Questions About Projected Starting Bucs Lineups
May 4th, 2025
Question mark?
Since underwear football will get underway this month, BSPN decided to project pre-underwear football starting lineups for the Bucs.
No surprises here for Joe, a couple of mild, eyebrow-raisers, though.
On offense, the only starter with a question mark on BSPN’s depth chart is a wide receiver. The four-letter projects Chris Godwin as the starter but has a scarlet-letter “Q” next to his name (for question mark).
Of course, the Bucs aren’t sure if Godwin, coming off an ugly dislocated ankle and surgery, will be ready to play Week 1. So that question mark is legitimate.
On defense, Jamel Dean has a question mark/letter next to his name. Dean has had strong training camps and is usually healthy after come opening day. As of today, Joe cannot see Dean losing his starting gig in September if he is healthy, which Joe knows will anger some readers.
Let Joe put it this way: If rookie corner Benjamin Morrison starts over Dean, that is a major, major positive for the Bucs and that’s not meant to slap Dean in the face.
If Morrison, coming off his second hip surgery, who the Bucs plan to keep off the practice fields in rookie minicamp and perhaps much longer, is able to beat out Dean, then the Bucs may have just drafted a top-shelf, lockdown corner.
One interesting nugget is BSPN has Anthony Walker as a starting inside linebacker next to Lavonte David. If Walker is starting over SirVocea Dennis, that is a tell to Joe that there is something wrong with Dennis (again).
The way the Bucs talked up their returning inside linebackers on draft weekend told Joe they expect Dennis ready to bounce back from shoulder surgery and be a starter. That would also explain why Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht didn’t add an inside linebacker in the draft.
Also, it appears the practice squad warriors, José Ramirez and Markees Watts, may be in danger. That’s obvious, and ESPN listed them as third- and fourth-string edge rushers, respectively.
For them, it’s a nice trick going from giving Tristan Wirfs fits in closed practices yet somehow being unable to get on the field on Sundays.
May 4th, 2025 at 8:15 am
Too many injury question marks. 🙁
May 4th, 2025 at 8:27 am
IF something remains wrong with SVD, the WR selection in round one and the lack of selection of an ILB will look questionable.
May 4th, 2025 at 8:48 am
WR was the Bucs biggest need. Godwin may never play again.
May 4th, 2025 at 8:58 am
Forget Dean’s health. If Morrison is healthy enough to compete for the starting outside corner job, I think he’ll win it, and be opening day starter. Morrison was drafted to replace Dean, not back him up. I think we’ll see three new starters come opening day. Parrish at Nickel, Morrison one outside corner, and Ty Smith at safety.
May 4th, 2025 at 9:19 am
That’s 4 with Anthony. 5 with Reddick.
May 4th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Hodad, make that potentially 4 as Hassan Reddick WILL Start
May 4th, 2025 at 9:26 am
Jeff, you’re not even a quality troll.
May 4th, 2025 at 9:31 am
it also lists tykee as a nickle and wisdom as the starting strong safety… lol… I think this list sort of generically places players based on the roster and their positions.
speaking of interesting tidbits: the bucs official depth chart does already list tykee as the starting strong safety.
May 4th, 2025 at 9:37 am
With the start of every new season, most teams are selling hope. Need to see a lot out of these new and healthier players. Bucs made good decisions to move on from JTS, Whitehead, and KJ Britt. Very unsure about defensive draft picks but think Licht track record is good. As I have said, all we need this year from pass defense is mediocrity. That’s a big step up from putrid which has been the standard the last couple of years.
May 4th, 2025 at 9:52 am
In underwear football Tez Johnson is gonna look like a stud 1st round talent.
May 4th, 2025 at 9:55 am
Gipper Says:
Bucs made good decisions to move on from JTS, Whitehead, and KJ Britt.
——————————————————————————————-
I was excited when Whitehead was signed to come back to Tampa (as was his position coach).
It was really disappointing to see the way he played last season!
