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 started the 2024 season with a commanding performance in a 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders. The Bucs suffered some unfortunate injuries at cornerback, but Baker Mayfield threw four touchdowns – including a pair to Mike Evans – as Liam Coen’s offense converted nearly 70% of its third downs to help Tampa Bay start the year 1-0.

2 BIG STATEMENTS

STATEMENT 1. Baker Mayfield, Liam Coen Team Up To Throttle The Commanders

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Re-signing quarterback Baker Mayfield this offseason to a three-year, $100 million contract extension proved to be a great investment for the Bucs. Tampa Bay got an immediate return on its investment with four touchdown passes and 289 yards from Mayfield in a commanding performance over the Commanders in a 37-20 opening day win.

“I thought Baker did a heck of a job,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said. “He was good with his throws. He was good with his reads, with his checks. Everything was on point. He was excited. He ran when he had to. Made some plays with his feet. He played a good overall game.”

Re-signing wide receiver Mike Evans also proved to be a sound investment strategy. Evans kicked off Mayfield’s big day, hauling in his first touchdown of the year – despite being mauled by cornerback Benjamin St. Juste – and finishing with a pair of scores. Evans, who signed a two-year, $41 million contract extension this offseason, finished with five catches for 61 yards.

Getting Mayfield and Evans – and others like kicker Chase “Money” McLaughlin, who was perfect with three field goals and four extra points – back in the fold was huge for Tampa Bay in what was a busy offseason for general manager Jason Licht and Bowles. But when it’s all said and done, one of the biggest offseason signings will turn out to be offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who orchestrated an offense that scored on six of eight possessions against Washington.

It was easy to see during training camp that the Bucs offense was going to level up this year with Coen taking over for last year’s offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who had no play-calling experience prior to his arrival in Tampa Bay in 2023. I even wrote about it prior to the start of camp on July 26 in an SR’s Fab 5 column titled “Liam Coen’s Offense Is A Huge Upgrade For Bucs.”

Bucs OC Liam Coen and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Coen spent two years calling plays at Kentucky in 2021 and 2023 in what I call “NFL Jr.” – otherwise known as the SEC. Those two seasons of scheming against tough, talented defenses like Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Tennessee – all of which have plenty of NFL-caliber players – prepared him for Sunday against the Commanders. That experience, plus the handful of games he spent calling plays of the Rams late in the 2022 season, allowed Coen to be way more prepared than Canales was for his NFL debut as a play-caller.

Mayfield was in L.A. for some of those games with Coen at the end of the Rams’ 2022 season, which also helped kick-start their relationship.

Jake Camarda only punted once on Sunday on the Bucs’ lone three-and-out, which happened in the third quarter when Tampa Bay was up comfortably, 23-7. Coen’s offense amassed 392 yards and converted an astonishing 9-of-13 third downs (69.2%).

“That’s a pretty hot first start, right?” Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin said of Coen’s debut in Tampa Bay. “And again, we left some meat on the bone out there. There were some plays that we could have executed a lot better on, but I think for our first game, I think Liam would probably say that he’s pretty happy with how he was calling things, and I think as players we are happy as well. You know we got to spread it around a bunch, a lot of guys got involved –got a nice mix of run-pass, screens, and obviously it helps when you have 6 (Mayfield) out there running the show.”

While it wasn’t always perfect, and it wasn’t always pretty, the Bucs actually ran the ball for 112 yards, which was great considering the team averaged 88.8 yards per game, ranking dead last in the NFL a year ago.

Bucs OC Liam Coen and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I thought Liam did a great job coming out,” Bowles said. “I mean, you put up 37 points, there are some things we can be better at – that we can get better at – in the first game. Happy to win. Happy to score 37 points. We will move on from there.”

I’m not saying the Bucs are going to score 37 points per week or even average 30 points per game. Next week’s game against a tough, stingy Lions defense in Detroit will be a far better challenge than a Commanders defense in the middle of a rebuild. But in Tampa Bay’s Week 1 win, we saw what is possible in Coen’s system and with his play-calling.

