SR’s Fab 5 is a collection of reporting and analysis on the Bucs from yours truly, Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds. Here are four things that caught my attention this week, plus some random tidbits in my Buc Shots section at the end. Enjoy!

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FAB 1. Bucs Found 2 Keepers In Nassib, Neal

The job of every NFL general manager is to keep one eye on this season and the other one on next year and the future. Bucs G.M. Jason Licht had both eyes trained on veteran outside linebacker Carl Nassib and strong safety Keanu Neal on Monday night, especially on back-to-back plays – along with Tom Brady’s last-second brilliance – that might have saved the Bucs’ season.

There was no time to waste. The Bucs were trailing by six points, 16-10, with three minutes left. Tampa Bay’s defense had to get a quick three-and-out or force an ever-elusive takeaway to get the ball for Brady as soon as possible.

After a 3-yard run by Alvin Kamara, the Bucs used their first timeout. On the Bucs sideline during the timeout, Nassib told the team he was going to get a sack.

“The play before, it’s kind of a little back and forth between him and Coach,” Bucs defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches said. “He was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to do this!’ And he goes out there next play and gets a sack. He called his shot! I was like: ‘You need to play with your hair on fire all the time!’

“That’s just a testament to him; he knows what he has to do. Sometimes you don’t always get the result, but big-time players make big-time plays. He knew at that point we needed to get off the field. We needed to get the offense the ball, and for him to just come up big – he’s dependable. I love Carl. He’s been doing it for a long time.”

Bucs rookie defensive tackle Logan Hall admires the passion Nassib brings to the game, and of course the big-play ability, too.

“Ever since Carl got here, he’s brought tremendous juice, tremendous energy,” Hall said. “I’m always picking his brain because I didn’t realize he’s 30. He’s an older guy and he’s a good dude.”

While Nassib’s sack was incredibly timely, it was also a bit funny.

The 6-foot-7 Nassib has a funny running style that he calls a mix between Mose from the TV series The Office and Bobby Boucher from the movie “The Waterboy.”

“I gotta give Ryan Jensen the first credit because Jensen on the sideline came up to me and said I look like Bobby Boucher,” Nassib said. “I didn’t see it until the next day, where I looked like Mose from “The Office” combined with Bobby Boucher. That shit was hilarious!

“Those sacks are the hardest to come out with because you’re running full speed. The QB can take a step forward or a step back [and then you run right by him]. It’s the easiest when the pocket closes and you can just grab him and bring him down. That situation is one of the hardest to actually get the sack.”

Nassib’s key sack set up the Saints in third-and-17 with 2:47 left as the Bucs used their second timeout.

Bucs S Keanu Neal – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay’s plan worked to near perfection until Andy Dalton found tight end Taysom Hill behind linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Jamel Dean for what looked like a 25-yard completion and a key first down. But Neal had other ideas.

The big, 6-foot, 215-pound safety came through with a bone-jarring hit on Hill that dislodged the ball and forced an incompletion.

“For me, it was breaking on the throw and then kind of finding the target,” Neal said. “Finding Taysom and then as I was breaking down, I noticed he had caught it, and at that point, I was just trying to dislodge him from the ball. Get a hit on him that would prevent the completion and that’s what happened. I got my shoulder on the ball, he dropped it; it was good to get that play.”

“Keanu is going to thump you every time,” Hall said.

The clock stopped and the Saints were forced to punt. Brady and the Bucs offense took over with 2:29 left in regulation and the rest is history.

The Nassib sack and the Neal hit were absolute crunch time plays that the defense needed to produce to allow the Bucs to come back and beat the Saints.

“Those two plays are definitely important, but I really liked how we were down 13 with, I don’t know, five minutes left, and nobody on the defense quit,” Nassib said. “We stuck it out until the end, and that shit is awesome. Nobody folds. Everyone still had the belief that we were going to win and that’s rare. I’m more proud of that. We just kept going back with the same mentality of winning, so that’s what I’m most proud of.”

Bucs S Keanu Neal – Photo by: USA Today

Neal, who has been pressed into the starting lineup several times this year with injuries to Mike Edwards, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Logan Ryan, has 51 tackles, two pass breakups and half a sack. Nassib, a reserve outside linebacker, has 20 tackles, but is tied for third on the team with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka with 3.5 sacks.

Both are making the veteran minimum base salary of $1,047,500 this season and have been great bargains for the Bucs given their production.

Watching from the sidelines, Licht was thrilled with the team’s comeback as the Bucs improved to 6-6 and stayed atop the NFC South. And he was also excited that two of his free agent signings this season came through with clutch plays for the defense.

And with 2019 draft picks in Anthony Nelson and Edwards in contract years and their future in Tampa Bay a bit uncertain, the Bucs already know that they would love to re-sign Nassib and Neal for sure in 2023.

