Buccaneers add reinforcements in two key areas that can help them beat the Falcons in Week 1
The Bucs elevated two trench players from the practice squad on Saturday.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to make it four-straight season-opening wins under Todd Bowles, but they’ll have to go through the Atlanta Falcons to make that happen.
Per FanDuel, the Bucs are -1.5 favorites to win, even though they’re on the road. It makes sense, however, as they have the better roster and a more proven coaching staff.
Still, the Bucs are dealing with some key injuries heading into the game. All-Pros Chris Godwin and Tristan Wirfs will miss the game, which will certainly impact things. Then, in the secondary, the Bucs are without rookie corner Benjamin Morrison and do-it-all defensive back Christian Izien. Lastly, Vita Vea has been dealing with a foot injury all week long and is listed as questionable heading into the Falcons matchup, although Bowles said Friday things are “trending in the right direction“.
With the injuries to Wirfs and Vea, the Bucs elevated veteran offensive lineman Mike Jordan and veteran defensive lineman Adam Gotsis from the practice squad on Saturday. The key with Jordan’s elevation is that it will give the Bucs eight active offensive linemen, which allows them to carry an extra 48th player against the Falcons instead of 47 players.
And if Vea is limited, Gotsis will surely see some action to help alleviate the Bucs’ top defensive lineman.
The trenches will be even more key than they usually are on Sunday
One of the oldest and truest NFL mantras is “it always starts up front.” That will be even truer than usual on Sunday.
If the Bucs can’t get it done with the offensive line, then expect the Falcons’ new-look pass rush to have a strong day and for the rushing attack to struggle. On the flip side, if the Bucs’ defensive line can get after Michael Penix Jr. and the rest of the offense, then the young quarterback will have a tough time getting anything going, and the Bucs can then zero in on all-world running back Bijan Robinson. Making the Falcons one-dimensional in this game would go a long way toward a Bucs win.
Both players are veterans who have the versatility to play different positions on their respective lines. Jordan is mostly a guard, but the Bucs have been testing him at tackle since he joined the team. He’s played over 2,800 offensive snaps throughout his career, and Gotsis has logged more than 3,300 since joining the league in 2016.
So it makes sense the Bucs want to stock the lines, even when they have some questions in the secondary. In the long run, it’s a decision that should certainly help them beat the Falcons and start the season not only 1-0, but 1-0 with a division win already in the bag.
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