Tonight’s preseason game against the Dolphins is about one thing above all else for the Buccaneers; developing the younger players.
The Buccaneers game tonight will not be decided by the final score or by player status. The Bucs can win this game despite these metrics if the players can grow.
Preseason records don’t matter. No one cares about preseason stats. This is the time to focus on fundamentals and growth, and the Bucs have a lot of players that are currently under the microscope.
Not that all of these players are in danger of losing their jobs right now, but these three Buccaneers need to have great games tonight:
Player #1: Kyle Trask
Was there anyone else who would make more sense here? This night is about Trask more than almost any other player on the field.
All the eyes in the NFL world will be on the young Buccaneers quarterback and where he is at with his development.
For the sake of Trask and the Bucs front office members that drafted him, a good performance tonight would go a very long way.
Player #2: Jaelon Darden
Darden came in the same class as Trask and is in a similar position. The Bucs don’t really know what they have in the second-year receiver just yet, and Darden needs to be great to live up to his pre-draft hype.
Darden needs this game due to his lackluster rookie season on offense and special teams.
Dominating the backups tonight will show the Bucs that they would be wise to look elsewhere as they trim fat in the receiver room.
Player #3: Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Of the players on this list, Vaughn might be in the most hot water. Rachaad White has the coaching staff and media very excited. A bad game here and a few weeks of slipping down the depth chart could have Vaughn on his way out of Tampa before the regular season begins.
Vaughn is going into his third season and has the talent to do well against anyone. He needs it to be tonight against backups to keep his career on track.
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