Buccaneers: Studs and duds from win over Eagles
By Ryan Doyle
The Studs (Pt. 1)
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
“It’s ‘Fitz’magic you know. Never believe it’s not so.”
Through two games, Ryan Fitzpatrick has racked up nine total touchdowns, 819 yards and thrown for one interception. Is it too early to talk MVP?
Against the Eagles, Fitzpatrick kept Tampa Bay in control. Whenever the defense faltered, Fitzpatrick picked up the slack.
During the Bucs’ final offensive drive, the Harvard product connected with Jackson on a crucial third down which could have sealed the game. Unfortunately, Jackson went out of bounds. On the next third down conversion, Fitzpatrick hit Mike Evans for a first down, but the clock stopped due to an odd rule following a penalty.
When the Buccaneers needed Fitzpatrick to seal the game, he’s stepped up in back-to-back games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LB Kwon Alexander
After Alvin Kamara embarrassed the Buccaneers last week, Kwon Alexander and the linebacking corps needed to bounce back.
Alexander stepped up against the Eagles. He totaled seven tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss. In the run game, he crunched Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood. Alexander shot through gaps aggressively to help limit the Eagles to 3.8 yards per carry.
Alexander and the rest of the linebackers had trouble keeping the ball out of Zach Ertz‘ hands, but they stood tall against Ertz in the red zone.
DT Gerald McCoy
When the preseason began, the Buccaneers were extremely deep at defensive tackle. Led by Gerald McCoy, the big bodies up the middle were going to be the catalyst to an improved defense.
Injuries have hit the unit hard. At one point, the Bucs had just McCoy and Jerel Worthy as the only available tackles. McCoy stepped up and took the reigns on Sunday.
He accumulated a sack, tackle for loss and two quarterbacks hits on the day. While his stat sheet won’t blow anyone away, McCoy’s matchup should have been called for a holding penalty on multiple occasions.
McCoy penetrated consistently and did the dirty work on the inside, which allowed another defensive end to thrive, but we will get to him later.