Preseason Week 1 Most Disappointing: Bucs vs. Steelers

In their first game of the 2023 preseason, the Bucs looked sloppy and undisciplined. The result? A 27-17 drubbing at the hands of the Steelers. Given the level of play from the Bucs’ backups, there is no shortage of candidates for “Most Disappointing.”

OT Luke Goedeke

Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Photo By: Cliff Welch P/R

Let’s start up front. Luke Goedeke is the projected starting right tackle this year. So, when you see him struggle against backups, the concern level that was already peaked due to his struggles in 2022 at left guard become even more heightened. Goedeke allowed two sacks in pass protection, was part of multiple failed attempts to pick up one yard in short-yardage situations and racked up a holding penalty. If this is the level of play the Bucs can expect from their right tackle, trouble is brewing early.

CB Zyon McCollum

Yes, Zyon McCollum had an impressive interception on a deep go ball. I won’t take anything away from that impressive play. But I have said this before and McCollum’s game really bears this out: One splash play rarely defines a performance. McCollum allowed multiple catches where he was the closest man in coverage, allowing the Steelers offense to move down the field well in the first half.

But the most egregious play was in the second quarter, when McCollum failed to recognize his responsibility as the outside leverage on an Anthony McFarland Jr. run.

Hello Anthony McFarland!!

Touchdown! pic.twitter.com/3ClCKhEyrP

— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 12, 2023

McFarland saw McCollum jump to the inside gap, saw he had all sorts of daylight to the outside and was gone. The thing is, this play encapsulates worries about whether McCollum has taken any steps forward because that play looks eerily similar to this one from last year.

intelligent smashmouth starring d’onta foreman

(also, the bucs’ defense is in big, big, trouble) pic.twitter.com/g9nDkNyb8t

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) October 25, 2022

If McCollum doesn’t start to learn to play more disciplined, he is going to be a liability that opposing offenses take advantage of every time he sets foot on the field.

Penalties

Bucs TE Ko Kieft – Photo By: Cliff Welch P/R

Speaking of playing more disciplined, the Bucs were flagged for 12 penalties! For 127 yards!! This is just ridiculous. This team has been near the league lead in penalties since the advent of the Bruce Arians regime. Now, under former Arians defensive coordinator and now-head coach Todd Bowles, there seems to be no end in sight. And the penalties were a pick-your-flavor variety pack on the night.

False starts, illegal formation (twice!), facemask, holding. They had it all. Most of those penalties came on the offensive side of the ball, where it looked like the Bucs’ backups just were not in sync with new offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ offense. Canales (and Bowles) need to fix this fast, because injuries happen and some of these players are going to be needed in the regular season.

The Bucs offense could have looked coherent on the day as they had multiple runs of 10+ yards. But all of those were called back on holding penalties. One of the false starts prevented the Bucs from catching the Steelers defense off guard on an early 4th & 1. Instead, following the penalty, the Bucs elected to punt from their own territory. It’s difficult to evaluate an offense that can’t get out of it’s own way. Or maybe that is the evaluation.

CB Keenan Isaac

Isaac had multiple missed tackles on the day, leading to several big plays for the Steelers. One of the core tenants of grabbing a back-end roster spot is doing the simple things. Tackling is one of the most basic parts of playing defense. This does not bode well for Isaac’s hopes to make the team.

Bucs Short-Yardage Package

Stop me if you have heard this before. The Bucs have two or more chances to get a first down if they can only move forward just one yard. Do you know the punchline to this joke? It goes a little something like this…”Turnover on downs”. Bucs fans surely had PTSD watching Ke’Shawn Vaugn run into the back of a stonewalled offensive line for no gain, followed by another attempt that looked even more awful as the Pittsburgh defense penetrated the Bucs offensive line to bring Vaughn down for a loss on fourth down.

WR Kaylon Geiger

Bucs WR Kaylon Geiger – Photo By: Cliff Welch P/R

After showing out through much of the second half of the game as a receiver, Kaylon Geiger made an egregious mistake on the second-to-last play of the game. The Steelers punted to the Bucs with 43 seconds left in the game. Geiger was back to receive the punt. After securing the ball initially, Geiger attempted to make one too many moves in traffic and allowed the ball to be stripped from his clutches.

The Steelers were able to pounce on the ball, leading to a turnover on what would be the penultimate play of the game. Geiger is in a tight battle with multiple receivers for the WR6/7 spot, and a ball security mistake will go a long way to ensuring he does not come out of that camp battle victorious.