The Bucs will take the field at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night for the first time since Jan. 23.

Now, Saturday’s preseason opener won’t feature all of the same Bucs who were out there seven months ago when the eventual Super Bowl champion Rams cut their playoff run short. Tom Brady won’t play, as he’s been excused from the team until after next week’s game in Tennessee. A host of starters won’t play either, head coach Todd Bowles said earlier this month.

So, what is there to watch for when Tampa Bay hosts Miami on Saturday night? As it turns out, a whole lot. Here are seven key position battles to keep an eye on for the Bucs as they open their 2022 preseason slate.

QB2: Can Kyle Trask Unseat Blaine Gabbert As Tom Brady’s Backup?

Bucs QB Kyle Trask and OC Byron Leftwich – Photo by: USA Today

One of the biggest storylines of the preseason will be the development of 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask. The former Florida Gators quarterback has plenty to prove, and this preseason will go a long way in telling team decision-makers whether or not he should be in the mix to replace Tom Brady in 2023 (assuming the 45-year-old calls it quits for real this time or goes somewhere else).

Right now, Blaine Gabbert has a firm grasp on the backup quarterback job. He doesn’t do anything spectacularly well, but he’s been steady throughout training camp. The veteran makes the easy throws and limits turnovers. He’s also been in the Bruce Arians/Byron Leftwich system for years, giving him a good understanding of the offense. Trask, on the other hand, is still developing. And during camp he has had an interception problem. So, what can he do to rise up the ranks this August?

Todd Bowles speaks highly of Trask’s decisiveness and ability to know where he’s going with the ball on any given play. But a few bad practices in a row seemed to send the young quarterback spiraling. He’ll get a heavy dose of snaps during the Bucs’ three preseason games, and a clean night against Miami would go a long way in setting Trask on the right track. If he’s going to be the potential quarterback of the future for Tampa Bay, he’ll need to wrangle the backup job away from Gabbert. And he currently has a long road ahead if he’s going to do so.

RB2: Who Steps In Behind Leonard Fournette?

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

After Wednesday’s practice with the Dolphins, Bucs running back Leonard Fournette said any one of the team’s running backs would be a capable starter. Of course, no one is taking over that role from Fournette, who signed a deal this offseason worth $7 million per year. But the depth chart behind him is far from settled. And as he noted, there’s no shortage of options for Tampa Bay to choose from. Veteran Giovani Bernard is having a great camp, while Ke’Shawn Vaughn has continued to show steady improvement and rookie Rachaad White has already flashed his intriguing skill set. And Kenjon Barner is making it clear that he shouldn’t be taken out of consideration for a roster spot just yet, showing off his excellent hands out of the backfield.

Bernard, Vaughn and White are all going to make Tampa Bay’s final 53-man roster. Even Barner has a chance, especially given his special teams experience. But how will the workload shake out among the backup running backs? Fournette didn’t come off the field much in 2021, proving to be a capable three-down back. He certainly has Tom Brady’s trust, which is a significant factor in his return to the Bucs after briefly flirting with the Patriots as a free agent. But even the best running backs need a break and even the best offenses need someone who can come into the backfield and change up the pace. Bernard and White are both phenomenal receivers, as is Barner. Vaughn has improved in that department as well. So, what will transpire in the preseason to break up the logjam that is the RB2 position?

Receiving ability will be a big part of determining Fournette’s backup, but pass-blocking is perhaps the biggest decider. Ronald Jones II quickly saw his playing time diminish last year because he proved to be too hit-or-miss as a blocker. Bernard has years of experience doing it. White is still learning, but coaches describe him as “willing.” He’s even gotten reps as a punt protector throughout practices. There may not be a definitive pecking order right now, but perhaps Saturday’s game against Miami starts to clear things up.

WR5-7: Will We See Separation In What Is A Deep Competition?

Bucs WR Scotty Miller – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

All summer long, there was talk about who might win the depth receiver spots on the Bucs’ roster. For months, those spots were WR4, WR5, WR6 and potentially WR7, as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage occupied the first three places on the depth chart. And the exciting part was, Tampa Bay had around 10 receivers competing for those three or four spots. Then, on the second day of training camp, the Bucs signed Julio Jones. Now, Jones fills the WR4 role. That leaves only two or three spots between those 10 guys, and the battle throughout camp has been fierce. Heading into the preseason opener, it’s hard to tell who will emerge as the team’s remaining receivers and who will end up on the practice squad.

