The PewterReport.com Roundtable features the opinions of the PR staff as it tackles a topic each week that involves the Bucs.

Topic: Who Is The Bucs’ Unsung Hero So Far?

Scott Reynolds: DE Will Gholston

While Ndamukong Suh, the highest-paid defensive lineman in Tampa Bay, and nose tackle Vita Vea, the team’s first-round pick in 2018, get the attention and accolades for stopping the run, defensive end Will Gholston deserves plenty of credit, too. He’s the unsung hero for the Bucs defense up front, and after playing for four different head coaches in four different defensive schemes, Todd Bowles’ 3-4 defense fits Gholston like a glove.

Bucs DE Will Gholston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay has the league’s fourth-ranked defense in terms of total yards, allowing just 312 yards per game, and the NFL’s second-best run defense, surrendering just 64.2 yards per game. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Gholston is a big reason why. He showed he was a force against the run if single-blocked in Week 1 when he recorded seven tackles and two tackles for loss in New Orleans. With 13 tackles and three tackles for loss, Gholston is on pace to notch 52 stops and 12 tackles for loss this season.

Posting 52 tackles would be the most by Gholston in six years when he notched a career-high 67 in 2015, and 12 tackles for loss would be three more than his current career high. Gholston has never been much of a pass rusher and has never recorded more than three in any season, but has already recorded one sack this season, and has already tied his sack production from the past two years. Known for taking on double-teams, Gholston is showing in his eighth season that he can certainly make plays when singled up.

Mark Cook: P Bradley Pinion 

Remember the topic is “unsung” hero so far. There certainly have been players who have impacted the Bucs’ 3-1 record more than a punter, but it’s important for everyone on the roster to contribute. Pinion has been outstanding so far this season, and believe it or not, deserves a part of Tampa Bay’s success. Look no further than Pinion pinning the Chargers back to their 6-yard line right before halftime that led to a turnover and a much-needed touchdown by the Bucs to cut Los Angeles’ lead to 24-14.

Bucs P Bradley Pinion – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

First of all, Pinion is 15th in the league with a 46.2 average on 17 punts through four games so far, but maybe more importantly, 10 of those 17 punts, have been downed inside the 20-yard line. Tampa Bay’s offense rarely goes three-and-out, so it isn’t like many of Pinion’s punt opportunities are from his own 25-yard line giving him an opportunity to blast one. Under special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong, the Bucs are a directional punt team that loves to use the sidelines to limit return yards. Think of it like a golfer – many can drive a ball 350 yards off the tee but aren’t too hot with the precision shots near the green.

Guess who leads the NFL in touchback percentage on kickoffs? You got it – Pinion. So far Pinion is sitting at a 96 percent touchback percentage and it is basically a foregone conclusion that opposing teams will be starting on their own 25-yard line after every Bucs score. This is helpful in a couple ways. First is the wear and tear it saves on the Bucs special teams players who aren’t getting their heads bashed in on every kickoff. And second, by Pinion handling the kickoff duties, placekicker Ryan Succop’s only focus is on putting the ball between the uprights on field goals and extra points.

Jon Ledyard: LG Ali Marpet

Ali Marpet has been a dominant guard in the NFL for a long time now, but he has truly taken his game to a new level in 2020. The former second-round pick has surrendered just one pressure the entire season and given up zero sacks. There have been a few occasions on tape where Marpet has needed to block multiple players to give his quarterback more time, and he’s consistently managed to do so.

Bucs LG Ali Marpet – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While Marpet has been a brick wall in pass protection, that’s not really new. What’s been incredible to watch is how much of a mauler he’s become in the run game, just beating the daylights out of defensive tackles this season. Marpet’s dog mentality has been overlooked in Tampa Bay because of how nice of a guy he seems to be off the field, but when he laces up the cleats, the nasty edge to his game is so evident.

Marpet will have some stiffer tests over the next few weeks, including a Bears front boasting two strong run-stuffers in Bilal Nichols and Akiem Hicks on Thursday night. But through the quarter point of the season, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Marpet has been the best guard in football during the 2020 campaign.

Taylor Jenkins: WR Scotty Miller

Heading into the 2020 season the talk was all about the plethora of offensive weapons that Tampa Bay had assembled. There was future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, future of Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski, arguably the best to ever play the game. Mike Evans with six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, O.J. Howard the physical specimen and Chris Godwin who had rapidly put himself in the conversation for the league’s top-10 receivers. When discussing their offensive play-makers it often sounded like a conversation about the Justice League or the Avengers.

Bucs WR Scotty Miller – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But through three weeks, the Bucs’ top receiver is none other than Scotty Miller, a 5-foot-9, sixth-round draft pick in 2019 out of Bowling Green. Despite missing most of his rookie season due to numerous hamstring injuries, Miller has fought off a groin injury to have an electric start the 2020 season. With a mix of speed, plus route running and the trust of Brady, Miller currently leads Tampa Bay with 250 receiving yards on 16.7 yards per reception, ranks second on the team with 15 receptions, has hauled in 71.4 percent of his passes and added his first touchdown of the season on Sunday against the Chargers.

Initially rising up as the Bucs’ third receiver to start the season, Miller has had to take on a more significant role in Tampa Bay’s offense with Godwin missing two games on the year and Evans hobbled with an ankle injury in Week 4. Now the signs are pointing toward Tampa Bay being forced to play its Week 5 match-up against Chicago without Godwin and finish the year without Howard, so it’s likely that Miller will continue to be relied upon moving forward if he can continue to answer the call.

Matt Matera: RT Tristan Wirfs

Tom Brady, Mike Evans and company are the ones that will get all the headlines, but it’s offensive linemen like Tristan Wirfs that keeps the Bucs’ offense steady. A quick look at the pass rushers that the rookie out of Iowa has had to line up against for the start of his career, it’s quite impressive what he’s been able to.

Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In just four weeks, he’s blocked the likes of Cam Jordan, Brian Burns, and Joey Bosa. That’s a daunting group to begin your career against, and yet he’s handled all of them steadily. Wirfs’ performance last week against Bosa in particular is one that really stands out. Bosa was never a threat to Bucs on Sunday, as Brady was not sacked during the game. It’s hard to believe that Wirfs is a rookie at times.

Let’s not forget the fact that not only is Wirfs a rookie, but he’s a rookie playing an important role that didn’t have a proper training camp. He’s played very well with no signs that the game is too big for him. His pass blocking has been solid along with his run blocking as well. The Bucs had a lot of success running to the right side of the offensive line thanks to Wirfs on the way to Ronald Jones’ 111-yard afternoon. Offensive linemen hardly get the recognition they deserve, so it’s important to point out that Wirfs has been a big contributor so far.