The Bucs’ ever-changing practice schedule will make it difficult to publish a new SR’s Fab 5 column this week with practices from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. So I’m publishing two SR’s Bucs Camp Insider columns this week – one on offense and one on defense – on Wednesday instead of a traditional SR’s Fab 5 on Friday.

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Analyzing Winston’s Start To Camp

Here are a few things to know about Jameis Winston’s performance in training camp, and this isn’t meant excuse Winston’s poor throws or interceptions, nor is it to apologize for any bad decisions he has made in late July or will make in August. This is to provide some level of understanding about what the Bucs coaches and scouts are looking for from Winston in training camp.

Throwing jump balls in the end zone to Mike Evans that get intercepted – as was the case on Friday by safety Jordan Whitehead – are good decisions, according to Arians. If Winston were to throw 50-50 balls in the end zone to 5-foot-11 rookie wide receiver Scotty Miller, those obviously would not be good decisions, especially if he is covered by 6-foot-1 cornerback like Carlton Davis with a long wingspan.

It’s important to note that while the offense is supposed to succeed in practice, so is the defense. The coaches are trying to put Winston and the other quarterbacks in situation that challenge them to throw in to tight windows, such as the periods where they split the field in half and work two in 7-on-7 situations on each hash mark. The Bucs line up three receivers all on one side of the field so DBs know the ball is coming to their side because everybody is stacked on one half of the field and the defensive backs are in super tight coverage and more likely to break up passes and pick some off because the quarterback simply can’t go elsewhere with the ball and is forced to make a throw.

Winston had some struggles at the end of Monday’s practice, throwing an ill-advised screen pass that was well covered and ultimately picked off by defensive end Jeremiah Ledbetter. But he bounced back on Tuesday with easily his best performance so far in camp.

Winston is learning his first new system after spending the first four years in Dirk Koetter’s offense, and with the pressure that defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is bringing during blitz periods, Winston is understandably not going to be perfect and have some struggles. That’s happening now, and I don’t think it’s any cause for alarm at this point in time.

However, if Winston doesn’t show improvement and put together more performances like Tuesday’s in a couple of weeks as camp progresses then sound the alarm bells.

A New RoJo

Bucs RB Ronald Jones II – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While he still has a lot to prove, especially when the lights come on during the preseason, second-year running back Ronald Jones II looks like a new man. Jones is noticeably bigger this year at 221 pounds and is running harder and playing with more confidence as a result. Jones realizes that everyone is fast at the NFL level and it’s very difficult to simply outrun defenders. He knows that he’ll have to do a better job of breaking tackles and isn’t shying away from that concept like he did during his disastrous rookie season.

Not only is Jones running with a full head of steam, he’s also catching the ball much, much better thanks to running backs coach Todd McNair, who corrected his flawed technique. Jones entered camp battling for the No. 2 running back spot behind Peyton Barber, but if he impresses during the preseason games – and that’s still a big if in my book – he will be putting the full court press on Barber for the starting job.

There is no doubt Jones is making strides and he had his best two practices on Monday and Tuesday than he’s had since being drafted in the second round in 2018. The arrow is pointing up for Jones, and that’s a good thing. Because of his draft status, and the fact that Barber is only under a one-year contract, the best case scenario for the Bucs would be that RoJo comes on and ends up winning the starting job at some point. Time will tell if that can and will happen.

Bucs Are Deep At Receiver

Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich praised the depth and talent at the team’s wide receiver position during the first week of camp. Pro Bowler Mike Evans will thrive in Bruce Arians’ offense, as will third-year receiver Chris Godwin, who has been just as impressive as Evans at the start of camp.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston and WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The good news is that veteran newcomer Breshad Perriman has also stepped up and been a solid contributor on a daily basis. Perriman is 6-foot-2, 215 pounds and might be the fastest receiver on the roster, although rookie Scotty Miller might give him a run for his money – pun intended.

Miller has flashed with his ability to quickly get vertical and also with his ability to separate across the middle. But both he and second-year receiver Justin Watson, who has also impressed at times throughout camp, need to become more sure-handed. Both Miller and Watson have had some drops of some passes that Adam Humphries would have caught.

The other young receivers have all had their ups and downs, and the Bucs are hopeful that undrafted free agent DeMarkus Lodge can be cleared to practice and join the mix soon. The best of the second tier wide receivers has probably been Bobo Wilson.

