Here are three primary observations from the Steelers’ 30-28 preseason win of the Buccaneers on Friday evening.
Jameis Winston trusts his new passing game
For all the talk about Bruce Arians’ “No risk-it, no biscuit” philosophy, Arians has always been very adept at providing easy first- and second-read openings for his quarterbacks. It’s not just about hurling the ball at four vertical receivers and hoping things work out. Arians does this with everything from “levels” concepts with three receivers to the quarterback’s front side and a backside outlet receiver, to simple screen combos with shorter front-side angular routes. It’s a natural advantage for Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston, who has had issues with holding onto the ball too long, looking for the big play.
But on his first drive under Arians and new offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, Winston was far more willing to release to the open receiver and let the scheme take care of itself. Showing confidence in Arians’ concepts and Leftwich’s tutelage, he was more inclined to hit the open receiver with a quick timing throw off his back foot than he was to run around and make things happen out of randomness.
On his lone drive in this game, Winston completed five of six passes for 40 yards, and a 9-yard touchdown to receiver Chris Godwin off a simple screen.
‘Two Devins’ showed future of linebacker position
At 5-foot-11 and 234 pounds, Michigan linebacker Devin Bush fits the modern positional paradigm — teams are playing with five or more defensive backs on the field more than 70% of the time, and the need for lighter, faster ‘backers who can do everything from filling run fits to covering tight ends and slot receivers all over the field has never been more obvious. Pittsburgh traded up to the 10th overall pick to get Bush, who will be one of the key cogs in a defense in need of improvement on the back end.
Similarly, the Buccaneers selected LSU linebacker Devin White with the fifth overall pick to patrol a defense that hasn’t been able to handle anybody’s passing game, and at 6-0 and 237 pounds, White resembles a safety in size and responsibility more than he does an old-school head-cracker.
Both Devins showed glimpses of how important they’ll be to their teams.
Bush was quick from side to side, helping to snuff out short and intermediate passes. But he was also overwhelmed at times by Tampa Bay’s starting offensive line, missing gaps and getting pushed back from the line of scrimmage. Bush needs gaps to flow to the ball as a blitzer and tackler, and one assumes he’ll have a better chance to do that when he’s got Pittsburgh’s stellar starting defensive line in front of him.
Bush still amassed seven solo tackles and 10 total tackles in the first half alone. In coverage, Bush nearly came away with an interception of a Blaine Gabbert pass on Gabbert’s first drive, and Bush is well known as a fluid asset in coverage. His ability to patrol the slant/flat areas gives the Steelers a defensive advantage they haven’t had since Ryan Shazier was on the field.
White, as he did at LSU, proved perfectly adept at dropping into coverage as well, and not just on simple short stuff — he has the ability to credibly cover seam and post routes. White wasn’t as involved as Bush was as a tackler, but his athleticism and directional sense were very clear, and two of the best young linebackers in the game should only improve as they’re asked to take on more responsibility.
Vernon Hargreaves III is still a hit-and-miss player
On Pittsburgh’s second offensive play, backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs hit speed receiver James Washington for a 43-yard gain, beating cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III downfield.
It was not a good look for the former first-round pick, who missed most of the 2018 season with a torn labrum. Though it was negated by offsetting penalties, Hargreaves’ interception of another Dobbs deep ball in the second quarter provided a little encouragement. Hargreaves squared up well against receiver Tevin Jones on the boundary and established position for the pick. If the Bucs are to do anything on defense, especially against the pass — where this team has been awful of late — Hargreaves will have to meet his athletic potential on a more consistent basis.
In general, a Buccaneers pass defense that allowed an opponent passer rating of 110.9 in 2018 — the second-worst in NFL history behind the 2015 Saints’ 116.2 — looked just as vulnerable as it did last season. New defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has his work cut out for him. Hargreaves wasn’t the only offender on this night, but improvement has to start somewhere.
