Bucs rookies on display, under scrutiny in preseason opener vs. Bengals

TAMPA ― To this point, Jalen McMillan has made the Bucs look smart. The third-round pick from Washington runs routes as if his feet are on rails and has made enough plays to take a big lead in the competition for the No. 3 receiver spot.

“I think you can all see the cool stuff that he does out here right now,” Bucs assistant general manager John Spytek said. “I mean, he’s a very gifted athlete. He’s a very gifted football player. Now, the next step is consistently doing it day after day.

“We’ve yet to see how he plays with the pads on (in a game), but I expect him to handle that well and keep building a rapport with the quarterback. With any wide receiver-quarterback combo, there’s got to be a big trust factor there. He’s got to earn that with Baker (Mayfield), too, but we’re excited about how he has started, for sure.”

McMillan and the Bucs’ other rookies will play Saturday night in Cincinnati while the veteran starters sit out the preseason opener against the Bengals.

Kyle Trask will start at quarterback and at some point give way to John Wolford as the battle for the No. 2 job continues.

What is Spytek going to be focusing on?

“I want to see them compete,” he said. “They’re going to make mistakes. It’s their first time on an NFL field in a new scheme, whether it’s offense or defense, so they’re going to make mistakes. But I want to see them compete. I want to see them strain to finish.

“If you’re tackling people, put your face on the ball carrier and get them down. If you’ve got the ball and you’re carrying it, I don’t want to see people running out of bounds. I want to see them finish plays, and those are the kind of guys we’re looking for around here.”

Here are four things to look for in the game.

Barton’s shotgun snaps

First-round pick Graham Barton hasn’t played center in a game since his freshman year at Duke. He is expected to win the starting job over Robert Hainsey, but he needs repetitions in the preseason, particularly in a live game situation snapping the football in the shotgun.

If there is one area of concern for Barton, it’s that. He’s athletic and strong enough to hold up for NFL defensive tackles. He’s going to get better at learning the offense and making the right protection calls at the line of scrimmage.

“I think what you love about Graham is one wayward snap doesn’t become another one, another one and another one,” Spytek said. “Yeah, they show up from time to time, but it isn’t like he’s off a cliff after that. That was in his profile, and we really like that about him. He’s just a consistent achiever, and it matters to him.”

Can Braswell, Watts or Ramirez rush the passer?

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Both starting outside linebackers, Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, are nursing injuries and won’t play. The position is pretty thin after that.

Chris Braswell struggled for the first week or two of training camp but came on strong Wednesday and Thursday, including intercepting a pass in the end zone. The second-round pick from Alabama could really boost the Bucs in this area, considering Diaby led the team with 7-1/2 sacks and Tryon-Shoyinka never has had more than five in a season.

Asked about Braswell’s coverage skills, head coach Todd Bowles said Thursday, “We don’t plan on making a living out of it, but he knows where to go. He knows what spots to get. He did get an interception (Thursday). …I don’t know if he did very well running the football. He’s doing some good things. I like the way he’s coming along.”

Both Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez have been effective scout squad players against tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke. Roster spots are available.

“They’ve gotten better, mentally, from a rep standpoint,” Bowles said. “They’re not thinking as much, and they’re playing faster, so that’s good to see.”

Helping hands

The Bucs dropped a lot of interceptions last year. Cornerback Jamel Dean says he dropped at least five or six. Had he held on, he suggests, he may have made the Pro Bowl.

Defensive back is one of those positions that is dependent on depth. To that end, the Bucs signed free agents Bryce Hall from the Jets and Tavierre Thomas from the Texans.

Two rookies also have flashed: Tyrek Funderburk, from Appalachian State, and Kansas State’s Josh Hayes. Thomas has been a ball hawk in camp and unofficially leads the team in interceptions. Funderburk has been fundamentally sound and had a takeaway on Wednesday.

“It was huge,” Funderburk said. “I mean, you always want takeaways as a defensive back, but you never know when they’re going to come. You can’t really force plays to come to you.”

New kickoff rules

Kickoffs are going to look different.

All kicking team players other than the kicker will line up with one foot on the receiving team’s 40-yard line. Their 10 players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or a player in the landing zone or the end zone.

The receiving team is in a setup zone — a 5-yard area from its 35-yard line to its 30, where at least nine receiving team players must line up.

Neither team can move until the kick is caught by the receiving team.

“If you miss one gap, it’s going to be a touchdown,” Bowles said. “If you hit them (well) and you get them behind the 30-yard line, it’s fine. It’s a work in progress. I’ve got to see more.”

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