The Buccaneers have played four games in 2019 under new head coach Bruce Arians and staff and have a 2-2 record, which is where most fans, media and prognosticators predicted the team would be at prior to the start of the season. How they got there isn’t the route most expected. Tampa Bay has won two games it was an underdog – in road games at Carolina and Los Angeles where they beat the Rams this past Sunday – and lost at home to San Francisco and the New York Giants, two teams most expected the Buccaneers would beat.

The NFL is unpredictable, and a 16-game schedule can be quite a roller coaster, as Bucs fans have seen so far this year – and in recent years if they have followed the team for any length of time.

PewterReport.com offers its first quarter grades for each Bucs unit and the coaching staff. On Thursday we offer up grades for the offense and on Friday we will dish out the grades for the defense.

Take a look and see if you agree, and share your thoughts in there comments section below.

QUARTERBACKS

Jameis Winston came into the 2019 season with plenty of unanswered questions, the biggest one being, could he be the first drafted quarterback by the Buccaneers to earn a second contract? Though still early, through there first four games that answer is looking like a yes.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Things didn’t start pretty with an opening day loss to the 49ers that including Winston throwing three interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns. But each week since, Winston has improved, including last Sunday’s near flawless performance against the Rams, a game that saw Tampa Bay’s signal caller throw four touchdown passes and lead the team to a 55-40 upset win over the reigning NFC champs. That earned Winston the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.

For the season, Winston has thrown for 1,167 yards while completing 87-of-139 passes (62.6 percent), with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. Winston’s 8.4 yards per completion is a career-high, as is his 291.2 per game average.

GRADE: B

RUNNING BACKS

Many lamented – PewterReport.com included – that the Bucs front office did not adequately address the running back position during the offseason, other than re-signing starter Peyton Barber to a one-year deal. The team countered with believing Barber and Ronald Jones II, who was the team’s second-round pick in 2018, would be just fine. After four games, the team’s stance looks to be correct. The Buccaneers’ ground attack is ranked 15th in the NFL, averaging 113.2 yards per game, up from their 95.2-yard per game average and 29th ranking in 2018.

Bucs RB Ronald Jones II – Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images

While Barber has been solid as the team’s starter (182 yards and two touchdowns on 53 carries) the turnaround of Jones has been very impressive. In fact, coming off the bench, Jones is the team leader with 234 yards rushing and one touchdown on 50 attempts (4.7 avg.) and also has three receptions for 71 yards.

Arians and his staff like to play both runners in the first half and then stick with the hot hand in the second half, but with Jones having the hot hand more often, it may be just a matter of time before Jones unseats Barber as the team’s full time starter and Barber becoming the first off the bench.

GRADE: B-

WIDE RECEIVERS

The loss of Adam Humphries and DeSean Jackson seemed to be blows to the Bucs this offseason, but Tampa Bay has proven to be able to overcome those departures and are ranked eighth in the NFL in passing offense.

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are arguably as good as any receiving duo in the NFL this season with both taking turns each week as the featured receiver. Opposing teams have been determined to stop Evans, a two-time Pro Bowler, with plenty of safety help through the first four games, but that has freed up Godwin for more one-on-one opportunities, and the former Penn State standout has made teams pay.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Getty Images

Through four games Godwin leads the team with 26 catches for 386 yards and has nabbed four touchdowns receptions. Evans has 18 grabs for 368 and also has four touchdown catches, but is averaging 20.4 yards per reception. Evans is still clearly the team’s best deep threat, while Godwin has been doing the gritty work inside as a slot receiver, helping out as a physical edge blocker in the run game.

The only concern for the Bucs offense is the lack of production after Godwin and Evans. Breshad Perriman has only three catches for 16 yards through four games and left last week’s game early with a hamstring injury. After Perriman, Bobo Wilson and Justin Watson have just one reception each this year. If Evans or Godwin end up missing any time this year it would be a big blow for the offense and Winston the day it stands as of now.

GRADE: B

TIGHT ENDS 

If there is one offensive unit that hasn’t show a lot of flash, it would be the tight ends. While on the surface some would say the tight ends have been disappointing, in the grand scheme of things you have to give them credit for the overall offensive success (10th in the NFL). Whether it be blocking for the running game or helping to open things up for other players, the number don’t always tell the whole story.

Bucs TE Cameron Brate – Photo by: Getty Images

There is no question the team would like to see more production from O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate, but they aren’t going to force the issue, and believe as teams adjust to the other successful components of the Bucs offense, eventually the tight ends will get their time to shine.

Howard has just 10 catches on the season for 131 yards while Brate has nine receptions for 61 yards with one touchdown.

GRADE: C

OFFENSIVE LINE

It hasn’t always been pretty, and not even close to perfect, but the Buccaneers offensive line has performed better than many expected when the season began. While they have given up 12 sacks so far this year, a handful of those can be attributed to Winston holding the ball too long.

Donovan Smith and Demar Dotson have both done solid jobs on the outside, with Smith, who signed a lucrative contract extension in the offseason, having perhaps his best start of a season in his career. Dotson has gutted through the first quarter the season, and while he is showing some signs of his 33 years, he has been serviceable and productive.

G Alex Cappa – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The real story of the offensive line is the interior guys – center Ryan Jensen and guards Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa. Marpet has been exceptional so far at left guard in 2019, and Cappa, a second-year player and first-year starter at right guard, has been a surprise for many. Still with plenty to learn, and a clear upside, the Humboldt State product looks comfortable and confident, which is a complete 180-degree turn from his limited action in 2018.

Jensen and Marpet should be in the Pro Bowl conversation later this season if their play continues at their current level.

GRADE: B

COACHING

Coaching matters. Like the players, it hasn’t always been perfect, but the Buccaneers are one missed chip shot field goal from being 3-1 and atop the NFC South with the New Orleans Saints.

Harold Goodwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich has gotten better each game and is starting to figure out the best way to utilize his weapons. Running backs coach Todd McNair has done a terrific job of developing Jones this season, and Joe Gilbert and Harold Goodwin are helping Tampa Bay’s offensive line show improvement over 2018, including doing a terrific job of game planning for Rams’ All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who was held without a sack last Sunday in Los Angeles.

GRADE: B