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About the Author: Trevor Sikkema

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Trevor Sikkema is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat reporter and NFL Draft analyst for PewterReport.com. Sikkema, an alumnus of the University of Florida, has covered both college and professional football for much of his career. As a native of the Sunshine State, when he's not buried in social media, Sikkema can be found out and active, attempting to be the best athlete he never was. Sikkema can be reached at: [email protected]
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On the final training camp practice before their first preseaons game against the Dolphins, the Buccaneers were a little shorthanded.

Wide receiver Freddie Martino was still out, as was offensive tackle Leonard Wester and running back Shaun Wilson. That means it’s not likely for any of them to play on Thursday down in Miami.

Of the players that were out there, the offense seemed to be totally in rhythm to start practice.

In the 1-minute drill, a drill where the offense has struggled to this point in camp, the first-team offense made things look easy with a touchdown pass to cap it off their series.

The second-team wasn’t as successful, coming up yards short of a score, but we would still say they got the better of the defense, minus the last two plays. That’s encouraging.

What wasn’t encouraging was the current status of the chemistry between wide receiver DeSean Jackson and his carousel of quarterbacks on Tuesday.

First, it was Jameis Winston. Winston tried to hit Jackson deep in the back of the end zone for a score, and in an all too familiar sight, Winston overthrew him out of the back of the end zone for no points.

Next, shown above, Ryan Griffin tried his luck, which was again not good.

As an opposite of Winston, Griffin ended up under-shooting Jackson and the pass should have been picked off. Jackson was a little frustrated after the play — understandably so.

Last but not least Ryan Fitzpatrick targeted Jackson and actually connected for a score, though it wasn’t a deep shot down the field.

The chemistry between Jackson and his quarterbacks seemed good at the beginning of camp a few weeks ago, but it has unraveled a bit. Passing accurately deep down the field is the toughest part of playing quarterback, but in a vertical offense, it has to hit every once in a while.

Jackson is their best chance for big plays.

People have asked us about the status of the offensive line thus far in camp, and if we’re being honest it’s not overly positive. The wheels aren’t falling off or anything like that, but due to injuries the projected starring offensive line hasn’t been able to get much work together, plus you have the longer injury to Leonard Wester. And for the guys that are in there, such as Alex Capp at right guard and Brad Seaton at right tackle, you like that they’re getting experience, but they’ll likely struggle quite a bit in Miami.

Let’s hope nothing like that happens and our fears aren’t realized.

These backups won’t be backups on Thursday.
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