Incumbent receivers Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson may be favorites right now within this competition. Both guys have shown in camp that they’re out to prove themselves and solidify their spots on the roster. Miller is showing that he’s more than just a deep threat, catching intermediate passes and doing the dirty work near the sidelines. As for Johnson, he learned from last summer and came into camp in great shape. Both Bowles and Evans have been complimentary of the former Minnesota Golden Gopher, and he’s had a certain edge about him over the last week or so. Jaelon Darden is also having a fantastic camp. If the Bucs had to cut their roster down to 53 today, Darden likely makes the squad as the WR7 and punt return man.

The best part about the competition, though, is that it’s only getting started. The preseason should provide the separation Tampa Bay needs to see before making a decision. Miller, Johnson and Darden aren’t locked in by any means. Undrafted free agents Deven Thompkins, Jerreth Sterns and Kaylon Geiger Sr. all have made a case for themselves with great camps. Cyril Grayson Jr. can’t be counted out either. The lone receiver who hasn’t done well for himself over the last few weeks has been Breshad Perriman. He’s been sidelined with an injury for most of camp. Tom Brady may not be around right now and Blaine Gabbert will play minimally, but these receivers need to put good tape out there in the preseason while catching passes from Kyle Trask.

LG1: Is There A Favorite To Start At Left Guard?

With Ryan Jensen’s knee injury and Robert Hainsey replacing him, the battle for Tampa Bay’s starting left guard position feels like it’s flying under the radar. It’s another spot where the Bucs have quite a few options. Nick Leverett, Aaron Stinnie and Brandon Walton are all rotating in with the starters these days. But that doesn’t mean 2022 second-round pick Luke Goedeke is out of it just yet. This is an important position battle for the Bucs, and it’s one that is still weeks away from its end. Assistant head coach and run game coordinator Harold Goodwin said last week that they would like to decide a winner some time around the preseason finale on Aug. 27 in Indianapolis. Todd Bowles echoed that timeline. So, will we start to see some sort of frontrunner emerge out of the preseason opener?

Bucs G Aaron Stinnie – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Stinnie felt like the favorite coming into camp. He has the experience factor, having replaced Alex Cappa at right guard during the Bucs’ Super Bowl run two seasons ago. But his grip on the job hasn’t strengthened in the last few weeks. If anything, it’s loosened. Leverett, a versatile lineman who can play anywhere, ran with the first team this week. Walton is another versatile piece who seemingly came out of nowhere to get reps with the ones during camp. And, of course, there’s Goedeke. He’s transitioning from tackle to guard, and that comes with a learning curve. But his nasty style of play, which is similar to Jensen’s, will typically work in his favor.

The Bucs may be resting quite a few starters on the offensive line come Saturday night. So, can the starting offensive line tell anyone anything? Walton might step in for Donovan Smith at left tackle if he doesn’t suit up. Will the Bucs want to keep Leverett on the sideline until they’re ready for him to step in at center when Hainsey’s night is done? If that’s the case, Stinnie may start at left guard. It would be hard to tell, though, if that’s indicative of anything other than what the circumstances are dictating. Either way, keep an eye on who starts – and who plays well.

OLB4: Who Emerges As Bucs’ Second Rotational Pass Rusher?

Bucs OLB Elijah Ponder – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs come into the 2022 season with their top outside linebackers set. Shaq Barrett starts on on side, and breakout candidate Joe Tryon-Shoyinka starts on the other side. Tryon-Shoyinka replaces Jason Pierre-Paul, who the team decided not to bring back after the 2021 season. Meanwhile, Anthony Nelson slots in as the No. 3 pass rusher behind the two starters. So, who is the fourth guy? Last year, it was Cam Gill. Gill recorded 1.5 sacks in 2021, but does he have a sure roster spot heading into 2022? That looks like a hard no. He may be the favorite for the OLB4 job right now, but the Bucs will explore their options. Can someone in-house step into that spot, or will the team find it necessary to go outside the organization and bring in a veteran like former Buc Carl Nassib?

During training camp, it’s been Gill and Elijah Ponder battling for that fourth outside linebacker spot. Gill hasn’t necessarily regressed, but Ponder continues to rise up the ranks. His play might even warrant the Bucs keeping five outside linebackers, but that’ll depend on the preseason. Ponder, a former defensive tackle, has transformed his body and looks outstanding in his new position – especially against the run. He looks like a playmaker and might just prove to be one throughout the preseason. If there’s one pass rusher you’re going to watch on Saturday night, make it Ponder.