We also know what happens when the Bucs do average 30 points per game. Look no further than the 2020 season and a Super Bowl LV championship and a franchise-record 13 wins in the 2021 regular season.

Good things are in store this year with the Mayfield-Coen duo on offense.

STATEMENT 2. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Remain Bucs’ Dynamic Duo

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Wide receiver Chris Godwin watched as Mike Evans, the greatest offensive weapon in Tampa Bay history and a future Hall of Famer, had to remain patient last season and play out his contract year at age 30 without the team even offering him a new deal. Godwin saw Evans ball out with a 10th straight 1,000-yard season, tie for the league lead in touchdown catches with 13 and earn his fifth Pro Bowl berth.

Evans, who just turned 31 in August, was able to parlay that success into a lucrative, two-year, $41 million extension this offseason. On Sunday, he rewarded the team with five catches for 61 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Tampa Bay’s 37-20 opening day win against Washington.

“I don’t know how he does it, man,” Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said of Evans’ first score with Commanders cornerback Benjamin St. Juste draped all over him. “[I’m] just trying to put the ball in his vicinity. The first one – I don’t know how he got around him and put his paws on it but somehow he did, and that’s what he does. I mean, that second touchdown to him was not really a good throw at all. He made an unbelievable play again. One-on-one coverage with Mike – those aren’t 50/50 balls  – it’s leaning towards Mr. Evans.”

Now it’s Godwin turn, as he’s in his own contract year.

What helps the 28-year old Godwin is that he’s back in the slot, where he’s the most comfortable and has done the most damage throughout his career. Dave Canales played Godwin outside as the Z receiver about two thirds of the time last year. He still managed to get 1,000 yards in 2023, but he just wasn’t as impactful.

Well, Godwin made an impact on Sunday, catching all eight of his targets for 83 yards and a touchdown against the Commanders. That score was big, as Godwin had just two receiving touchdowns last year and just three the year prior. If he wants a big contract extension in the range of his current deal, which is $20 million per year, Godwin needs to become more of a point producer for the offense.

“I think I would agree with that,” Godwin said. “Just back doing a lot of things that I’m accustomed to doing over the last four or five years or so. It was a lot of fun, it felt good being in a lot of those tough positions. Obviously when you are in the slot, it’s a little bit easier to disguise if you are going to be run blocking or running a route – going inside, going outside, it gives you a lot of flexibility.”

Sunday was a big step in that direction with a Week 1 touchdown.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Chris feels really good right now,” Mayfield said. “I think he’ll tell you guys that physically he feels good, and you know, this offense plays to his strengths. He’s always been a smart football player. He’s willing to do whatever the coaches are going to ask, but this is now his opportunity to really shine [and] get back to that, at least. He’s always been a stud, but yeah, Chris looks really good and the more ‘JMac’ (Jalen McMillan) can come along, and some of these younger receivers, the better it’s going to be for Mike and Chris as well.”

Godwin and Evans combined for 13 catches for 144 yards and three TDs. With the Bucs being banged up on defense, they’ll need to have a similar type of performance and have the offense carry the defense in Week 2 in a rematch game against the Lions in Detroit.

“I think so,” Godwin said. “I think that you realize that when guys are down on defense – you only carry 46 [players] active. There are a limited amount of guys. If the defense is down on numbers, they can only do so much.

“So, as an offense, you take the responsibility of trying to extend your drives. One, because you’re trying to score, but two you don’t want to put your defense in a bad spot to be on the field for more plays than they need to because that puts them at a disadvantage. I think whenever you are able to play complementary football, that’s when you are at your best. So, we’re always trying to do that.”

