FAB 3. Rewind Week 6 – Fast Forward Week 7

Not having open locker room at One Buccaneer Place and restricted media access to players this year due to COVID-19 has forced me to do less feature segments on players and more analysis on the games. So I’m using the Fab 3 section – called Rewind – Fast Forward – to share some observations from the Bucs’ last game as well as my analysis in previewing the next one. Enjoy.

REWIND: WEEK 6 VS. GREEN BAY

• Check out this clip from NFL’s Turning Point, featuring Jamel Dean’s pick-six from the Bucs’ win over the Packers. You might recognize the guy asking Dean the first question.

If you don’t know Jamel Dean’s name by now, watch this 👇

Some @Buccaneers pressure provided the perfect assist for his Pick 6. #NFLTurningPoint pic.twitter.com/YjrBDagIc7

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) October 22, 2020

• The Bucs scored 38 unanswered points against the Packers and were able to sub in some backups into the game in the fourth quarter. New center A.Q. Shipley, reserve left tackle Josh Wells and backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert all saw nine snaps at the end of the game to get some valuable in-game action that might benefit them down the road this season if they have to fill in due to an injury.

In a league where games typically come down the final drive, it’s rare that there is a blowout with such a significant score differential where back-up players can come in as late-game substitutes. Rookie running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, the team’s third-round pick, also saw 10 snaps on offense, and ran the ball five times for 42 yards (8.5 avg.), including a career-long 19-yard run in the fourth quarter in relief of Ronald Jones II.

• Bucs quarterback Tom Brady had a rather pedestrian game against the Packers from a statistical standpoint, with 166 yards passing, two touchdowns and no interceptions. But Brady is now up to 14 touchdown passes on the season, which ranks fourth in the league, and more importantly, he has only four INTs.

Tom Brady had 166 passing yards and a 104.9 passer rating. That was his best passer rating with that few passing yards in a game since 2010 https://t.co/wT3NHAsY7v

— ProFootballReference (@pfref) October 19, 2020

Bucs OT Joe Haeg – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

• One of the reasons why the Bucs were able to rush for over 150 yards against the Packers was using reserve offensive tackle Joe Haeg as a blocking tight end on 14 run plays on Sunday. Tampa Bay’s run blocking was spotty against Chicago, especially on the edge as the team tried to get by with reserve tight ends Cameron Brate and Tanner Hudson – neither of whom is a strong run blocker – in the absence of O.J. Howard.

Credit head coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich for that key adjustment, adding the 6-foot-6, 298-pound Haeg to the team’s 12 (two tight ends) and 13 personnel groups (three tight ends) against Green Bay.

“Joe did a great job,” Arians said. “He graded up really, really high. We’ll continue to use that package until Anthony [Auclair] comes back, but I was really, really happy. Joe did a really, really good job.”

FAST FORWARD: WEEK 7 AT LAS VEGAS

Raiders HC Jon Gruden and QB Derek Carr – Photo by: USA Today

• Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is off to a hot start to the season, completing 73.1 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and just one interception. Carr is taking more shots downfield this year due to the arrival of speedster Henry Ruggs III, the team’s first-round draft pick, and veteran receiver Nelson Agholor, who are averaging 29.5 and 18.5 yards per catch, respectively. Even slot possession receiver Hunter Renfroe has seen his average go from 12.3 yards last year as a rookie to 14.2 yards this season.

• Former Bucs edge rusher Carl Nassib signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Raiders in the offseason, including $16.75 million in guaranteed money. Las Vegas has not gotten a good return on its investment, as Nassib is only a reserve behind defensive ends Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby, and has just half a sack, four QB hits and 10 tackles through five games. Nassib’s playing time has diminished in recent weeks, as he saw just 19 snaps against Buffalo and only five snaps against Kansas City.

Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III – Photo by: USA Today

• When asked how the Bucs plan on combating the 4.27 speed of Raiders rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, Tampa Bay cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross said: “There is only one way to slow it down – you’ve got to hit it. Don’t let it go. You’ve got to hit it. You want to slow down those 4.25s, you’ve got to put your hands on them. Easier said than done, but I think we understand it.”

That means whoever is covering Ruggs needs to jam Ruggs at the line of scrimmage and not allow him to get a clean release off the line and use his blazing speed from the snap. Ruggs, who has missed some time due to injury, has just six catches this year for 177 yards and one touchdown, but when he has the ball in his hands he’s proven to be quite dangerous.