Welcome to SR’s Fab 5 – my weekly insider column on the Bucs that features five things that are on my mind. SR’s Fab 5 is now a quicker read, but still packs a punch. Enjoy!

FAB 1. Who’s Hot In Bucs Camp On Offense?

The Bucs offense has been transformed under offensive coordinator Dave Canales and there have been some standout players through the first two weeks of training camp. Here are some of the offensive players who have shined at times as the Bucs enter the third week of camp with their first preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers looming.

QB Kyle Trask

Bucs QBs Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Trask has not won the starting job yet. There is still a quarterback competition going on – but it’s a legit quarterback competition. Yet the fact that Trask has only thrown one interception in camp, which was on the second day of practice, is quite remarkable. Pewter Report has been echoing what Dave Canales has said, which is that the deciding factor in the quarterback competition between Trask and veteran Baker Mayfield was going to be which quarterback did a better job of not turning the ball over.

So far, that’s been Trask, as Mayfield has thrown seven interceptions in either 11-on-11s, 7-on-7s or 1-on-1s between receivers and defenders. Trask is taking more chances and not just playing it safe with his throws, too. He’s threading the needle on some passes and looks so much more assertive and in command of the offense. This battle will continue into the third preseason game because the performances in games will mean the most when it comes to quarterback evaluation.

RB Chase Edmonds

This is not to say that starter Rachaad White and primary backup Ke’Shawn Vaughn have disappointed. They haven’t. The Bucs are thrilled with their entire running back room, including undrafted rookie Sean Tucker, who is really coming on. But Edmonds really stepped up in the second week of camp and is showing great burst and acceleration. Whether it’s a handoff in the Bucs’ mid-zone scheme or catching the ball on a screen, Edmonds picks up chunks of yards – in a hurry. He’ll contend for the RB2 job in the preseason, but right now Vaughn’s in the lead.

WR Mike Evans

Perhaps the best Buccaneer in training camp so far on either side of the ball, Evans has just dominated. Whether it’s schooling rookie defensive backs like Josh Hayes, Derek Pitts Jr., or more talented, established DBs like Jamel Dean or Zyon McCollum, there has been no stopping Evans in camp this year. Evans said that everyone needs to pick it up with the departure of legendary quarterback Tom Brady – starting with him. And so far, Evans has done just that. The way he playing just weeks before his 30th birthday, Evans could be in for a monster year in Dave Canales’ new offense, which will move Evans around a lot.

WR Chris Godwin

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While he has not been as consistently dominant as Evans, Godwin looks like the player he was before his devastating knee injury at the end of the 2021 season. Godwin worked hard all offseason a year ago to be able to play in the 2022 season and finally started to round into form towards the end of the year. Now with an offseason to rest rather than rehab, Godwin looks faster and fresher. The explosion is back when he leaps up to make contested catches. Godwin will see more time outside as a Z (flanker) receiver rather than in the slot, which should save his body from some of the wear and tear it was subject to over the last four years.

WR Trey Palmer

The rookie is starting to make more big plays more regularly in practice and is living up to the hype he created in the offseason. Palmer’s speed is real, and the coaches love his dawg mentality. Not only will Palmer make the team, he’ll see considerable time on special teams as a gunner or a returner, and on offense where he’s battling Russell Gage for WR3. Right now Palmer is just ahead of Deven Thompkins, Rakim Jarrett and Kade Warner in the receiver hierarchy behind Evans, Godwin and Gage.

TE David Wells

Cade Otton has been as good as advertised in training camp as the team’s starting tight end, catching everything thrown his way and making some spectacular grabs. But Wells has been a huge surprise as a receiver and he’s done well as a blocker. The team is pretty happy with the entire tight end room, but the Bucs can’t keep them all. The 28-year old Wells has spent more time on NFL practice squads than active rosters, but this could be his breakout moment. Right now he has a firm grip on TE2 ahead of Ko Kieft and rookies Payne Durham and Tanner Taula.

LT Tristan Wirfs

Don’t worry that Wirfs is the only offensive lineman on this list. Cody Mauch has impressed and will be good in time. He just needs experience. The Bucs have gotten good play from other offensive linemen in camp, especially right tackle Luke Goedeke, but the offensive line is a work in progress and chemistry and continuity is still coming together. Yet Wirfs has been dominant as he transitions to left tackle. He spoke about how worried he is about living up to Pro Bowl expectations on the left side of the line, but guess what? The Bucs aren’t worried. Wirfs is off to a great start to his new position.