The two biggest aspects of the passing game under Arians that differ from Dirk Koetter’s approach are the high volume of throws across the middle and down the seam, and the use of option routes. Koetter liked to hit deep passes down the sidelines with great regularity, but that means that receivers are often challenging other teams’ best cover corners. Arians and Leftwich will be attacking the middle of the field, challenging linebackers, safeties and nickel corners more often, and likely getting more favorable matchups as a result.

The other thing is the use of option routes, which allow receivers to change their route depending on what type of coverage they are facing. Option routes can be quite effective if receivers recognize zone coverage and can quickly. Where it can be tricky, especially in a new offense with young receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks, is not being on the same page when reading coverages at the snap. Both Winston and Blaine Gabbert have thrown interceptions right to defensive backs because the receivers made a bad read, ran the wrong route and weren’t where they were supposed to be.

Bucs O-Line A Work In Progress

Leftwich said it best during his press conference on Tuesday when noting that the offensive line is usually the unit that is the most behind due to the fact that the O-line is at a disadvantage in shorts and helmets in the offseason. The O-line can’t really block – and truly be evaluated for blocking prowess – until the pads come on. So Leftwich and the coaches have only had three real days of practice so far to evaluate what they have up front.

At first glance, the myriad of blitzes that defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has brought in practice doesn’t help the offensive line establish any rhythm. At the start of camp the line has literally been scrambling and struggling to try to pick up everyone that Bowles is bringing at the quarterbacks. In the long run, once they see it over and over and have experience going up against Bowles’ heavy pressure packages, it should pay off, and there shouldn’t be any surprises from any opponents on Sundays.

Bucs RG Alex Cappa and DT Ndamukong Suh – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If you aren’t a Donovan Smith fan, you should become one because if he goes down the options at left tackle to protect Winston’s blind side are Caleb Benenoch, Earl Watford and Michael Liedtke. Smith has been slowed at the start of camp by a mild Achilles injury, but Ali Marpet, who plays next to him at left guard, has had a great start and is playing at a Pro Bowl level.

The good news is that Alex Cappa has been starting at right guard ahead of Watford, and has held his own. It’s usually bad when offensive linemen get noticed – mainly for giving up sacks and committing penalties. Cappa largely went unnoticed during the first week of practice – and that’s a good thing.

Buc Shots – Offense

• Running back Dare Ogunbowale, who earned a spot on the team last year due to his play on special teams and returning kicks, is really opening some eyes on offense. Ogunbowale has tremendous hands and route-running ability in the passing game, and at 220 pounds, has more size than veteran Andre Ellington, who is also impressing in the role of third down back. Ogunbowale could end up being the No. 3 running back on the depth chart when it’s all said and done.

• Reserve tight end Tanner Hudson had a very good practice on Monday, taking advantage of Cameron Brate not practicing and Antony Auclair getting limited reps. Hudson was working with the first, second and third string and caught the ball extremely well. He’s shown a tremendous amount of improvement over the last year. It’s an uphill climb for Hudson to make the team behind O.J. Howard, Brate and Auclair, but if Arians wants to keep four tight ends, Hudson is the most likely candidate. Of course he’ll have to really become a core special teams player in August to justify a roster spot.

• For all the grief that Gabbert has received throughout his career as a former first-round pick that turned into a bust in Jacksonville, he’s been head and shoulders better than Ryan Griffin thus far in camp. Gabbert has a better grasp of the offense having spent 2017 in Arizona under Arians, has a stronger arm and is bigger and more athletic than Griffin, who just hasn’t been that impressive at the start of camp.

• For more coverage of Winston and the Bucs offense, make sure to read Trevor Sikkema’s new Cover 3 column – In-Depth Study On Bucs QB Winston’s Deep Ball Issues. It’s a fantastic read.

• And for even more analysis of the Bucs offense throughout the first week of training camp, make sure to listen to the latest edition of the Pewter Nation Podcast – presented by Westshore Financial’s Chris Garrido – featuring Pewter Reporters Mark Cook, Trevor Sikkema, Matt Matera, Taylor Jenkins and yours truly. We talk about what’s different in Bruce Arians’ first camp in Tampa Bay and offer up our early standouts and disappointments. Don’t miss it!

Click here to listen to Episode 133: Early Standouts, Disappointments