3 Buccaneers starter standouts in preseason opener

The pass rushers

With the first team, Carl Nassib did not disappoint off the edge for a Buccaneers’ defense that is lacking at the outside linebacker position. Nassib finished with one sack off of a disguised blitz by Todd Bowles, and another tackle for loss.

Additionally, Noah Spence played well despite not recording a sack off of the edge. Spence provided pressures off the edge for the pewter and red and opened up opportunities for his teammates to play well. The Buccaneers will need both Spence and Nassib to step up until Jason Pierre-Paul returns from his neck injury.

Listed atop the depth chart in the Buccaneers’ first depth chart, Nassib and Spence lived up to that hype for Tampa Bay. Bowles seems to have his defense flying around the field, at least the first team. Beyond that the Buccaneers’ defense failed to provide much of a pass rush, showing a last of depth along their defensive front five.

With Nassib and Spence playing well, the Buccaneers need a hope and a prayer that they also stay healthy as Pierre-Paul, and fourth round pick Anthony Nelson are not healthy. A promising first start for the young tandem off the edge for Bowles and the Buccaneers’ defense.