FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

• One of the biggest results of Jameis Winston’s three-game suspension to start the 2018 season is that insures that third-string quarterback Ryan Griffin will make the 53-man roster as he will serve as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s backup.

Some teams elect to keep only two quarterbacks if they have a competent starter and a clear-cut backup, and that appears to be the case in Tampa Bay with Winston and Fitzpatrick. But even though Winston can return to the team after missing the first three games, expect Griffin to hang around too as an insurance policy.

The Bucs have a lot of time and a fair amount of money invested in Griffin since claiming him off waivers from New Orleans in September of 2015. Griffin served as the third-string QB behind Winston and Mike Glennon for two years, and was behind Winston and Fitzpatrick last year after signing a one-year, $1.3 million extension for 2018.

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

Tampa Bay still doesn’t know what it has in the six-year pro out of Tulane as he has yet to throw a pass in an NFL regular season game. Fitzpatrick missed the 2015 preseason with the Bucs, and started a rain-soaked affair against Washington in the 2016 preseason finale, which didn’t reveal much. In Tampa Bay’s first preseason game last year, Griffin suffered a shoulder injury against Cincinnati almost immediately after entering the game.

Needless to say, this will be a big preseason for Griffin’s long-term future, but even if he doesn’t light it up and impress, Griffin is all but assured of a roster spot this year due to Winston’s suspension.

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• Aside from Jameis Winston’s lack of availability to start the season, the most difficult aspect about Winston’s three-game suspension for Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter will be how he navigates the snaps in training camp and the preseason. How does Koetter balance the need to give Winston reps to prepare him for the last 13 games of the 2018 season with the need to get backup Ryan Fitzpatrick ready to start the first three contests?

Koetter had to deal with this issue last year when running back Doug Martin started the season off with a three-game suspension due to illegal substance usage. Like Winston is, Martin was eligible to play in the Bucs’ preseason games, but backups Peyton Barber, Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers saw plenty of carries in August, too.

It’s much trickier for Koetter at the quarterback spot because of the importance of the position and the fact that the QB handles the ball on every snap and is responsible for audibles and protections. Winston is a young quarterback who is still developing, and he needs to continue to operate and master Koetter’s offense while continuing to form chemistry with newer receivers like DeSean Jackson and Chris Godwin and tight ends O.J. Howard and Antony Auclair that only arrived a year ago, in addition to rookie running back Ronald Jones, who is expected to receive a good deal of playing time this year.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston and TE O.J. Howard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But because Fitzpatrick has gotten less reps due to his backup status, it’s imperative that he work on the timing and chemistry with those targets, as well as develop a relationship with new starting center Ryan Jensen. It will be interesting to see how Koetter handles the practice reps and preseason playing time between Winston and Fitzpatrick. Getting it right will be critical to the Bucs’ early season success.

• One last thing about the Bucs’ challenge at the quarterback position with Jameis Winston’s suspension. Tampa Bay should look no further than New England, which had to weather the first four games without Tom Brady to start the 2016 season as he was suspended over the Deflategate incident during the Patriots vs. Colts playoff game on January 18, 2015. The Patriots went 3-1 without Brady and wound up winning the Super Bowl later that year upon his return.

New England won at Arizona, 23-21, in Week 1, at home against Miami, 31-24, the next week, and 27-0 at home versus Houston before a 16-0 loss at home in the final game without Brady. Jimmy Garoppolo was the starter until he suffered a hand injury in Week 2. Then he had to give way to third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who was a rookie. Brissett went 1-1 in his two starts during Garoppolo’s absence.

Garoppolo hardly had any experience and Brissett was a rookie, yet head coach Bill Belichick put a premium on not turning the ball over. He didn’t need either quarterback to go out and win any games – just not to lose them.