2 PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: How Bad Are The Bucs’ Injuries On Defense?

Bucs CB Bryce Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Pretty bad, especially at cornerback. Tampa Bay lost CB3 Bryce Hall for the season with a dislocated ankle and a fractured fibula in the second half. And Hall had replaced starter Zyon McCollum, who suffered a concussion in the first half and left the game.

When fourth-string cornerback Josh Hayes suffered an ankle sprain and was unavailable, head coach Todd Bowles and cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross turned to reserve defensive back Christian Izien to play outside cornerback in the second half. That’s something Izien hadn’t done since his sophomore year – of high school.

With absolutely zero reps of practice or playing experience at outside cornerback at either Rutgers or in Tampa Bay, Izien played 31 snaps at cornerback and had a pair of tackles, forced a fumble and had a pass breakup on third down.

“He has not lined up at corner one day in training camp, but he plays nickel,” Bowles said of Izien, who was the team’s starting nickelback last year as a rookie. “So, nickel and corner have the same job on certain things. Just hearing it from a different angle and the safeties helped out a lot. The coaches, the DB coaches, did a good job getting him ready. He did a good job.

“He hadn’t played outside. But he is smart enough and he is feisty enough and tough though that if you put him out there, he will make some plays.”

The Bucs will be placing Hall on injured reserve and the availability of McCollum and Hayes won’t be known until later this week. So Tampa Bay will need to sign at least one cornerback in free agency. Rookie Tyrek Funderburk was inactive on Sunday, but will dress in Week 2 in Detroit. The Bucs don’t currently have a cornerback on the practice squad.

Bucs DB Christian Izien – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The good news is that Tampa Bay has $11.6 million in salary cap room, according to OverTheCap.com. So they can afford to shopping at more than just the discount store for cornerback help.

Tampa Bay would love to see defensive tackle Calijah Kancey’s calf injury improve enough to play in Detroit. Kancey’s first NFL sack came against Lions quarterback Jared Goff in Week 6 last year when he returned to action from his previous calf injury. He also sacked Goff in Detroit in the playoffs, but the team won’t know his status – or the status of Logan Hall, who missed the Commanders game with an injured foot – until later in the week.

The Bucs started Greg Gaines at defensive tackle next to Vita Vea on Sunday with Will Gholston and practice squanders C.J. Brewer and Mike Greene as reserves. Newly signed Ben Stille was also active and played two snaps on Sunday despite only practicing with the team on Friday.

Throw in the fact that All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was seen leaving the locker room in a boot, and that was a sour end to an otherwise great Sunday in Tampa Bay.

Not great news playing against a potent Lions offense up next.

QUESTION 2: Should We Be Concerned With The Bucs’ Pass Rush?

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels and Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Not really. On paper it looks bad that rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels scrambled for 88 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. But keep in mind three things before jumping to conclusions about Tampa Bay’s pass rush as it pertained to its inability to sack Daniels more than just twice.

First, Daniels is an uber athlete. His speed is on par with Lamar Jackson – and Daniels may even be faster. Jackson ran a 4.34 at his Louisville pro day, while Daniels ran a 4.32 at his pro day at LSU.

Daniels was easily the fastest player on the field for either team, and dodged sack attempts from a blitzing K.J. Britt, as well as Vita Vea and Yaya Diaby, who missed two sacks at close range. Diaby, who runs a 4.51 at 270 pounds, said Daniels’ speed was unreal.

“It’s way different – the dude has got some wheels,” Diaby said. “I told him after the game, ‘I almost got you, man.’ But moving forward I feel great about our D-line.”

The Bucs used practice squad quarterback Michael Pratt, who was quite mobile at Tulane and rushed for 28 career touchdowns, to try to simulate Daniels in practice, but nothing could have prepared the defense for the blur that is the latest Heisman Trophy winner.

“Pratt, the kid from Tulane, he’s good, but he’s not that fast,” said Bucs inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis, who recorded one of the two sacks on Daniels on Sunday. “Nobody is, really. It was hard to simulate that kind of speed. There was nobody to simulate his speed. We did a good job of preparing against him, but his speed is just unmatched.”