FAB 2. Who’s Hot In Bucs Camp On Defense?

Tampa Bay’s defense has had quite a few bright spots in training camp. Some make this list because they’ve made quite a few splash plays, while others are on this list because of their rock solid consistency.

NT Vita Vea

Vea still needs to shed a few pounds to be ready for opening day, but that’s become an every year thing for the 350-pound nose tackle. Entering his sixth season in Tampa Bay, Vea has increased confidence as a pass rusher with his team-leading 6.5 sacks last year. He’ll play less in the B-gap this year with Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall in the starting lineup, but he’ll still be the league’s most dominant A gap nose tackle – even if the sacks fall to around four. Vea is unblockable in 1-on-1 pass rush drills in camp, as Robert Hainsey has repeatedly found out.

OLB YaYa Diaby

Bucs OLB YaYa Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Just two weeks into camp and it’s clear that rookie edge rusher is easily the strongest and most powerful outside linebacker on the roster. Wait until he figures out what to do as a pass rusher in terms of putting moves together. A case in point was one 1-on-1 pass rep against 345-pound left tackle Tristan Wirfs. Diaby bull-rushed him and surprisingly drove him back three steps before Wirfs could anchor and reset. Once Diaby learns to finish his rush with a club-rip or an inside chop-spin he’ll be deadly. Diaby also made a diving interception off a tipped Baker Mayfield pass that showed off his agility and athleticism.

ILB Lavonte David

At age 33, David continues to beat Father Time and is having a heck of a training camp so far. It’s no surprise that David is excelling in coverage, as that’s what he’s done best. He’s dropped a couple of interceptions he should have held on too, but at least he’s preventing plays from being made. David has also shined on the few blitz opportunities he’s gotten. He may not be the playmaking blur he was in his youth, but David still has enough speed to go with his superior football I.Q. to continue to shine on Tampa Bay’s defense.

ILB SirVocea Dennis

Through two weeks of training camp Dennis leads the Bucs with two interceptions, and one of them was another likely pick-six. This guy just gets it. Special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong calls Dennis a “one-timer,” meaning he gets taught something one time and he understands it. Dennis’ football I.Q. is at a very high level and he has the makings of a future starter in Tampa Bay, replacing either David or Devin White next year, as both will be free agents. In addition to surprisingly good play in coverage, Dennis has a natural feel as a blitzer after racking up 15 sacks at Pitt, including seven last season as a senior.

CB Jamel Dean

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

Dean has given up a couple of red zone touchdowns on slant passes during camp, and that’s something he has to continue to work on. But otherwise he is living up to his contract and playing like one of the NFL’s top corners. Dean and teammate Carlton Davis III have been inseparable during camp and are pushing each other towards greatness. Dean has broken up quite a few passes in camp so far, and finally came up with a pick in a recent practice. He needs to come up with some interceptions in order to be considered a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback this year.

CB Carlton Davis III

Davis has not made many plays in training camp because he’s been blanketing receivers and quarterbacks just aren’t looking his way that often. The sixth-year cornerback made some bold statements this offseason that he has to live up to, but it’s foolish to doubt Davis. Like Dean, Davis needs to come up with more interceptions to garner Pro Bowl consideration. He finally recorded his first pick in camp to end the second week of practice. The first job of any defensive back is prevent the pass from being caught by the receiver, and Davis has done that exceptionally well.

FS Antoine Winfield Jr.

Winfield has perhaps been the best and most consistent defensive back in training camp. He’s got one interception so far, and one gets the feeling that more are coming. Having Winfield just hone in on free safety was a smart move by head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles. Winfield looks natural playing centerfield, but there are also moments where he creeps up into the box and blitzes so well. Winfield had a career-high four sacks last year and could reach that total again as he’s the best blitzing DB on the team.

SS Nolan Turner

Bucs S Nolan Turner and RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Turner is not a lock for a roster spot. In fact, rookie safeties Kaevon Merriweather and Chris Izien are better athletes that bring more speed to the secondary. But Turner is making plays and has one interception and several pass breakups despite his limited athleticism. He’ll have to make the team by being exceptional on special teams, but his work ethic is outstanding and his football I.Q. is top notch. Turner may end up on the practice squad again, but if he continues to make plays on the ball during camp and in the preseason he may force the Bucs to keep five safeties on the 53-man roster.

