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TAMPA, Fla. — Get in, get a good feel for things, get out.
That was the goal for Bucs starters in Friday night’s preseason finale, a 24-14 win over the Dolphins. Tampa’s offensive starters were done after seven snaps and a 70-yard touchdown drive, and the starting defense was done after just three snaps.
“We came out and tried to establish some continuity early on. That’s what we were really looking for,” coach Todd Bowles said. “Communication was crisp and we executed, so it was a good first drive.”
Scoring an opening-drive touchdown — even in the preseason — is significant, remembering that last year’s Bucs went the entire season and playoffs, a full 19 games, without a single opening-drive touchdown. Baker Mayfield, who hadn’t played in the first two preseason games, went 3-for-3 for 54 yards, half coming on a 28-yard leaping sideline grab by rookie Jalen McMillan to the 4-yard line.
“Extremely efficient, and obviously, the movement at the line of scrimmage was why,” Mayfield said after the game. “That’s crucial. Our guys were locked in, exactly what the coaches asked. I think we’re ready to go. Attention to detail, focused on the little things. He asked for us to be really physical and I think everybody was.”
Tampa Bay’s starting defense, which had also gotten most of the preseason off, followed with a three-and-out against Miami backups on the Dolphins’ first drive. A handful of starters — outside linebackers Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, linebacker Lavonte David, safety Jordan Whitehead — were held out, but all are expected back healthy for the season opener in 17 days at home against Washington.
“It’s good they were ready to play,” Bowles said. “They were ready to play longer, they wanted to play longer, but I’d seen enough. We’ve got two weeks to get ready for the first game, but all I wanted to see was continuity.”
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Publish date : 2024-08-24 12:57:56
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