FAB 2. Nassib Brings The Juice To The Bucs Defense

The Bucs were excited to see what Cam Gill could do in his third season. The young edge rusher had brought speed and quickness off the edge in a part-time capacity, and got the preseason off to a good start with several tackles prior to suffering a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury against Miami.

Thankfully general manager Jason Licht was able to bolster the outside linebacker position in short order by signing veteran Carl Nassib. Gill’s injury all but assured Nassib a spot on the 53-man roster behind Shaq Barrett, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and top reserve Anthony Nelson, who is in a contract year in 2022.

Bucs OLB Carl Nassib – Photo by: USA Today

When Nassib isn’t making big sacks on the field like the 10-yarder he had against Andy Dalton in Monday night’s come-from-behind victory over the Saints, he’s firing up the Bucs defense on the sidelines.

“He’s always going up and down the sidelines yelling about something,” Bucs rookie defensive tackle Logan Hall said. “He’ll come up and just say, “Juice!” He just brings the energy. He’s a great addition to the team from that aspect.”

Reserve defensive tackle Rakeem “Nacho” Nunez-Roches is known for bringing the energy to the Bucs in practice and on game days, but Nassib’s energy level in those situations rivals his own.

“Exactly! Sometimes he [comes over] to me and says, ‘Hey, Nacho – Juice!'” Nunez-Roches said. “That’s the biggest thing. He just goes around saying ‘Juice!’ He’s a high-energy guy, and no matter what’s going on, Carl is going to do it 100 miles an hour. … I love Carl, man. Carl is an off-the-wall, crazy guy.”

To his teammates, it was no surprise that Nassib, who now has 3.5 sacks, was the one who made the big sack on Dalton in crunch time.

“I wasn’t shocked at all,” Hall said. “He’s a good pass rusher and a good player. When we needed it, he brought it.”

Nassib’s sack set the Saints up with a third-and-17 with less than three minutes remaining. On the next play, safety Keanu Neal clocked tight end Taysom Hill to force an incompletion and a New Orleans punt.

Bucs OLB Carl Nassib – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Carl’s a great dude, and he made a play when we needed it,” Neal said. “He really went out there and got it done. That’s what we needed in that position. It was definitely clutch for us.”

This is Nassib’s second stint in Tampa Bay. The former third-round pick in Cleveland was claimed off waivers by Licht in 2018 when he wound up as the team’s second-leading sacker with 6.5 QB captures. Nassib followed that up with six sacks in 2019 before signing a three-year, $25 million deal with the Raiders in 2020.

But Nassib’s stint with Las Vegas didn’t go as planned, as he wound up with just four sacks and an interception in 27 games with just five starts. The Raiders cut Nassib this offseason in a salary cap move. That immediately put Nassib atop the Bucs’ free agent list due to his past success in Todd Bowles’ scheme in 2019.

“Carl has become very valuable – the best play he made was the tipped ball on the third-and-2 that went down where they had to kick a field goal in addition to the sack,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said on Tuesday. “Carl has been very physical – he brings a lot of energy for us. We can’t replace Shaq, but he can do some different things in the run game and be a power pass rusher for us to help out with the sacks.”

Nassib was thrilled to re-sign with the Bucs this year and come back to the team where he had the most success in his seven years in the NFL.

“I really wanted to come back, contribute, bring some energy, have some fun,” Nassib said. “I knew that we had a great group of people coming in. The coaches are awesome here – really, really awesome. The staff and the locker room is awesome. We just gotta keep going, keep improving. I feel like we got a lot of shit to get better at.

Bucs OLB Carl Nassib – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I have a lot of shit to get better at, which I’m excited about. I just want to play faster and not look like Mose [from The Office] – first off. Hopefully that’s the last time I look like Mose. I guess that’s the first thing.”

Nassib stepped up with a big-time sack on Monday Night Football, but it’s not the first time he’s stepped up for the Bucs. When Jason Pierre-Paul was rehabbing his broken neck he suffered in a car wreck during the 2019 offseason, Nassib became a vocal leader and actually earned a team captain role in 2019.

“That’s where my trust in Carl really came from – way back then,” Nunez-Roches said. “I was just getting here [from the Chiefs] and to see a guy like him just step into his role, not only leading vocally, but leading through his play – you can’t help but respect a guy like that. You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?”

Nassib is certainly walking the walk once again in Tampa Bay, as well as talking the talk – energetically, of course.

FAB 3. Matchups To Watch: Bucs Offense vs. 49ers Defense

Each week, you can find five matchups to watch on offense and defense in my SR’s Fab 5 column. Here are the five key matchups to watch on offense when the Bucs take on the best defense in the NFL in San Francisco.

