Bucs vs. Dolphins Preseason Week 3: Most Impressive

The Bucs closed out their 2024 preseason with an impressive overall performance against the Miami Dolphins, winning 24-14. Given a complete team win where multiple phases of the team looked clean for much of the game, there are a lot of people included in this week’s most impressive.

WR Jalen McMillan

McMillan got the nod as the starting receiver opposite Chris Godwin, and it did not take him very long to make an impact. On the Bucs’ first drive of the game McMillan made a highlight-reel catch along the right sideline for 28 yards down to the Dolphins four-yard line. McMillan displayed fantastic ball tracking, body control and hands to make the grab and stay in bounds while dealing with solid coverage and a closing safety to boot. The catch set the Bucs up to score on their next play.

RB Rachaad White

White made the most of his first preseason action. He was the featured player on the Bucs first drive of the game, touching the ball on five of the team’s seven plays. For the drive White had four carries for 16 yards and a touchdown while adding a catch on a screen play which he took up field for 17 yards. White was patient as a runner finding holes and moving up field consistently.

QB Baker Mayfield

Mayfield played very little, but made his limited snaps count. His official line was 3-3 for 54 yards. Two of his completions were gimmes on screen passes. But his third throw was an absolute dime as he put the 28-yarder to McMillan perfectly on McMillan’s back shoulder in a place only McMillan could get to it. The result was a big time throw for an explosive result that set up a touchdown to put the Bucs up early.

More than that, Mayfield looked comfortable and confident running the offense. He looks like he has a strong mastery of the offense and is ready for week one.

Bucs OL

The Bucs offensive line got out to a fast start against the Dolphins as they opened up holes in the running game and got out in front for White’s screen. Rookie center Graham Barton continued to show why the Bucs were so excited to select him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. His athleticism was fully on display blending strength, speed and agility as he was one of the lead blockers on White’s longest play. Tristan Wirfs also had a great block sealing the edge on that particular play as well.

When the backups entered, rookie Elijah Klein popped as he had in his first two preseason games. Klein was showing thunderous pop in his hands, climbing to the second level and covering up linebackers better than he previously had and was consistently holding his ground with heavy anchors in pass protection. Between him and Barton, when added to Cody Mauch, Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, the future of the Bucs offensive line looks very bright.

All-in-all the Bucs offensive line kept their quarterbacks clean on the night, surrendering no sacks while the run game was functional at 3.6 yards per carry.

LB Antonio Grier Jr.

Grier was the playmaker-du jour on the night. He scooped and scored on the would-be strip sack by Earnest Brown IV in the first half, displaying impressive skills in avoiding tackles, changing directions and ultimately finding the endzone. In the second half he left no doubt that a turnover was going to stay on the board when he stepped in front of a Skylar Thompson pass over the middle for an interception. Grier was everywhere on the night recording six tackles on defense and adding another one on special teams.

Bucs Defensive Line

The Dolphins first offensive drive of the game was a three-and-out despite a seven-yard gain on a quick first down pass. But on second and third down the Bucs defense stiffened up with defensive end Logan Hall and nose tackle Vita Vea taking turns penetrating the Dolphins offensive line to stuff Miami running back Jeff Wilson to just one net yard on those two carries.

The Bucs finally let Vea loose and this is how he responded.

Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea

aka Vita Vea 💪 pic.twitter.com/RCaf6o7WhD

— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2024

On the following drive outside linebacker Chris Braswell tacked on a quick sack on third down to get the defense off the field once again. Earnest Brown IV added a near strip sack that was returned for a touchdown, but it was ruled an incomplete pass.

The defensive line created pressure on Dolphins quarterbacks all night and were disruptive through their run gaps. By the second half they had the Dolphins offensive line false starting in an attempt to beat the speed and explosiveness the Bucs pass rush was bringing. Outside linebacker Markees Watss added some high-end edge rushes displaying bend as well. He added an impressive run stop near the goal line in the third quarter where he wrapped up Anthony McFarland from behind and would not give McFarland a single inch forward.

DT C.J. Brewer

C.J. Brewer was the most dominant defensive lineman amidst an impressive performance by the unit as a whole. As my former colleague Jon Ledyard mentioned in game, he looked like Chris Jones the way he was constantly penetrating and creating negative plays for the offense. He was cutting off runs, while adding two tackles, one for a loss, a pass defense and a quarterback hit. Brewer has made a compelling case to make the Bucs final 53-man roster as Scott Reynolds has detailed.

CJ Brewer looks like Chris Jones tonight lol. Destroying the Dolphins OL

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) August 24, 2024

WR Cody Thompson

The former Seattle Seahawk has had a fantastic preseason. Thompson has done everything he can to make the team, showing his abilities as a blocker, a special teamer and a reliable pair of hands in the receiving game. Thompson consistently got open and displayed reliable hands with seven catches for 45 yards.

Thompson isn’t an explosive downfield threat, but he has shown he can work the short-to-intermediate option who acts like a second tight end in 11 personnel with reliable hands and very good blocking efforts.

WR Kameron Johnson

Johnson made his long-awaited preseason debut and did not disappoint. Showcasing his shiftiness, route-running, and explosive movements the Bucs tried to get the ball in his hands in both the passing and running game. Johnson was the focal point for several designed touches. His stat line wouldn’t wow anyone just perusing it (three catches for 12 yards and two carries for another 13).His two most impressive plays were an 11-yard run on an end around and an incredible catch on a tipped pass on fourth and one to help keep a drive alive.

QB Kyle Trask

Following Mayfield’s exit after the Bucs first drive, Kyle Trask came in and continued to operate the offense efficiently. Trask was decisive and worked through his progressions well. His pocket awareness was impressive for the third straight game, and he kept the ball out of harm’s way. He added some difficult throws under pressure. His most impressive play may have been when he was able to navigate an onslaught of pressure on the fourth down play to give Johnson a chance to make the drive-saving catch.

Trask has quietly had a solid preseason and proven he is a good NFL backup quarterback who the team shouldn’t be too worried about if he has to play a game or two this season.

On the money from Kyle Trask

pic.twitter.com/xPakkeELgH

— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) August 24, 2024

Trask added another dime early in the fourth quarter to Ryan Miller on a third and goal that Miller should have caught for a touchdown. No worries for Trask though. He came back the very next play and put a pretty throw on Tanner Knue and Knue rewarded him with an incredible catch showcasing impressive ball tracking skills.

Trask finished the night with 17 completions on 24 passes for 141 yards while averaging 5.9 yards per attempt and throwing two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Kick Off The Bucs’ 2024 Season On PewterReportTV With Pewter Pregame & Pewter GameDay

Join Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera for a 30-minute Pewter Pregame LIVE at 9:00 a.m. ET on PewterReportTV. Pewter Pregame will always be at 9:00 a.m. ET on every game day this season regardless of the kickoff time. If you can’t catch the show live it will be archived on PewterReportTV for you to watch any time prior to kickoff.

Then tune in to Pewter GameDay as Matera and a member of the Pewter Report staff will offer up special LIVE in-game analysis for all three hours of the Bucs vs. Commanders game starting at 4:25 p.m. ET on PewterReportTV.