Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training camp battles to watch: Offense
By Brian DeFeo
Starting Right Guard Battle: Evan Smith vs Alex Cappa
The Buccaneers offensive line was their biggest question mark on the offensive side of the ball at the end of last season. It felt like Winston and Fitzpatrick were pressured every other snap and the running game was poor, ranking 27th in the league in yards.
Last year Tampa relied heavily on J.R. Sweezy and Kevin Pamphile at the guard spots. They won’t be returning in 2018 and it has opened up a spot along the interior of the offensive line.
Jensen is slated to start at center, while Ali Marpet back will move back to left guard. The hole at right guard remains open.
Currently, Evan Smith sits firmly as the front-runner for the starting job due to his status as an NFL veteran. Smith is more well known as a center, but he has the versatility to play any position along the inside of the line.
Alex Cappa is an interesting name to watch to replace Smith if he falters. Cappa, a third-round pick out of division two Humboldt State. Known as a violent blocker and a tackle in college he, like Marpet, were standouts at the senior bowl for their intensity.
General manager Jason Licht has an eye for those guys, being he was an offensive lineman himself. Cappa could become a starter at some point this year but the coaches may want to see him adjust to the much higher level of competition in the NFL.