We are finally in week one of the NFL regular season as the Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The first game of the season is filled with storylines, including new coordinators for both teams in Brian Flores and Dave Canales.
Buy Vikings TicketsAs we look at the first regular season game, seeing how each team comes out of the gate is going to set the tone for the rest of the year.
To get a better sense of what who the Buccaneers are, we sat down with Bucs Wire’s managing editor River Wells and he answered some questions about the state of the team.
What is the offense going to look like with Baker Mayfield?
It will certainly be interesting to see how he takes command of the unit, but it would be very difficult to be worse than last year’s Tampa Bay offense. New offensive coordinator Dave Canales’s scheme lends well to Mayfield’s mobility, so he could benefit from the new scheme and the weapons the Bucs have on offense. It’s a little early to see just how well he’ll do, but I would anticipate him playing much better than he did during his poor stint with the Carolina Panthers, if nothing else.
Is the Mike Evans contract situation an issue?
It won’t be against the Vikings, at least. Evans is still practicing and has said he won’t hold out, so he’ll be on the field against Minnesota — long term, however, remains to be seen. Evans and his agent have said that Saturday will be his deadline to draw up a new contract, and if a deal between him and the Bucs doesn’t get done, an Evans trade may be likely before the 2023 deadline to get some return for him. He wants to stay in Tampa Bay, however, so there’s a decent possibility the two sides work something out.
How is the transition to left tackle going for Tristan Wirfs?
Depends on who you ask. The coaches have all praised his ability to make the switch, but Wirfs himself has spoken of how difficult it has been for him. He’s been seeing a sports psychologist over it, so it’s definitely something he’s grappling with — nonetheless, he’s an immensely talented lineman, so it’s very possible that talent translates well to the other side of the line in 2023.
Is Joe Tryon-Shoyinka ready to take a step forward?
That’s a tough question, and it remains to be seen. There’s certainly been a lot of pressure on him, as the Bucs drafted two edge rushers in the 2023 draft and are keeping six total on the roster. Tryon-Shoyinka’s struggles have mainly been his difficulty in finishing pass-rush reps and setting the edge in the run game, and if he isn’t able to improve on those soon, guys like Anthony Nelson (who had more sacks than Tryon-Shoyinka did last year) and Yaya Diaby will be perfectly content in taking his place.
Is the running back position in flux or is there certainty?
I would definitely say there’s certainty here. Rachaad White is set to be the team’s leading back and has showcased a lot of promise, and undrafted free agent Sean Tucker is the team’s RB2 after a very strong preseason. The team also has RB Chase Edmonds to be third-down/receiving back, so I think that running back room is pretty strong and is definitely certain heading into 2023.
