FAB 4. Bucs vs. Chargers – 4 Match-ups To Watch

Each week you can find 4 Match-ups to Watch in the Fab 4 section of my SR’s Fab 5 columns. Here is an advanced look at the Bucs’ game vs. the 1-2 Los Angeles Chargers where Tampa Bay (2-1) tries to win its third game in a row this season.

Bucs WR Mike Evans vs. Chargers CB Casey Hayward, Jr.

Without Chris Harris in the lineup due to injury, the Chargers’ top cornerback is Hayward, who will likely draw the assignment of covering Evans. Hayward, who has had a very good, productive career with 22 career interceptions, a pair of Pro Bowl berths and was rated as the fourth-best cornerback in the NFL last year by Pro Football Focus. But at age 31, Hayward has struggled in coverage this year, allowing nine catches for 96 yards through three games and earning a 49.7 overall grade from PFF, including a 50 coverage grade.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Evans is much bigger than the 5-11, 192-pound Hayward and should have his way with him on Sunday. The Bucs will need Evans to be ultra-productive due to wide receivers Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller being unavailable due to injuries. Evans will draw his share of double-teams, but when he gets the opportunity to win one-on-one he’ll do just that. Pencil in 10 targets, 100 yards and at least one touchdown for Evans on Sunday against Hayward, who is showing his age.
ADVANTAGE: Evans

Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski vs. Chargers LB Kyzir White

White had a 63.3 grade in coverage last week, allowing seven catches on eight targets for 58 yards last week. Carolina doesn’t really use the tight end, so he mostly covered the Panthers wide receivers and running back Mike Davis on Sunday. At 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, White has the speed to hang with receivers downfield, but he’s very undersized to match up against the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gronkowski physically.

Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski – Photo by: Getty Images

With his increasing familiarity with Bruce Arians’ playbook and his best receiving day to date in Tampa Bay with six catches for 48 yards in Denver, Gronkowski is becoming more of a weapon in the passing game as time goes on. With slot receiver Chris Godwin out with a hamstring injury, Gronkowski, who had a 76.7 grade from PFF last week, will likely see a good deal of action down the seams in the middle of the field.
ADVANTAGE: GRONKOWSKI

Bucs SS Jordan Whitehead vs. Chargers TE Hunter Henry

Whitehead has had a hot start to the season, recording an interception in Week 2 against Carolina and his first NFL sack last week at Denver. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowls likes to match Whitehead up against tight ends due to his man coverage ability. Whitehead has an overall PFF grade of 68.1 and a coverage grade of 65.3 this year, allowing just two catches for 45 yards and getting penalized just once. At 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, Whitehead gives up some size to the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Henry, but he has the speed and physicality to keep up with most tight ends, so this should be a good match-up.

Bucs S Jordan Whitehead – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With wide receiver Mike Williams likely out for Los Angeles, the Chargers will rely on Henry being more of a factor in the passing game and the No. 3 option behind wide receiver Keenan Allen and running back Austin Ekeler. Tight ends are often security blankets for young quarterbacks, and Henry, who has 16 catches for 206 yards on the season, will need to be just that for rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, who is making his third NFL start this week at Tampa Bay.
ADVANTAGE: PUSH

Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett vs. Chargers RT Trey Pipkins

With Bryan Buluga out with a back injury, Pipkins, who is in his second year, will likely get the start at right tackle after playing 75 snaps as the starter against Kansas City in Week 2 and then subbing in for the ailing Bulaga last week and playing 44 snaps. Pipkins fared well in pass protection against the Chiefs, earning a 79.4 grade from PFF, but really struggled last week with a 32.9 grade against Carolina. Pipkins allowed four pressures and one quarterback hit and had a penalty versus the Panthers.

Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After being held sackless through the first two weeks, Barrett had a breakthrough game in Denver with two sacks, including a safety, while totaling five tackles. Barrett earned a 75.1 overall grade from PFF, including a season-high 74.9 pass rush grade. Carrying some momentum from last week’s performance, the veteran Barrett should be able to take advantage of Pipkins’ inexperience and get to Herbert with pressures, hits and/or sacks on Sunday.
ADVANTAGE: BARRETT