SS Ryan Neal

As well as Winfield blitzes out of the slot, Neal has also shown a knack for getting to the quarterback. Bowles uses Neal as a blitzer at some interesting times (we can’t reveal the specifics) and whether it’s a run or a pass, the Seattle import is very effective in blowing the play up in the backfield. Neal and Winfield have been joined at the hip since the offseason and their communication and chemistry is right where it needs to be. Don’t be surprised if Neal goes down as one of Jason Licht’s best free agent acquisitions. Neal is off to a hot start as a playmaker in Tampa Bay.

FAB 3. Who’s Not Hot In Bucs Camp On Offense?

It’s not quite fair to focus on some of the back-end roster players who really don’t have much of a chance to make the 53-man roster anyways. So let’s name some of the more prominent Bucs that need to step it up as Tampa Bay enters the third week in training camp and prepares to host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday night.

QB Baker Mayfield

Bucs OC Dave Canales and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Mayfield has made more spectacular throws than Kyle Trask has. There is no doubt that Mayfield’s camp highlight reel is better and longer than Trask’s this summer. And Mayfield is the more vocal and dynamic leader of the two quarterbacks. With his experience he should beat out Trask for the starting job. If the competition is close the nod will likely go to Mayfield. But Dave Canales has said that the winner of the quarterback competition will be the one who protects the ball better.

Mayfield, who admitted the second week of camp didn’t go his way, has thrown seven interceptions and Trask has thrown just one. In order for Mayfield to rebound and recapture the lead he simply has to stop throwing picks in practice. Or hope Trask starts throwing interceptions.

TE Payne Durham

Durham has played well in training camp and had a much better second week of practice than he did during his first week. However, starter Cade Otton and current backup David Wells have played exceptionally well. With Ko Kieft a lock to make the team as a primary blocker and core special teamer, Durham appears to be fighting for the fourth and final tight end spot on the depth chart.

Durham is not a lock to make the team as a sixth-round pick. There is a good chance he could end up on the practice squad if he doesn’t beat out undrafted free agent Tanner Taula, who is faster and just as big at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds. Durham will need to shine in the preseason games and make some of the spectacular red zone catches like he did at Purdue in order to have a shot at the 53-man roster.

C Ryan Jensen

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Before you jump to conclusions and panic, Jensen makes this list because he has not done any work in 11-on-11 team drills. The Bucs are being cautious about his comeback, but it’s beginning to be a bit worrisome (not just to me, but some at Bucs HQ) as to whether or not the 32-year old Jensen’s knee can hold up for 17 weeks. Jensen has yet to prove that he can do anything but individual drills and he has yet to take part in any of the 1-on-1 pass rush-pass protection drills.

The Bucs certainly hope his non-surgically repaired knee is strong enough to not only have Jensen start, but to get back to his Pro Bowl-caliber play. Remember, he’s the league’s highest-paid center. Just in case, the Bucs have been pleased with the play of both Robert Hainsey and Nick Leverett, and have a couple of developmental centers on the team in John Molchon and rookie Chris Murray.

FAB 4. Who’s Not Hot In Bucs Camp On Defense?

As was the case with the Bucs offense, it’s not fair to focus on the back-end roster players who don’t have much of a shot to make the 53-man roster. So let’s name some of the more prominent Bucs defenders that need to pick it up as Tampa Bay enters the third week in training camp and gets ready to host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday night.

DT Logan Hall

Bucs DT Logan Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Hall has gotten bigger this offseason, which he needed to do to be effective against the run and to hold up for four quarters every week over a 17-week season. He’s still quick and fast, but just needs experience. In hindsight, the Bucs should have played Hall more during his rookie season even though he was undersized. Hall needs as many reps as he can get because playing defensive tackle in the NFL is a challenge for any young player. Grown man strength is a real thing and the veteran guards and centers Hall will face have plenty of it.

If there is a silver lining with Calijah Kancey’s calf injury it’s that Hall will get even more reps. Hall is a starter alongside Kancey and Vita Vea in Todd Bowles’ 3-4 scheme, but in nickel defense the Bucs sub out a defensive tackle for a nickel defensive back. Early in camp it was Kancey and Vea playing in between outside linebackers Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. But with Kancey’s injury Hall is getting those nickel reps with Vea, which gives him more snaps in each practice. Hall isn’t a bad player nor is he really struggling. But he’s not making plays in the backfield as much as expected and he needs the game to slow down for him.

ILB Devin White

White picked up his play at the end of the second week of practice and started to make more splash plays as a blitzer and in run defense. But those plays were largely absent the first week or so of training camp. Like Hall, it’s not like White has been playing bad, but more is expected of the talented, athletic inside linebacker entering his fifth year in Bowles’ defense.

