock onbu or click the link in the show notes and make sure you're subscribed on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast hope you all have an absolutely outstanding day stay safe stay healthy fire the Cannons want to thank you so much for joining us right here on locked on Buck part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day oh