Dennis’ sack of Daniels was his first NFL sack and he notched six tackles while splitting time with Britt next to Lavonte David. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka got the other Tampa Bay sack.

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I think having [Daniels’] legs try to beat us was kind of key, I guess,” Dennis said. “You know you never want a quarterback to have his arm beat you. He was running for his life most of the time, which was good. Guys off the edge, guys up the middle – just flushing him out and seeing what he can do. He’s a young guy. Guys did what they could do to contain him, though it could pretty hard containing him. We got the win and that’s all that matters.”

The second factor in not being able to generate more sacks was not having top pass-rushing defensive tackle Calijah Kancey out there. Kancey suffered a calf injury late in the week and was inactive against Washington.

“That played a huge part,” Diaby said. “I was so super sad when Calijah went down because we work so good off each other. Not having him out there, we kind of weren’t on the same page. We’ll try to get on the same page moving forward.”

And third, Diaby missed all of the preseason with an ankle injury, so his timing was off during his rushes, along with the fact that Greg Gaines, who is more of a run stuffer than a pass rusher, was replacing Kancey in the lineup. Tampa Bay’s pass rush didn’t have the continuity it will usually have when Diaby shakes off his rust and Kancey returns to action.

“We were rushing, but we just weren’t on the same page,” Diaby said. “We tried to keep him in the pocket, but the dude is fast. Coming into this game we talked about keeping him in the pocket, but he escaped a couple of times. Moving forward we’ve got another mobile quarterback like Lamar coming up and play better next time.”

Daniels only completed 17-of-24 passes for 184 yards and Washington only scored 20 points against Tampa Bay’s defense with a final TD coming on a 1-yard QB sneak with 1:12 remaining and the game well in hand.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1: Bucky Irving May Become RB1 At Some Point This Season

Bucs RB Bucky Irving and TE Payne Durham – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If you were at the game on Sunday, you probably heard the Bucs crowd erupt with chants of “Bucky! Bucky! Bucky!” in the second half after rookie running back Bucky Irving ripped off a 31-yard gain en route to a 62-yard day on just nine carries (6.9 avg.). That lone run matched Rachaad White’s rushing total of 31 yards on 15 carries (2.1 avg.). Nearly half of White’s rushing production came on a 15-yard run. That means that he ran for just 16 yards on 14 other carries.

To be fair, White was tackled a few times in the backfield just after taking the handoff due to poor run blocking up front on a couple of plays. And White was an effective receiver with six catches for 75 yards, including a 32-yard reception on a screen. But Irving, who had two catches for 14 yards, hits the hole with more suddenness and an urgency that White just doesn’t run with. If this continues, don’t be surprised if Irving eventually becomes RB1 later this year with White taking on more of as a pass-catching role and being more of a complementary runner behind the hard-charging Irving.

PREDICTION 2: Bucs Will Lose To The Lions – Again

Bucs CB Jamel Dean and Lions TE Sam LaPorta – Photo by: USA Today

Unless the Bucs can muster up 37 points again, which I don’t see happening against a tough and talented Lions defense, expect Tampa Bay to lose to Detroit for a third straight time over the past two seasons. You don’t want to hear that, and the Bucs don’t want to hear it, either. And I don’t necessarily want to say that, but with the cornerback position looking like a M*A*S*H unit after Week 1 and Calijah Kancey’s calf injury weakening the defensive tackle position, I don’t like Tampa Bay’s chances of finally figuring out how to beat Jared Goff and the Lions offense.

In addition to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams at wide receiver, the Lions have one of the best tight ends in the league in Sam LaPorta and a pair of dangerous running backs in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. That’s a handful against a healthy Bucs defense. But a banged up one? Well, that’s not ideal. I’m not saying the revenge-minded Bucs can’t win next Sunday, but it would be quite an upset considering the injuries they’re currently dealing with.