Gill and Ponder aren’t the team’s only options, either. Seventh-round pick Andre Anthony will have a chance to prove he’s fully recovered from his knee injury suffered last year. He faces long odds to make the team, but a good preseason would give him a shot to earn a job somewhere. Jojo Ozougwu hasn’t been the healthiest throughout camp, but he’s another one to watch. There’s also Jordan Young, a rookie out of Old Dominion, who has flashed a bit during camp.

CB2: Can Sean Murphy-Bunting Hold Off Jamel Dean For Starting Job?

Bucs DC Todd Bowles and CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: USA Today

One of the more significant surprises throughout training camp has been Sean Murphy-Bunting starting at outside corner instead of Jamel Dean. Murphy-Bunting’s time at nickel cornerback appears over, so it’s not entirely a surprise to see him back outside. But seeing him – not Dean – play opposite Carlton Davis is curious. Both players are in the final year of their rookie contracts, so both have something to prove. And over the last three seasons, Dean has been the better player. He felt like a shoe-in for the CB2 role, playing on the other side of Davis, the clear No. 1 corner. So, what gives?

Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds wrote in his latest Fab 5 column that Todd Bowles may have Murphy-Bunting listed as the No. 2 cornerback as a motivation tactic. In other words, the Bucs’ head coach may be giving him something to cling on to rather than challenging him to climb the depth chart and unseat Dean. It’s an interesting thought, but it’s hard to imagine Dean not eventually being the guy over Murphy-Bunting. Dean is a playmaker, totaling 33 passes defended over the last three seasons. Murphy-Bunting showed a nose for the football during the playoffs two seasons ago. He recorded an interception in three straight games during Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl run. But he got injured in Week 1 of the 2021 season and wasn’t the same when he came back.

With both he and Dean looking to set themselves up for a payday next offseason, this battle is all the more intriguing. So far in training camp, there’s been little evidence to support the idea of starting Murphy-Bunting over Dean. The preseason may give Bowles and his staff a chance to see whatever it is they’re looking for out of both guys. By the time it’s all over with and the 53-man roster is set, both Murphy-Bunting and Dean will be there. But it’s how the depth chart will shake out that can be decided over the next few weeks. And although Murphy-Bunting may technically have the lead according to the team’s first depth chart, Dean won’t be down as the No. 3 for long.

K: Will There Be A Changing Of The Guard At Kicker?

Bucs K Jose Borregales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The idea of a “kicking competition” probably feels haunting for longtime Bucs fans. Of course, it wasn’t long ago that the team had a revolving door at the kicker position. Matt Bryant was so steady for so long and while Connor Barth came in and did an admirable job after him, the names that followed left nothing but bad memories. Rian Lindell, Patrick Murray, Kyle Brindza, Roberto Aguayo, Nick Folk, Cairo Santos, Chandler Catanzaro and Matt Gay all tried their hand at breaking whatever “curse” Tampa Bay found hanging over its kicker position. All of them failed. It was Ryan Succop who came in just before the 2020 season and solidified the special teams unit. He became a steady presence for that Super Bowl team and returned for another year in 2021.

Over the last two seasons, Succop made 53 of his 61 field goal attempts and 108 of his 116 extra point tries. So, why think about replacing him? Well, the Bucs believe in young kicker Jose Borregales. He possesses a strong leg, which helped him win the Lou Groza Award in his final collegiate season at Miami. The 24-year-old spent last season on Tampa Bay’s practice squad, and now he has a chance to take over Succop’s job. The 36-year-old Succop doesn’t have the strongest leg anymore. Seven of his eight misses over the last two seasons came from 40-plus yards. His longest kick as a Buc was a 50-yarder. So, is it time for Borregales to take the reins?

The Bucs rotate between Succop and Borregales each day of camp. There’s currently little separating the two, with both putting together extremely good camps so far. This competition now carries over into the preseason, where Tampa Bay will hope to find a winner. It remains to be seen how the team will handle field goal duties during the three exhibition games. Whether it’s a rotation by kick, quarter, half or game, someone has to emerge as the team’s kicker. If it’s Borregales, the Bucs can cut ties with Succop and save some cap space.