Well, the wait is finally over.

The Bucs were back on the field Sunday afternoon playing a new-look Commanders squad to begin their regular season. Tampa Bay controlled the game from the start, defeating the Commanders 37-20 to start the year 1-0. Even in a victory, there are always things to work on and improve. Here are this week’s most disappointing players and aspects of the game.

Containing QB Jayden Daniels – On The Ground

After gaining 1,134 yards on the ground in his Heisman Trophy-winning 2023 season for LSU, everyone knows that Jayden Daniels can run as well as he can throw. Although this is one of the first bullet points on his scouting report, it was not something that the Bucs were able to stop him from doing early and often.

Daniels was able to evade pressure from would-be defenders and picked up 16 carries for 88 yards, one of which he tucked and ran into the endzone at the end of the third quarter.

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels – Photo by: USA Today

Daniels would then add another touchdown on the ground late in the fourth after the game was already decided. Tampa Bay’s defense missed chances to take him down, as the rookie slipped through the clutches of outside linebacker Yaya Diaby (twice) and inside linebacker K.J. Britt in the backfield, among others.

He was able to extend drives with his legs when needed, which is not something that head coach Todd Bowles will like to see when he watches the tape after this one. Before the Bucs play Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in October, this will be something that needs to be addressed.

RB Rachaad White (As A Runner)

Rachaad White had quite the day catching the ball, but it was a different story for him running the football. White was outshined by rookie Bucky Irving, who broke off a 32-yard run in the fourth quarter, eliciting “Bucky” chants from the Tampa Bay faithful.

As White looks to hold his grasp on being the No. 1 running back, 15 carries for 31 yards won’t help.

RG Cody Mauch

The run game and pass protection were not yet up to par, and while the blame should not be solely placed on Cody Mauch’s shoulders, he did not do himself any favors on Sunday afternoon. The interior offensive line drew a tough opening matchup against Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, and they gave Mauch fits. He was overwhelmed on a lot of reps, being late to initiate contact. This led to the pocket collapsing and holes failing to develop. When he did make contact, the defensive line was getting into his chest and driving him back.

It was not the start he wanted to begin his second season.

WR Trey Palmer

It’s bad when a wide receiver picks up one penalty, but Trey Palmer picked up two in the first half alone. The first was a holding call on Palmer that negated a 14-yard catch by Chris Godwin, and the second set the Bucs back five yards to begin the second quarter.

Palmer lost the No. 3 wide receiver role to rookie Jalen McMillan over the offseason, and the second-year speedster cannot afford to set the offense back with penalties.

Penalties

Every NFL head coach drives the point into their team to play a disciplined brand of football.

The mostly stoic Todd Bowles more than most.

Bowles will not like that his Bucs’ team had seven penalties for 46 yards. Those penalties stalled drives that likely would have ended in touchdowns, forcing field goals instead. And while the Bucs offense looked great overall, those penalties likely prevented the score from being even more lopsided. The silver lining is that most were false starts on offense, which will be corrected over time as players get used to the new offensive system. The Bucs will need to correct them quickly as they face the Lions next week and won’t have the same margin of error against a much better opponent.