The Bucs beat the Steelers in a close affair Saturday night that included plenty of turnovers. Despite winning the turnover battle by forcing three interceptions, Tampa Bay was unable to crack the game open due to sloppy play from several parts of the team.
Here are the most disappointing players/units from the Bucs’ 17-14 preseason victory in Pittsburgh.
Bucs Offensive Line
The Bucs starting offensive line had a rough go of it against the Steelers defensive front. Even without starters Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, the depth of Pittsburgh’s line still made things tricky for the Bucs starting offensive line. Charlie Heck struggled on the first drive with a false start followed by allowing a pressure to Nick Herbig on third and long. Graham Barton got beat on a run play early as well. Later, Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon was able to get run through left guard Ben Bredeson for a sack.
The Bucs starters struggled to create a run game throughout the first half, as Bucky Irving gained just 12 yards on eight carries for a 1.5 average per carry. Kyle Trask, who came in to relieve Teddy Bridgewater, was pressured on nearly half of his drop backs.
The second half wasn’t any better for the Bucs ground game. For the entire game, their running backs were only able to net 42 yards on 21 carries, averaging just two yards per tote. And on a crucial fourth and one that could have salted the game away with just over 4:00 left in the fourth quarter, the line was unable to get enough push to convert. Instead, Owen Wright was stuffed for a one-yard loss and a turnover on downs.
QB Kyle Trask
After starting the preseason strong against Tennessee, Trask was not great in relief against the Steelers. He hung multiple throws that went for near interceptions. He finished his day just 3-of-10 for 19 yards and two near picks. He was not aided by one of his receivers – more on him later – but Trask did not look sharp at all. His throws lacked the zip and crispness that he had shown in preseason week one and overall, he did little to say, “I am clearly the best option for the QB2 spot.”
CB Jamel Dean
With Jacob Parrish breathing down his neck, Jamel Dean needed to have a strong showing to keep his starting outside corner role safe and secure. This was not the performance he or the team was hoping for from him. On the Steelers’ third drive, Dean was victimized on three plays leading to Pittsburgh’s first touchdown of the game.
Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph found receiver Roman Wilson deep for a 42-yard completion after Wilson got behind Dean on a deep post. On the next play, Rudolph went looking for Brandon Johnson down the left sideline near the goal line. While the pass was incomplete, Dean was flagged for a pass interference that would set the Steelers up with a first and goal.
Two plays later, Rudolph would connect with Johnson for the score with Dean once again in coverage.
Knees
Ugh. J.J. Roberts. I am a sad panda.
WR Rakim Jarrett
The Bucs have kept Jarrett around for two years plus a preseason. If ever there was a time for him to take advantage of an opportunity, it was last year when both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were out with injuries. He failed to step up in a meaningful way then.
With Godwin still working back from his ankle injury and multiple receivers missing parts of camp with soft tissue injuries, he had another chance in training camp. But still no dice. Now, in this game he dropped not one, but two passes leading to stalled drives. With Tez Johnson, Ryan Miller and Sterling Shepard all playing well, the end of the road may be here for Jarrett.
WR/Returner Tez Johnson
Tez Johnson was not without his positives. He showed his suddenness and start/stop skills as a receiver, helping to convert a third down in the first half with a grab and stop that caused two Steelers defenders to overrun him while he pushed forward for the line to gain. But some mental errors have left him on this list. A dropped pass from Kyle Trask was the first transgression.
Bucs WR-PR Tez Johnson – Photo by: USA Today
But in the third quarter, he muffed a 58-yard punt that was recovered by the Steelers at the Bucs’ 21-yard line. That would lead to a touchdown for Pittsburgh just five plays later that would tie the game.
It’s unfortunate because that play will overshadow an impressive 37-yard punt return from earlier in the game. But if the Bucs can’t trust Johnson to maintain ball security, he will be hard pressed to make it on the field.
TE Tanner Taula
The Bucs were starting to put together a drive in the fourth quarter with the game tied. After converting on third and three with a smart dump off to running back Owen Wright, quarterback Connor Bazelak found Taula over the middle for a solid gain of 15 yards that would have put Tampa Bay into plus territory. But Taula was unable to keep the ball secured as he got hit by Steelers cornerback D’Shawn Jamison. Cornerback Quentin Johnson would then fall on it to complete the turnover.