May 4th, 2025 at 9:57 am
Dean if healthy ain’t getting beat out by a rookie. I know a lot of Tampa fans don’t like him but he’s pretty darn good when healthy. Does he get beat some? Yes but in a passing league all DB’s get beat at times. With all the new rules to help the offense out, shutdown CB’s are a thing of the past.
May 4th, 2025 at 10:00 am
Want to see Dean act like a guy with his job on the line. Tie is going to the rookie.
May 4th, 2025 at 10:12 am
Isn’t Braswell a 3rd string edge rusher?
May 4th, 2025 at 10:23 am
Bold prediction!
Deion Jones will win the starting ILB job!
Did we sign any UFA at ILB?
May 4th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Okay guys this is ridiculous. Tykee Smith is our SS. They said theyre moving him there full time. He wants to play there. And we have absolutely no one in that position. It’s a fact at this point. Every podcast I hear you guys say that it’s not happening is ridiculous, just look at the facts.
May 4th, 2025 at 10:55 am
Dean is soft.
May 4th, 2025 at 10:56 am
historically, imo, ourlads.com is the most reliable depth chart and in most informative. had to use it at work almost every day for the past 15 years, and it’s had the fewest mistakes/late updates. they do college well too
May 4th, 2025 at 10:56 am
At least we have Rashad Wisdom starting at Strong Safety.
Shouldn’t that be a pretty big tell in how much thought went into this depth chart.
May 4th, 2025 at 10:58 am
Not going to get excited over BSPN showing Dennis not starting. They regularly have Atlanta winning the Division instead of us. Hell we get projected for like 7 wins all the time from the “experts” at BSpn…
May 4th, 2025 at 11:09 am
@Teacherman – UDFA LB John Bullock, Nebraska
@ Doug RR Martin – I recall the Bucs saying that they would consider Tykee Smith for Safety. I doubt that it is set in stone. IIRC, Tykee Smith had the most combined Forced Fumbles and Interceptions; but, he also had the most Receiving Touchdowns Allowed. Given the state of the Bucs secondary last year, he may have been gigged for RTA’s he didn’t deserve just because he was in the neighborhood. But, surely there will be competition in training camp. IIRC, 3rd round pick CB has experience at Safety.
May 4th, 2025 at 11:13 am
hmmmm panthers 10-1 odds to win division. if they can block for bryce they could take a big step on offense.
May 4th, 2025 at 11:14 am
Morrison could’ve been a top ten pick certainly the second DB drafted, if not for having surgery last season. If he’s now healthy, beat out Dean.
May 4th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
The only real question mark starting omn offense is Chris Godwin, and that’s only because we’ll want him at 100% to start the season (may take him several weeks to get there before starting full-time).
On defense, we’ll have 4 new starters, BUT … all of those will have extensive experience in their new starting positions.
o Haason Reddick will start at 1 OLB, and Ya Ya Diaby will start at the other. But my bet is that BOTH will see a lot of rotation in each & every game. I doubt that any of our OLBs will get more than 65%-70% def snaps in any game. Todd will play a lot more situational football this year.
o LVD & Anthony Walker will start at ILB. Walker’s not flashy, but he’s solid (6’1″ & 235 lbs, with over 4,000 def snaps at MLB for Indy, Cleveland & Miami. Not big on sacks (5.5 total), but fairly good in pass coverage over the years (74.9% Pass Completions Allowed) and 8.1% Missed Tackles. Gut feel is that his relationship on-the-field with LVD will be just as strong as his relationship with him off-the-field.
o Tykee Smith will be our new starting Safety to go with Antoine Winfield. Got a hunch though that both Merriweather & Izien will see a lot of time back at Safety this year. Winfield has averaged only 13 games per year over the last 4 seasons, and Tykee Smith only got 13 games last year.
o Christian Izien will start at Nickel, but Parrish will see lots of time in rotation I’m sure. Still convinced that Bowles will play a LOT more situational substitutions this season.
