CBS Sports: Who Are Potential Breakout Bucs?

Instead, the backfield breakout starts with Rachaad White, as he enters his second season. Rick Spielman offered his take on how the White can star and bring life to the offense.

“Tampa’s offense last year was last in rushing, and they were last in big plays throwing down the field plus 20 yards, if you want to call those big plays in any capacity, passing or running,” Spielman said. “If they’re able to establish the running game – one of the breakout players that I liked coming out of college was Rachaad White.

“If he’s able to do and replicate what he did against Seattle when he had his opportunity – last year, he was behind Fournette, so he never really got to be the lead dog. If he’s the way they were using him [last year], not only running the ball but catching the ball out of the backfield, he looks like he is going to be one of those breakout players in his second year as well.”

Spielman mentioned Rachaad White’s first 100-yard rushing game against the Seahawks in Munich, Germany, as something that could become a regular occurrence in a more run-focused offense. Still, his pass-catching ability is also an area that was sneaky-productive for him.

It is not often that starting NFL running backs have 50 receptions in a season. But for a rookie who played second fiddle to Leonard Fournette, it is that much more of an accomplishment. Having that dual-threat ability will keep him on the field and makes him more than capable of making big plays.

If his play can match his positive personality and high character this season, he will inspire a younger generation of Bucs fans even more.

Tristan Wirfs Appears To Be “Natural LT” For Bucs

Switching over to the offensive line, it is a unit that has undergone some construction this offseason. The Bucs have drawn up a blueprint that calls for players to hold down new positions, and if done right, it could lead to a solid trench being built upfront. Rick Spielman concurred.

“If they could stay healthy, [the Bucs] were pretty excited about the offensive line,” Spielman added. “[Tristan] Wirfs looked like a natural left tackle, even though he’s been a Pro Bowl, numerous Pro Bowl player on the right side. A lot of people even looked at him as a left tackle [entering the NFL] because… [they] saw the athletic ability to play left tackle. I think that’ll be a smooth, easy transition for him.” 

There’s no question that Wirfs has the ability to make such a transition, but there are understandable question marks for some younger, more inexperienced players such as Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke, who at the moment project to be the team’s right guard and right tackle.

“Goedeke struggled at guard last year,” Spielman said. “I think that tackle will be better; that’s what he played in college. Hopefully, he will be able to play better, but they’re excited about his progress in Year 2.

“Mauch, I think the biggest concern is – is he going to be able to anchor versus the power rush in line? There’s no question about the athleticism and the demeanor to finish blocks.”

There is reason to be optimistic about both of them, as each has transferrable qualities moving around the offensive line. For Goedeke, what he lacks in arm length he makes up for in strength, and playing back at right tackle will surely make him more comfortable. For Mauch, throughout the draft process, he quickly became a favorite of evaluators and fanbases alike, and not just for his hockey player appearance and personality.

He played all across the line at North Dakota State, and while he will need to add to his leaner frame, no one can question his athleticism and the chip on his shoulder he plays with until the whistle.

Goedeke and Mauch will complement each other well on the right side, but the true anchor of the line will be up the middle in Ryan Jensen. He is the biggest variable for the offensive line, and if he remains healthy, he will bring toughness and experience to a room that missed his presence for most of last season.”

“The biggest one who was out there practicing – who last year when we were at training camp when I was there with Pete [Prisco], that’s the day that Jensen went down with that significant knee injury that ended his season,” Spielman said. “He tried to come back in the playoff game, but he was very limited in practice. If that group can stay healthy, I think it’s going to be good enough to function.”

An offensive line of Wirfs-Feiler-Jensen-Mauch-Goedeke has a lower floor but a higher ceiling compared to most around the NFL. If each player lives up to their ability and plays to their strengths, it is one position group that can breakout and make life for the offense easier.

Could Chris Izien Start On Bucs’ Defense?

In a safety room that has two starters in Antoine Winfield Jr. and Ryan Neal, there is not a lot of proven depth behind them. That opens the door for someone, such as undrafted rookie Chris Izien, to carve out a role on head coach Todd Bowles’ defense.

It is a tall task to expect him to become a starter, but he has reminded Winfield Jr. of himself and has received guidance from Neal. While training camp and preseason will truly show his NFL readiness, all signs for him so far are trending upward.

“They’ve been working with [Izien], at least the day I was there. Now, who knows? There’s a long way to go before the opening game, but they were working him a lot, rotating him in there with the first defense at the nickel position. 

“Everything that you’ve seen on tape – the thing that stuck out the most on tape is his physical ability and his aggressiveness. Loves to play the game. They were in a red zone drill, and he had a picked interception in the red zone drill. Again, we’re just talking about in shorts right now and running around. We got a long way to go yet, but he was one of the guys that they mentioned, and the day we were down there stuck out, and he may end up potentially being their starting nickel before it’s said and done.”

The biggest knock on Izien is his size, as he stands at just 5-foot-8. That is not to say he cannot make a big impact, as Winfield is 5-foot-9 and another star safety, Budda Baker, is 5-foot-10. Both players are guys Izien mentioned as being guys he has modeled his game after.

Per Joe Cammarota of Steelers Depot, back at the Shrine Bowl back in February, Izien said that, “If I was [to] named two safety’s [it would] probably be Budda Baker one, and then, Antoine Winfield Jr.”

The Bucs would surely take that level of production out of Izien, and he will have every chance to breakout and make a name for himself as well.