Todd Bowles Offers Blunt Assessment Of Bucs Roster

Roster cuts are coming soon for the Bucs as they have one more preseason game to go at home against the Dolphins on Friday night. Then Todd Bowles and Tampa Bay’s front office has to trim the roster down to a 53 players with a 16-man practice squad as well.

The Bucs certainly have talent on the team across the board with several Pro Bowl and All-Pro caliber players. But, when it comes to the depth up and down the roster, are the Bucs at a top quality level?

Is Todd Bowles Happy With The Bucs’ Roster?

Todd Bowles was asked if this is the deepest team that he’s had since taking over as head coach in Tampa bay, and apparently, this team doesn’t even come close.

“No, absolutely not,” Todd Bowles said. “I think it’s deep at maybe two or three spots, but it’s not very deep otherwise. We’re trying to find those guys.”

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That makes it all the more interesting for this final preseason game against the Dolphins where a couple of players will have an opportunity to solidify themselves with a roster spot. Some position competitions are a little tighter than others and Bowles specified which ones he’ll be watching a bit more intently.

“There’s a few,” Todd Bowles said. “There’s a couple wide receiver spots at the end, how many running backs we keep, how many tight ends we keep, the offensive line is still moving and shaking at the end – we’ll see what happens and who comes out healthy and who doesn’t. The depth at D-line will be very interesting to see this week.”

At receiver, it’ll depend on whether the Bucs decide to keep five or six. Cody Thompson, Rakim Jarrett and Kameron Johnson are in the mix.

Running back it comes down to if the Bucs hold onto three of four. Based on the injury of Chase Edmonds that has kept him out for almost the entirety of practice except for the first day, it has essentially given Sean Tucker the third string role, although he has earned it with his preseason performance. Does Tampa Bay want a seasoned veteran like Edmonds taking up a valuable roster spot – or would he be better off on the practice squad? That’s a decision the Bucs will have to make.

Tight end is a similar conversation. The biggest battle is between rookie Devin Culp and third-year player Ko Kieft. In all likelihood one of them ends up on the practice squad if they keep three. Defensive tackle can go a number of ways as Earnest Brown, Lwal Uguak and C.J. Brewer amongst other have been making plays throughout training camp.

Bowles continued on about the competition, alluding to that it’s anyone’s game.

“There are some guys that have a chance to make this team.” he said. “We just want to finish out with the guys that are playing this week for the first time – have their uniform ready, the substitutions go well, we don’t get penalties with the play clock going down, we don’t get a lot of penalties, and they get in the game flow.”

Toughest Decision For Roster Cuts

A day later, Bowles was further asked about what position would be the toughest to cut. His answer added a couple of more positions than previously stated.

Bucs OLB Jose Ramirez – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I think outside [linebackers], safeties, and corners are going to be tough,” Bowles said. “Any time you have those kinds of guys and all of them can do a lot of things – that’s going to be tough. The depth at defensive line is going to be tough. The last guy or two on the offensive line…Between how many tight ends and how many [running] backs we keep, and that last [wide] receiver spot.”

The injuries to Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka threw a wrench into the Bucs’ plans at outside linebacker, but thankfully each looks like they’ll be back by the start of the regular season. The other outside linebackers, namely Chris Braswell, Jose Ramirez and Markees Watts have made the most of it while Jay Person has also impressed.

There are many decisions that Bucs will have to make. Although Todd Bowles doesn’t appear to love the overall depth of the roster, it doesn’t make these choices any easier.