The Buccaneers are adding some new names to the list of players tearing up training camp.
Antonio Brown is having a great training camp for the Buccaneers? Big surprise. Tom Brady looks calm and relaxed in the pocket? Yeah, again, not really surprised.
The Bucs are one of the best teams in the NFL with a mountain of talent amongst their starters, but the real strength in Tampa comes from their depth.
The ability for backups and depth players to step into prominent roles during high-pressure situations gave the Buccaneers plenty of freedom to get creative down the stretch last season, and Tampa will need their under-the-radar players to continue improving if this team wants to maintain its success.
The following players may not be the talk of the town on a daily basis, but they are doing well enough in training camp to make a name for themselves.
Player #1
The Buccaneers may have a new starter
Some people appear to operate under the assumption that the Bucs already have their starting corners established. They don’t. Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean may join Carlton Davis as the main starters as they did last season, but as of now, Ross Cockrell looks like he may be in the mix as much as anyone.
Cockrell has been dominant and shown off an impressive level of versatility. Whether he is lined up at safety or corner, it’s hard to go a practice without seeing an amazing play from one of the best backups for the Bucs last season.
It will likely be a few weeks before the Buccaneer defense plays enough snaps together during preseason games to get a good idea of where the depth chart falls, but if Ross Cockrell keeps up his current pace, he will be a safe bet to round out the defensive starters.