RT Josh Wells vs. DE Nick Bosa

Bosa is a leading candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. His 14.5 sacks lead the league and he’s one sack away from tying his career high of 15.5 sacks last year. The reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Year is coming off a three-sack game. He’ll rush from both sides, but primarily the left side against Wells, a backup tackle.

Wells held his own last week against Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, who was held to one tackle and one pressure. Replacing All-Pro Tristan Wirfs is not easy, and Wells’ assignment this week will be the toughest of his NFL career. Protecting Tom Brady is paramount if the Bucs are going to have a chance to win on the road.

ADVANTAGE: Bosa

RB Rachaad White vs. LB Fred Warner

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Warner is one of the NFL’s best coverage linebackers and leads the team with 10 passes defensed and has one interception. Not only can Warner cover tight ends down the seam, but he can also cover backs out of the backfield. He’s also stout against the run with 86 tackles on the season and will have his hands full with the slippery White.

White caught the game-winning touchdown against New Orleans with three seconds left. He’s developed into a dual threat that is capable of ripping off some big runs and picking up first down through the air. Warner might be the most difficult matchup the rookie has faced so far.

ADVANTAGE: Warner

TE Cade Otton vs. LB Dre Greenlaw

As athletic as Warner is, Greenlaw might be even faster and more athletic. He’ll get some snaps covering White and Leonard Fournette, but will also be charged with underneath coverage of Otton. Greenlaw’s 88 tackles lead the 49ers defense and he’s really making a name for himself in 2022.

Otton is quickly gaining the trust of Tom Brady with two big, important touchdowns, including one on Monday night that helped the Bucs’ comeback win. The fourth-round pick is Tampa Bay’s leading tight end, with 32 catches for 309 yards (9.7 avg.) and two TDs and is becoming more of a factor in the passing game.

ADVANTAGE: Greenlaw

WR Chris Godwin vs. SCB Jimmie Ward

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

Ward is a good slot cornerback who can handle some of the better slot receivers. At 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, Ward has enough size to match up with Godwin. He has two interceptions and three pass breakups this year. Tom Brady’s interceptions have all occurred in the middle of the field where Ward will be roaming.

Godwin has recovered from a torn ACL he suffered nearly a year ago and is almost all the way back. He’s playing like the Godwin of old over the last three weeks where he’s scored two touchdowns. Godwin had a TD last week that was called back – otherwise he would have three TDs in as many weeks.

ADVANTAGE: Godwin

LT Donovan Smith vs. DE Samson Ebukam

Ebukam (3.5 sacks) will rotate with Charles Omenihu (four sacks) and rookie Drake Jackson (three sacks) to give Smith different looks. Ebukam is the fastest of the three, and even though he’s undersized at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, his quickness will give Smith some problems on passing downs.

Smith has really struggled this year with sacks and penalties. He’s the second-most penalized player in the NFL with nine penalties and he’s surrendered six sacks and 24 pressures. Smith is going through a difficult season, but needs to rebound and play well in San Francisco where he’ll also get a few reps against Bosa too.

ADVANTAGE: Ebukam

FAB 4. Matchups To Watch: Bucs Defense vs. 49ers Offense

Each week, you can find five matchups to watch on offense and defense in my SR’s Fab 5 column. Here are the five key matchups to watch on defense for the Bucs as they try to win on the West Coast against the high-powered 49ers offense.

OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka vs. RT Trent Williams

At age 34, Williams is still one of the best left tackles in the game. He has an elite 93.8 Pro Football Focus grade this season and is a force to be reckoned with, especially in the running game. This appears to be a huge mismatch advantage for the 49ers as Williams is very physical and Tryon-Shoyinka is not.

Tryon-Shoyinka has underwhelmed this year with just 3.5 sacks and hasn’t been the consistent pass rusher the Bucs had hoped he would develop into this season. He’ll face the biggest challenge of his two-year NFL career in Williams, a nine-time Pro Bowler. Tryon-Shoyinka will have to have the game of his life and bring precise moves in addition to his full-tilt speed to have a chance of making some cracks in the brick wall that is Williams.

ADVANTAGE: Williams

CB Carlton Davis III vs. WR Brandon Aiyuk

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The 49ers will move Aiyuk all over the field, playing out wide to the left and the right side, as well as in the slot. He’ll see time against Davis, which will create a mismatch that favors the 49ers. Aiyuk is faster and more explosive than Davis is, and he’s leading the 49ers with 56 catches for 798 yards (12.5 avg.) and six touchdowns.

Davis has really struggled over the past two games, logging sub-par grades against Cleveland (43) and New Orleans (49.7). He’ll need to play great at San Francisco if Tampa Bay is going to have a chance to win. Aiyuk has not had a 100-yard game this season and Davis needs to keep it that way.