Neither Garoppolo nor Brissett turned the ball over in those first four games without Brady, and New England set a record that season for the most pass attempts by a team without an interception to start a season. The trio of Garoppolo, Brissett, and Brady combined to set a single season record for fewest interceptions thrown by a team, with just two in 2016. Brady also set the record for the best touchdown–interception ratio in a single year with 28 touchdowns and only two interceptions (14:1 ratio). That broke Nick Foles’ record of 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions (13.5:1) in 2013 while in Philadelphia.

If Ryan Fitzpatrick can follow suit and play error-free football for three games it greatly increases the Bucs’ chances of winning some games and avoiding a 0-3 start, especially with a ground game and defense that expects to be improved this season.

• We have a brand new Pewter Nation Podcast that was taped just hours prior to the NFL’s decision to suspend Jameis Winston for three games. PewterReport.com’s Trevor Sikkema and yours truly discussed the ramifications of a possible suspension and what Winston might do. Obviously we have a clearer picture now of what Winston and the Bucs are facing to start the 2018 season, but it’s still worth a listen. Click here for Episode 79: Winston Worries Worsen

Our previous episode featured Mr. Evil Bucs Media himself, good friend and top sports columnist Tom Jones from the Tampa Bay Times. Jones joined the podcast last week to share his insights into Bucs mini-camp along with Mark Cook, Sikkema and myself. You can listen to that podcast by clicking here: Episode 78: Mini-Camp With Mr. Jones

If you missed our last Pewter Nation Podcast from Thursday, June 7 after the Bucs’ last OTA session, here is a link to that podcast: Episode 77: Final Thoughts On OTAs

You can also click here to listen to one of our most controversial Pewter Nation Podcasts right here: Episode 76: Worried About Winston?

The popularity of the Pewter Nation Podcast continues to grow. In addition to listening to the Pewter Nation Podcasts on PewterReport.com you can also subscribe to the free podcasts at PodBean by clicking here and on SoundCloud by clicking here. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode.

• Don’t think that Bucs defensive end Noah Spence has gotten lost in the shuffle with all of the new additions along Tampa Bay’s defensive line, including the likes of defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Vinny Curry. While Spence was taking some third-string reps in the offseason, the plan is to play him at left defensive end opposite JPP in obvious pass-rushing situations.

Playing in a pass-happy division like the NFC South that features quarterbacks like New Orleans’ Drew Brees, Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and Carolina’s Cam Newton, Spence and his surgically-repaired shoulder should see plenty of action this year for Tampa Bay. He’s bulked up to 257 pounds after playing just under 230 pounds in training camp last year and that extra size should help him out.

“Have you seen how big he is? He’s jacked up now,” Bucs defensive end Will Gholston said. “Every year we keep saying the same thing, but I think he’s going to put it all together – if he’s healthy. I feel pretty sure that he’s worked all the muscles so he’s sure he can last the entire season. And with our defensive line rotation that will help him last.”

Bucs DE Noah Spence – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Second-year left tackle Cole Gardner, who saw time with the starters this spring filling in for the injured Donovan Smith, said Spence is as fast as ever despite adding over 20 pounds of muscle this offseason.

“His speed is something dangerous,” Gardner said. “When he gets going and he gets that edge, it’s tough. His hands are good and he’s worked hard on getting healthy, bigger and stronger so he can do a little more to a guy. He has a little more versatility to himself. I think he’s going to have a good year for us.”

• And finally, PewterReport.com would like to welcome the University of Tampa as an advertising partner for the 2018 football season. Featuring one of the most beautiful and picturesque campuses in the country, the University of Tampa resides in downtown Tampa right next to the Hillsborough River at 401 W. Kennedy Boulevard.

The University of Tampa offers a host of graduate programs year-round and I encourage you to click on the accompanying banner or visit the UT.edu website or call (813) 253-3333 for more on the school’s Master’s programs. Whether it’s getting an executive MBA or a professional MBA degree, or studying accounting, criminology and criminal justice, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, creative writing or pursuing a degree in education or the medical field, University of Tampa has a world-class education waiting for you. Go Spartans!