It’s time for PewterReport.com’s 2-Point Conversion post-game column, which features two statements, two questions and two predictions based on the latest Bucs game. Tampa Bay lost its first preseason game, 26-24, to Miami when Jose Borregales’ field goal hit the upright as time expired. The Bucs sat their starters, and second-year quarterback Kyle Trask played all but the first two series of the game.

2 BIG STATEMENTS

STATEMENT 1. Trask Shows Bucs Poise And Promise

Kyle Trask looked like an NFL quarterback on Saturday night versus Miami. He nearly led the Bucs to a come-from-behind victory, if not for a missed 49-yard field goal attempt by Jose Borregales on the game’s final play. Trask played more in the 2022 preseason opener than he did in any of the preseason games last year. That was by design as head coach Todd Bowles wanted to give Trask an extended look.

Bucs QB Kyle Trask and WR Jerreth Sterns – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Trask led Tampa Bay on two touchdown drives and a field goal drive, completing 25-of-33 passes (75 percent) for 258 yards with one TD, a 19-yarder to Jerreth Sterns, and one fluky interception. He made a couple of great throws on the Bucs’ final drive, including a 20-yarder to Sterns to convert a fourth-and-12.

“I thought he did a good job. He was put in a lot of situations that we practiced – the two-minute situation was outstanding,” Bowles said. “He made a good drive in the first half, he had the two turnovers – one of them we have to block better, on fumble on the blindside, the other was unfortunate. But I thought he managed the game well. He handled situations well, he was in the game, and he didn’t get rattled. He got set back some on third-and-22 and still got the first down. Got a first down across midfield to get us into field goal range. I thought he did well.”

For the Trask supporters, he made several NFL throws and did show the poise that Bowles spoke about. He definitely showed some real potential and looked better than he did this time last year. Trask hasn’t beaten out Blaine Gabbert for the backup job yet, but did make some strides on Saturday night.

For the Trask detractors, he did have two turnovers, one was an ill-advised pass to Rachaad White that wound up being a fluky interception. The other was a sack-fumble that was returned for a Dolphins touchdown. While both of Trask’s turnovers led to 14 points by Miami, he didn’t receive great blocking from left tackle Brandon Walton and right tackle Fred Johnson on both plays.

“Yeah I mean, especially in the preseason, you just need to just get the ball out a little quicker,” Trask said. “Obviously hindsight is 20/20, I can look back and go somewhere else with the ball a little faster. The interception was a little fluky play. Luckily, we still gave ourselves a chance to win in the end. That’s all we can ask of ourselves as an offense.”

The Bucs drafted Trask in the second round last year because they thought he could be another Brad Johnson. But at times we’ve seen him turn over the ball too many times in practice to where he’s been more like Trent Dilfer than Johnson. Trask was somewhere between Johnson and Dilfer in his 2022 preseason debut.

Overall, Trask was pleased with his performance versus Miami.

“Yeah obviously it was bittersweet, personally, because I made a huge stride in my game play,” Trask said. “Obviously you want to win the game, but just looking at my performance I’m really proud of myself for the amount of growth that I’ve shown. But I know I also have a long way to go to get to where I want to be. All I can do is keep on striving and just keep getting better every single day.”

STATEMENT 2. Bowles’ Scheme Works With Bucs Backups

None of Tampa Bay’s starters on defense played against Miami, but the Bucs defense remained stout. That’s because Bowles has created a system that works. The Bucs run defense was as solid as always, allowing just 49 yards on 14 carries. Keep in mind that new Dolphins coach Mike McDaniels wants to run the ball to make play-action even more effective. But it was tough sledding all night trying to run against the Bucs’ backups.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Myles Gaskin had one 20-yard run and rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson escaped the pocket and scrambled for 21 yards. Take away those two runs and Tampa Bay’s defense held Miami to only eight yards on 12 carries. Despite great play from Thompson, a seventh-round pick out of Kansas State, the Dolphins only generated 242 yards and converted just 2-of-10 on third down (20 percent). The Bucs defense held the Dolphins to four field goals and only one offensive touchdown.

Tampa Bay generated just three sacks on the night, but all three came on third downs and forced the Dolphins to kick field goals. Cam Gill was a beast before he got hurt, recording four tackles in the first quarter alone, including the game’s first sack. Anthony Nelson also played a great first half and notched a sack. The third sack came from Pat O’Connor, who was the Bucs’ best defensive lineman on Saturday night.

The only thing missing from Bowles’ defense was takeaways. Cornerback Don Gardner came close to intercepting a pass, but couldn’t get both feet in bounds. Tampa Bay has emphasized creating interceptions this offseason and the Bucs will see if they can snare some picks in Nashville next week.

