Three Players To Watch: Tampa Bay Buccaneers At New England Patriots

Jul 29, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Dekoda Watson (56) and defensive end Da

After last week’s three to watch produced two flops and average grade, we’re hoping to see more from this week’s highlighted players. The second preseason game usually gives the starters a chance to start getting into a rhythm, but it also offers second stringers a chance to stake a claim at a starting spot, and third stringers the another opportunity to prove why they should be kept on as part of the final 53. With that begin said, we look at the three players you should keep your eyes on Friday night when the Bucs take on Tom Brady‘s Patriots.

Da’Quan Bowers – DE

Bowers has been challenged by the Tampa Bay coaching staff. They want to see more toughness, more fight, and most importantly more results. Bowers was the lone starter left out on the field in the second quarter of the Baltimore game, and really never showed anything that would make his coaches confident in him. I don’t think anyone’s ready to give up on Da’Quan, so they will likely let him go for an extended period of time in Foxboro as well. He needs to show up this week. We need to see his name in the box score. Get me a sack, a TFL, or a batted pass. Disrupt some running plays.

Hit Tom Brady in the knee again.

Oh wait, that was Clayborn. But in all honesty, he needs to make an impact. Everyone wants to see the guy scouts fell in love with while he played at Clemson, fans are ready, but still waiting to fall in love with him in Tampa Bay.

Johnthan Banks – CB

The joint practices held with the Patriots may prove in the future to be the learning experience that Banks needed, but in the present, he took  a beating on Twitter during the first practice in New England. I can’t believe how many times I read how Brady was cutting Banks up making him look basically useless on the field. But that was all in practice, Banks has a chance here to come out and prove that anyone can have a rough day, especially against Tom Brady, and that when the lights turn on and it’s game time, that he can step up and make plays. His debut was solid, now he’s been tested and challenged, let’s see how he responds tomorrow night.

Kevin Ogletree – WR

Ogletree quickly developed into Mike Glennon’s favorite target in the first preseason game with the Ravens. Kevin caught six passes for 65 yards and seemed to be the targeted receiver on almost every play for a stretch in the third quarter. Time to go out and do it again. I expect Ogletree to be the possession receiver that essentially serves as an outlet for Freeman when Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams are covered. He’s been on a nice streak through one game and much of training camp, I want to see it consistently. He should see a few more plays with Josh Freeman on the field, and hopefully the chemistry he had with Glennon can cross over to the guy who he’ll actually be getting targets from.