4 impressive moments from Bucs’ Week 1 preseason game

Aug 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) carries the ball during the first quarter in a preseason NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve already established that Saturday’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings wasn’t a great showing by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Still, the game wasn’t all bad. There were some positive moments worth looking at and building on.

For every couple of instances where Jameis Winston looked like a rookie, he also exhibited flashes of the player who warranted comparisons to some of the league’s best quarterbacks in the league today. After showing signs of a return to his rookie form in OTAs and mini-camp, Doug Martin proved to be as advertised, running with quickness and finishing his runs strong.

Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson have already cemented themselves as the team’s No. 1 and 2 receivers, but everything after that was up for grabs. Louis Murphy appeared to have some good chemistry with Winston, who found his potential No. 3 wideout on a clean slant route on one play and near the sideline after scrambling out the pocket to his right.

The defensive line wasn’t able to apply much pressure on any of the Vikings’ three quarterbacks, but they did force three turnovers. These are small victories, but victories nonetheless.

Now, it is up to the Buccaneers to get back to the drawing board, prepare for their home opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, look for ways to improve on both sides of the ball and build off of the successes they did have two days ago. Contrary to popular belief, there were some and we’ll put them on display in 4 impressive moments from Bucs’ Week 1 preseason game.