ADVANTAGE: Push

ILB Devin White vs. RB Christian McCaffrey

McCaffrey and White have dueled for years dating back to the all-purpose back’s time in Carolina. Since trading for McCaffrey, the 49ers are 5-1, including winning five straight. The addition of McCaffrey has allowed the 49ers to use Deebo Samuel almost exclusively as a wide receiver, which will better preserve him and save him for the playoffs. McCaffrey is a threat to run, catch or even pass the ball. He has a touchdown doing all three.

White went through a slump earlier in the year but has played better since the Rams game. While he hasn’t been a consistent playmaker week in and week out, he hasn’t been making nearly as many mistakes. White has the athleticism to hang with McCaffrey in coverage and the speed to chase him down.

ADVANTAGE: Push

SS Keanu Neal vs. TE George Kittle

Bucs S Keanu Neal – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Kittle is one of the league’s premier tight ends. The three-time Pro Bowler is the 49ers’ third-leading receiver with 38 catches for 472 yards (12.4 avg.) and four TDs this year. With so many options in the passing game, Kittle can find favorable matchups to win on a weekly basis, usually against a less athletic safety or linebacker.

Neal is better near the line of scrimmage in run support or underneath coverage. But last week against New Orleans, Neal made a tremendous hit on tight end Taysom Hill on third-and-17 to dislodge the football and force a punt late in the fourth quarter. Neal will have his hands full against a fast tight end like Kittle, who can attack the deep middle of the field.

ADVANTAGE: Kittle

CB Jamel Dean vs. WR Deebo Samuel

Like Aiyuk, Samuel will move all around the field and will even play in the backfield as a running back. He will face not only Dean, but also Carlton Davis III and whoever is playing in the slot for Tampa Bay. Samuel is a physical player who will give Dean all he can handle on short screens and on intermediate routes.

Dean has had a good contract year but did not play well versus the Seahawks or the Saints recently. While he’s more fast than physical, Dean has enough size to handle the 6-foot, 215-pound Samuel. The Bucs will likely need multiple takeaways to beat the 49ers, especially in San Francisco. Dean hasn’t had an interception since Week 2 and is overdue.

ADVANTAGE: Samuel

FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

BRADY’S 44TH COMEBACK WIN AMONG HIS BEST: Tom Brady recorded his 44th comeback win in Tampa Bay’s 17-16 triumph over New Orleans on Monday Night Football. Brady led the Bucs to two touchdowns in the last three minutes of the game to propel the team to a 6-6 record and sweep the Saints. On Thursday, I asked Brady if he amazes himself with his comeback ability, or if he’s done it so much in his 23-year career, that it’s become routine.

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today

“I think they’re all great in different ways,” Brady said. “When you lose, you take it hard. When you win, man, you celebrate it. Some games, would I rather win by three touchdowns? Absolutely. But if we’re not going to win by three touchdowns, that’s a great way to win a game because I’ll remember that game for the rest of my life. And for all the games on the team that experienced it, all the coaches…there was a great celebration in the locker room. We really enjoyed. You realize, look, you could be down and it could look bad and you just keep fighting your tail off. It’s never over and you’ve just got to keep finding a way.

“The defense made so many great plays, a lot of clutch plays. Offensive players made so many great plays. And that’s what it takes – we’ve got to build on it. We’ve got to get positive momentum. We’ve got to get a lot of confidence and just keep building on it week after week. We obviously know we can do that, but there’s a lot of other things we can do a better job of, too. That’s why we go out there every day and try to practice at it, trying to figure out ways to continue to move people around and get us in spots to succeed. That’s what football’s ultimately about.”

Bucs defensive tackle Logan Hall was certainly amazed with Brady’s 44th comeback on Monday night.

“He’s been doing this longer than I’ve been alive, so if anyone can do it, Tom can,” Hall said.

CELSIUS PEWTER REPORT TAILGATE PREGAME SHOW AT WALK-ONS

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THIS WEEK’S PEWTER REPORT PODCASTS

• BUCS-49ERS PREVIEWS ON THE PEWTER REPORT PODCAST: The Pewter Report Podcast is energized by CELSIUS and broadcasts four live episodes each week. Next week’s schedule will feature PR Podcasts on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday as the Bucs play the Bengals in Tampa next Sunday.

Matt Matera and Scott Reynolds discuss the Bucs’ improbable comeback victory over the Saints on Monday Night Football.

On Tuesday, Matera and Reynolds analyze the Bucs’ big win over the Saints as Tampa Bay sweeps New Orleans.

Matera and Reynolds preview the big Bucs vs.  49ers game on Wednesday.

On Thursday’s podcast, Matera and J.C. Allen discuss Tampa Bay’s West Coast test as the Bucs travel to play the 49ers this Sunday.

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