2 PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: Who Helped Their Case Against Miami?

Aside from Trask, several Bucs had a good night, including center Robert Hainsey and Nick Leverett, who got the start at left guard. Hainsey and Leverett were equally good in pass protection and the run game. Aaron Stinnie, who is also contending for the starting left guard job, started at right guard on Saturday night. He played well, but not as good as Leverett. Hainsey and Leverett had clean games in terms of no penalties and no sacks or QB hits allowed.

Wide receivers Jerreth Sterns and Kaylon Geiger Sr. were singled out by Bowles after the game, and deservedly so. Sterns caught all four targets of his targets for 51 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown and a key 20-yard catch to convert a late fourth down. The Western Kentucky product also showed the toughness and willingness to block in the run game, which impressed the coaches.

Geiger caught all four of his targets too, and totaled 52 yards. He also had a great tackle on punt coverage as a gunner, which showed his versatility.

Veteran Tyler Johnson led the way with six catches for 72 yards, including an impressive 22-yard catch-and-run that showed some elusiveness. The only thing Johnson didn’t do was catch a touchdown. However Jaelon Darden did that, hauling in a 23-yard strike from Blaine Gabbert.

Bucs WRs Kaylon Geiger and Jerreth Sterns – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Sterns and Geiger both showed up,” Bowles said. “Tyler showed up in the first half – those guys can play. Like I said, we have a lot of tough decisions at receiver. [Sterns] can play. He caught a lot of balls in college and when the lights came on, he turned it on. Geiger turned it on. Tyler turned it on. There’s a lot of good film to watch.”

Undrafted free agent J.J. Howland led the way at tight end with three catches for 42 yards, including a 29-yard bullet from Trask down the seam. But Day 3 draft picks Cade Otton and Ko Kieft were more impressive due to their blocking. Otton and Kieft shined in both pass protection and in run blocking. Kieft was the lead fullback on Ke’Shawn Vaughn’s 1-yard TD plunge. He also had a pancake block to help spring Rachaad White on a 12-yard run.

Aside from veteran defensive linemen Pat O’Connor, rookie Mike Green also played well. O’Connor got a third-down sack and a QB hit, while Green had two tackles and pressured Thompson a few times. Backup rookie inside linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi had six tackles to lead the Bucs and nearly had an interception.

QUESTION 2: Which Bucs Need To Step Up Next Saturday In Nashville?

Fatukasi has come on in practice and played well against the Dolphins. If he can shine on special teams he might force the Bucs to cut Grant Stuard and keep Fatukasi instead. Tampa Bay loves Stuard’s ability to play special teams. But he is oft-injured and is a liability on defense.

Stuard, who is 5-foot-11, 230 pounds, is too small and too slow to play on defense, and really struggles in coverage. Fatukasi, who played at Rutgers, is 6-foot-2, 240 pounds and moves well. Stuard missed the last three quarters against the Dolphins with a hamstring injury. He needs to get healthy and step up against the Titans this week.

Bucs RT Fred Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Rookie Zyon McCollum has yet to make the necessary strides the Bucs are hoping he makes. He had a blown coverage on Thompson’s touchdown throw to Lynn Bowden, Jr. McCollum is a lock to make the team based on his potential, but the Bucs hoped he would be pushing for playing time midway through camp. So far that hasn’t come to fruition yet. McCollum could use a good week in Nashville.

Walton and Johnson could use a bounce-back week in Tennessee, too. As previously noted, both offensive tackles played a role in both of Trask’s turnovers. Josh Wells is clearly the No. 3 offensive tackle right now. The Bucs were hoping that Johnson could push him for that role, but he’s limited to just right tackle. Walton might be better at guard than left tackle.

While Johnson was targeted seven times against Miami, that’s a function of him playing in the slot, which is Chris Godwin’s role. Conversely, Scotty Miller was only targeted once and Trask failed to connect with him downfield. Miller, who plays outside, won’t get as many targets as a result. But he needs to make the most of them when gets them against the Titans to make an impression on the Bucs coaches.

Miller was also open on Darden’s touchdown and would’ve scored on that play too had Gabbert thrown it his way. It’s time for some Miller time in Nashville.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1: Trask Will Start vs. Titans

Thompson went wire-to-wire as the Dolphins starter on Saturday night. It’s time that the Bucs see what Trask can do with a better supporting cast around him. And going up against starters rather than just second- and third-string defenders.

Don’t be surprised if Bowles decides to start Trask against the Titans and perhaps play him the entire game. He knows what Gabbert and Ryan Griffin can do. This August is all about learning what Trask can do.

PREDICTION 2: Bucs Will Continue To Play Smart Football

Bowles has been preaching attention to detail all offseason. He wants the Bucs to be a smart football team that doesn’t beat itself. While Trask did have two turnovers, the Bucs only had four penalties for 34 yards. That’s quite an accomplishment considering how many rookies played on Saturday night.

The Bucs have had issues with penalties under Bruce Arians at times. Perhaps Bowles can rein them in. Saturday night was a step in the right direction, and the guess is that it continues in Nashville.