While teams would love their bye week to come at the true midway point of the season, after a 48-10 shellacking by the Bears last Sunday, the 2-2 Buccaneers could use some time to clear their heads.

The Bucs’ bye week also gives PewterReport.com the time to dish out some first quarter grades for each unit. Take a look and see if you agree, and add your thoughts in the comments section.

QUARTERBACKS
No one predicted the offensive onslaught that took place in the first three games of the season led by Ryan Fitzpatrick. Not even Fitzpatrick himself. But it was an impressive run that finally crashed against the Bears last Sunday. Fitzpatrick completed 87-of-129 passes for 1,356 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions through the first four games, and set an NFL record in the process by throwing for over 400 yards in the first three games of the season. His No. 14 jersey was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame this week for that feat – seriously.

Bucs QB Ryan Fitzpatrick – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jameis Winston, who returned from his three-game suspension, will be the quarterback moving forward, and it is hard to assess his performance in two quarters of mop up duty against the Bears – although he did complete 80 percent of his passes and threw a touchdown and two interceptions. This is a big season for Winston’s development, and the weapons are there for him to have success.
GRADE: A-
BEST OF THE BUNCH: Ryan Fitzpatrick

RUNNING BACKS
Tampa Bay’s running game isn’t scaring anyone right now, as for the season the unit has only managed 278 yards (3.1 yard avg.) and just 69.5 per game, which is ranked 30th in the league.

Starter Peyton Barber has shown some flashes, but a lack of commitment to the ground game hasn’t allowed him to really get into any type of rhythm. Barber has 50 carries for 148 yards and no touchdowns this season. And it is never a good thing when your quarterback is your team’s second leading rushing and not named Russell Wilson or Michael Vick.

Bucs RB Peyton Barber – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Reserve Jacquizz Rodgers has been as expected, providing solid pass protection in his mainly third down role. Rookies Shaun Wilson and Ronald Jones have been limited so far through four games, combining for just 12 carries for 44 yards. Jones was finally on the active game-day roster in Week 4.

The good news is, when you are throwing for 400 yards a game, who needs to run, right? The goal is to move the football and score points. However, when teams commit to locking down the Bucs receivers and the quarterback doesn’t have a clean pocket (see the Chicago game), the Bucs will need to be more effective running the football this season.
GRADE: D
BEST OF THE BUNCH: Peyton Barber

RECEIVERS
This is what general manager Jason Licht and head coach Dirk Koetter envisioned the Bucs passing game could be over the last few years as they stocked up on talent. DeSean Jackson, at age 31, is looking like the 25-year old version of himself. Averaging 24.9 yards per reception on 17 catches for 424 yards and three touchdowns, Jackson ranks 7th in the league in receiving yards.

Bucs WR DeSean Jackson – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

Mike Evans has been no slouch himself through four games, and actually leads the team in receptions and yards, with 26 catches for 426 yards. Like Jackson, he also has three touchdowns. Evans did have a critical fumble against Philadelphia and also has had a couple of drops on easy passes this year. But the Pro Bowler always seems to come up with a highlight reel catch each week, and is one of the best at fighting defenders for the ball.

Second-year receiver Chris Godwin is third on the team with 15 receptions for 193 yards and also three scores. Godwin is still learning to be consistent, as evidenced by an up-and-down game against Pittsburgh in Week 3. A drop then a catch. A touchdown slips through his hands, then he makes an acrobatic leap for a score later on.

Adam Humphries has been his normal, reliable self, giving the Bucs offense 13 catches for 101 yards. Look for Humphries’ numbers to jump a little bit over the next 12 games with Winston reinserted as the starter due to a solid chemistry and trust between the two.
GRADE: A
BEST OF THE BUNCH: DeSean Jackson

TIGHT ENDS
After two games, and no catches some were wondering what the Bucs were thinking when giving tight end Cameron Brate a big extension in the offseason. With the news that O.J. Howard could miss 2-4 weeks with a knee injury suffered against the Bears, the Bucs are looking pretty smart. Brate has come on as of late, and like Humphries, he will see more balls thrown his way with Winston at quarterback. So far Brate has just six receptions for 63 yards, but two of those were for touchdowns.

Bucs TE Cameron Brate – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

Before the injury, Howard was on his way to pushing for Pro Bowl consideration in just his second season. The former Crimson Tide star recorded 11 catches for 222 yards and one score, a 75-yarder against the Eagles. Howard has also improved his blocking, making him even more valuable to the team, and will be missed against the Falcons next week if he won’t be able to play.
GRADE: B+
BEST OF THE BUNCH: O.J. Howard

OFFENSIVE LINE
Through two games it looked like Tampa Bay’s offensive line woes were a thing of the past. And it was no coincidence that the Bucs put up terrific numbers and were unbeaten through two contests. When Fitzpatrick was protected he was lights out. The last two games, with spotty protection, has been a different story.

Bucs LG Ali Marpet – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

The addition of center Ryan Jensen had made the line a tougher unit. The veteran is also a well respected leader, something this team has been missing since Logan Mankins retired after the 2015 season. Jensen hasn’t been perfect, but he is an upgrade at the position.

And adding Jensen to the roster, allows Ali Marpet to move back to his natural guard position, where he played the first two seasons in the league before moving to center in 2017 for one year. Marpet, now at left guard, had his worst game of the season against Chicago last week, but has been the Bucs best offensive lineman through the first four games.

On the right side of Jensen has been Caleb Benenoch, who the team had high hopes of taking over the job and providing an upgrade over 2017 starter J.R. Sweezy. That hasn’t been the case and the former UCLA Bruin has been the weak link on the Bucs’ line early on. Last week against the Bears, Benenoch allowed two sacks and multiple pressures. Veteran Evan Smith has been rotating with Benenoch, and could be inserted as the full-time starter.

Left tackle Donovan Smith wasn’t even sure he would be able to start the season after a knee injury in training camp, but his consecutive start streak dating back to his rookie season continued and he has played well so far in 2018.

On the other side at tackle, Demar Dotson hasn’t been his usual reliable self, giving up way too many pressures in the passing game the last two weeks, but also struggling as a run blocker, especially against inside pressure. Dotson, who had surgery in the offseason on his knee, may not be 100 percent. At least you hope that is the reason, as opposed to Father Time catching up with him.

The bottom line is, this offense will live or die, based on how well the offensive line plays. Tampa Bay will need consistent line play, and it doesn’t matter who is under center. When the Bucs offensive line plays well the Bucs are 2-0. When they struggle they are 0-2 so far in 2018.
GRADE: C-
BEST OF THE BUNCH: Ali Marpet