What We Learned From the Buccaneers' First Preseason Game

The Buccaneers' 24-16 preseason win over the Jets was never going to tell us much about Tampa Bay's established starters. Most of them didn't play. It did, though, give a much better look at the depth of this roster, and a few young players made the most of it. The biggest difference came when quarterback Jalen Daniels took over in the second half. Tampa Bay had just five first downs and 85 total yards before halftime, with its only touchdown coming on A.G. Garnes' 47-yard interception return. Daniels looked comfortable from the moment he entered. He wasn't perfect, with a few throws getting away from him, but he operated the offense calmly, showed he could make plays with his legs and didn't immediately bail from the pocket when things got uncomfortable. More importantly, Tampa Bay finally started sustaining drives. The Bucs went 12 plays and 80 yards for a touchdown on Daniels' first possession, then later put together a 16-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that ended with Daniels running it in himself. For a young quarterback trying to prove he can run an NFL offense, that was probably the most encouraging part of his night. Rookie receiver Ted Hurst also showed why his combination of size and movement skills is intriguing. At 6-foot-4, Hurst doesn't move like a typical big-bodied receiver. His routes looked clean, he created opportunities for himself and finished with two catches for 19 yards on six targets. He also converted a third-and-5 with a 12-yard reception. His stat line wasn't spectacular, but the traits were easy to see. Defensively, the encouraging part was the depth up front. Zach Pyburn finished with two sacks, while Elijah Roberts added another from the interior. Tampa Bay finished with four sacks overall and intercepted two passes. That shouldn't be confused with what the starting pass rush will look like, but getting consistent pressure from players fighting for roles deeper on the roster is exactly what you want to see in August. Josiah Trotter may have been even more interesting than the box score suggests. He finished with only two combined tackles, but his impact went beyond tackles. Trotter wore the first green dot, was constantly identifying movement before the snap, and showed no hesitation attacking downhill or taking on blockers. That kind of command from a young linebacker is something worth watching as the preseason continues. The Jets moved the ball at times, but Tampa Bay repeatedly kept those drives from becoming touchdowns. After New York's first-quarter touchdown, its next meaningful possessions ended with two interceptions, three punts, two field goals and a turnover on downs. There is only so much anyone should take from one preseason game, especially with so many starters watching from the sideline. But Daniels showing command, Trotter looking comfortable running the defense and Tampa Bay's young pass rushers creating problems are all developments worth carrying into the second preseason game. This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: What We Learned From the Buccaneers' First Preseason Game