The Pewter Plank
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5 reasons to be pessimistic about the Buccaneers in 2019

By Cory Kinnan

CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 28: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks on the sideline during the fourth quarter after being benched in the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Tampa Bay 37-34. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 28: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks on the sideline during the fourth quarter after being benched in the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Tampa Bay 37-34. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 16: Ndamukong Suh #93 talks with teammate Beau Allen #91 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before their preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium on August 16, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 16: Ndamukong Suh #93 talks with teammate Beau Allen #91 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before their preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium on August 16, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

No depth in the trenches

The Buccaneers have no depth and have suspect starters in the offensive trenches, but their defensive trenches have even less depth. The big news of the offseason was the swap of Gerald McCoy for Ndamukong Suh and the drama that led up to it. However, subtracting the third overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft for the second overall pick does not help the fact that there is nobody to surround him with.

While Vita Vea is expected to be relied upon heavily in 2019, there is still doubt that he will be ready to go week one against the San Francisco 49ers. Outside of Suh and Vea, the Buccaneers have Beau Allen and William Gholston as the only other players at the position with significant playing time in the NFL.

Yes, the same Gholston and Allen who struggled last year are set to be vital to the rotation of the Buccaneers’ defensive line. Gholston is slated to start opposite of Suh, while Allen is expected to start in Vea’s absence should he not be fit to play week one.

The Buccaneers also have seventh round pick Terry Beckner Jr., who is no lock to make the roster, fifth year player Rakeem Nunez-Roches, and Stevie Tu’ikolovatu on the roster as well. Combined these players have seen sparing playing time in three games in the NFL.

This is a massive concern for a team who needs to be able to stop the run going against Christian McCaffrey, Devonte Freeman, and Alvin Kamara twice per year. Expect moves to be made along the defensive front as other teams are cutting their roster down to 53 players.

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