The Bucs’ second straight practice came in brutal heat on Tuesday, and the work was heavily tilted toward red zone drills. That setting made the day feel like a true measuring stick for both sides of the ball - and on this one, the offense owned it.
Baker Mayfield set the tone early and kept rolling. Knowing he’ll be on the field in Saturday’s preseason game against the Chiefs, he looked dialed in and sharp in the red zone.
He was connecting everywhere, finding Chris Godwin Jr., Ted Hurst III and Payne Durham for touchdowns. The ball came out clean, the decisions were quick, and Mayfield looked locked in with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
Godwin was right there with him, continuing what has become a familiar training camp storyline. He found the end zone again, adding another touchdown to a stretch that has shown how valuable he still is around the goal line. The big thing with Godwin has been the details: route precision, spacing and the knack for slipping into the right pocket of the defense.
Kenneth Gainwell also had a strong day, and he made his mark on the ground. The Bucs’ run game showed up in a big way, with Gainwell breaking off several longer runs during practice. Afterward, Mayfield said he is “overwhelmed” with how talented Gainwell is as a player.
Ted Hurst III kept adding to his own red zone résumé, too. He keeps finding the paint, and his blend of size, catch radius and ability to win without needing much separation is making him a dangerous target near the goal line.
That’s part of why the Mike Evans comparisons keep coming up in those situations. If there’s a one-on-one chance, Hurst looks like a strong bet to get the football.
On the defensive side, A’Shawn Robinson made one of the few bright plays by getting a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage. His size has allowed him to get into throwing lanes more than once, and that kind of disruption can change a drive in a hurry once the games count.
Rueben Bain Jr. earned his spot among the studs for a different reason. The rookie first-round edge rusher was still out there working nearly an hour after practice ended, putting in extra reps by himself.
He was drilling his get-off, pass-rush moves, footwork, hand placement and bend around the corner. It was a clear sign of how seriously he’s approaching his craft, and it’s easy to see why the Bucs think he has a chance to be great in Tampa Bay.
If the offense looked sharp, the defense had a day to forget in the red zone. Tampa Bay couldn’t consistently get stops, no matter who was on the field.
The starters gave up touchdowns, the backups gave up touchdowns, and the third string did the same. Chris Godwin Jr., Ted Hurst III and Payne Durham all scored, while Dean Patterson IV and David Sills V also found the end zone with the backups in.
It was one of those practices where the defense just never got itself sorted out.
The run defense was off as well. That stands out because the Bucs have been held in high regard against the run, but Tuesday’s work didn’t match that standard.
Tackles were missed and gains were allowed well beyond the line of scrimmage. Gainwell was part of the damage, and Sean Tucker added productive runs of his own.
Tampa Bay’s offense got the better of the matchup, and the defense will be looking to clean it up next time out.
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The bigger picture is hard to miss for Tampa Bay. Trotter is being viewed as a possible long-term defensive leader, the kind of player who could line up with Rueben Bain Jr. as part of the teams next core, and he is also in the mix for meaningful snaps this season. With Lavonte David now retired, the Bucs are looking for the next linebacker who can carry that standard, and Trotter has already shown enough veteran-like polish to keep that search interesting. [Read more 🡒]