The fact that rookie inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis has come up with two interceptions so far in camp as well as being an effective blitzer is noteworthy. Those are the kind of plays the Bucs are counting on White making, especially with him being in a contract year during his fifth-year option season. The good news is that White isn’t having gaffes in coverage or bad run fits. He’s not playing bad football. White just needs to play great football this year and needs to pick it up a bit in the playmaking department to make that happen.

OLB Shaq Barrett

Bucs ILB Devin White and OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While it was a pleasant surprise having Barrett pass his physical and fully participate in training camp right from the start, he’s still not back to 100 percent. That’s to be expected, just as Chris Godwin wasn’t at 100 percent upon his return from his 2021 knee injury at the start of the 2022 regular season. It took time for Godwin to round back in to form, and Barrett will need some time to shake off the rust from his torn Achilles tendon.

Not helping matters is the fact that most of Barrett’s reps come against left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who is a mountain of a man to run around. Wirfs has All-Pro talent and makes all edge rushers look bad in camp. This is a big year for Barrett, who turns 31 in November and needs to live up to his $21,252,941 salary cap figure. To be fair, fellow outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka hasn’t exactly lit it up in camp either and could’ve replaced Barrett on this list.

FAB 5. Recapping Ronde Barber’s Hall of Fame Induction Weekend

I was able to go to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio for the first time over the weekend. As you know, Bucs legend Ronde Barber became the fifth Tampa Bay player and sixth former Buccaneer to become a Hall of Famer. Barber joins the late defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, linebacker Derrick Brooks, safety John Lynch and head coach Tony Dungy in the place they call “football heaven.”

Scott and Ashley Reynolds with Ronde Barber’s Hall of Fame bust

I started covering the Bucs in 1995, which was the same year the Glazers took over ownership of the Buccaneers. I walked in the door with Sapp and Brooks, who were first-round picks in 1995, and Barber was drafted two years later in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. Interestingly enough, the Bucs made a trade and acquired an additional third-round pick, which they used on Barber, who was the 66th overall selection. Tampa Bay drafted guard Frank Middleton in the third round ahead of Barber.

By now you’ve probably read the stories or seen the videos of Barber’s “uncommon” Hall of Fame induction speech. What I’ll add to it is the fact that while the speeches of Zach Thomas and DeMarcus Ware were emotional and heartfelt, Barber’s speech was different. His speech was a bit defiant and full of swagger, which was great to see because he entered the Hall of Fame the same way he played with an “I’ll show you” attitude. That’s the Barber I remember covering for every minute of his illustrious 16-year career.

The Glazers spared no expense on his swanky after-party, which Barber’s amazing wife, Claudia, planned with great attention to detail. There was a host of former Bucs players as Barber was a very popular teammate. Sapp, Brooks, Lynch and Dungy were there, of course. But it was great seeing Mike Alstott, Brad Johnson, Brian Kelly, Will Allen, Jermaine Phillips, Dwight Smith, Donald Penn, Joe Jurevicius, Barrett Ruud, Chris Sims, Kevin Carter, John Howell, Corey Ivy, Shelton Quarles and the legendary Monte Kiffin. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few former players (it was one heck of party!), but it felt like a family reunion.

It was great catching up with these players I used to cover on a regular basis during their Tampa Bay careers, and Lynch, Brooks, Alstott, Penn and Dungy will be future guests on the Pewter Report Podcast, which will be a blast. It was interesting that Barber essentially played on two different Bucs teams.

Scott Reynolds and Ronde Barber – Photo by: Ashley Reynolds/PR

The first was the Dungy/Jon Gruden crossover team from 1997 to around 2003. Then there was a different team that consisted solely of Gruden’s draft picks and free agent signings from 2004-2008 that spilled over into Raheem Morris’ tenure from 2009-11. Barber’s final year was in 2012 under Greg Schiano.

Barber had R&B singer/rapper Russ and the iconic CeeLo Green perform at his after party, which was attended by the Glazer family and just about the entire Bucs front office. In speaking with many in attendance one thing was clear. Yes, Barber was one of the greatest Bucs of all time, and that’s why he’s a Hall of Famer.

But the reason why he had nearly 500 people attend at his after party, including ESPN legendary commentator Chris Berman, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer and of course his twin brother Tiki among others, was because everybody loves Ronde Barber. Legendary player, awesome teammate, great friend, but most of all, fantastic person.