So me thinks those will be the 4 new starters: (1) Reddick at OLB; (2) Walker at MLB; (3) Tykee Smith at Safety; and (4) Izien at Nickel. Todd Bowles will lean heavy on the veterans to start games this year, but will do a lot of substituting, to include rookies.
May 4th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
I would tell Dean that camp his only job is to try to intercept passes…….. His ball skills are so entirely lacking. He’s like the Gerald McCoy quarterbacks that think he’s one if he gets within a yard of the ball pass, but he could’ve taken one more step at the sack or the interception…….. he is unacceptably frustrating!!
May 4th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
I think Dean might get traded near the trade deadline if these rookies show promise. For now, he’s good enough in the system to hang on to, same as White on the offensive side. I don’t see us resigning either after this year.
May 4th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Don’t see Todd Bowles starting 2 rookie DB’s IMO. That’s a tall task. I see it more for depth and injury insurance while grooming for the future replacement of Dean. I’ve been in the camp of us needing more athletes at the CB position, i.e. CJ Mcculum. We may have found one if not two. However, to start both out of the gate, is a far cry.
May 4th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
IF Morrison, Dennis, Dean, Godwin, and AWJ are healthy, we HOPE they can win the starting role in their respective position (exception, Dean).
The HOPE is, IF this happens, JL won’t have egg on his face. HOPE is a “dirty” word in Joe’s venacular, while “IF” is just a simply little conjunction to bypass the implied HOPE within these scenarios reported on by JBF. Me thinks “IF” and “HOPE” go hand in hand. Whenever I read “IF,” I know “HOPE” is part of the equation
May 4th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
ESPN depth charts are often wrong when it’s not cut and dry. Some intern compiles them, I think. They likely know nothing about Dennis but saw a veteran free agency signing with a familiar name and went with that. The poor kid has 32 teams to do in probably a couple hours.
If Morrison is ready and Parrish isn’t, maybe they’ll consider Zion at safety. I thought he played well there when given a chance. He hits! As for receiver, there are three often, if not usually, and it will be interesting to see Egbuka and MacMillan fight it out, once Godwin is good to go. Four good ones!
May 4th, 2025 at 1:56 pm
Dean has cover skills, is a good guy, after that it’s downhill. He’s perhaps the weakest hitter in the secondary…he plays like Neon Deon without the same cover skills to permit somebody to play flag football in the secondary. And there’s his time in the training room and not on the field and unluckily frequently at crunch time!
He’s certainly got enough talent to make him worthy of keeping…at the right price. He’s due 13 MILLION this season and 13.5 next year. That’s money that could be better spent elsewhere.
May 4th, 2025 at 2:09 pm
The safeties on that depth chart are obviously messed up. Also David Walker will not be a DE. I wouldn’t be shocked if an undrafted Center makes the final 53 either. Not much takeaway from espn and their depth chart. Our lads is usually a better resource for depth charts
May 4th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
“BSPN” is stupid… Idiots …..don’t know what they’re talking about about.
Now here’s another article discussing their take on the Bucs for your viewing (and discussing) pleasure. 🤷🏼
May 4th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
They’re just fishing for little changes to make to make it interesting. Considering Morrison’s health Dean will probably start till be breaks a nail or runs out of Midol. Game 2 or 3. It’s inevitable Dean will miss time. Actually, if we can keep Dean in there till mid October that should help ease the new kid in smoothly. What I’m thinking Morrison can bring is interceptions. I think Dean covers ok, but unless you literally cram the ball up his booty he will certainly drop it.
May 4th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
Joe, those are just injury question marks, fantasy football sites have the same Qs by people like Tyreek Hill. And just like Ourlads depth charts, they haven’t gotten the memo that Tykee’s been moved to SS.
May 4th, 2025 at 3:40 pm
Just shows BSPN is clueless. Walker is not close to having an ILB skill set.
May 4th, 2025 at 5:18 pm
I think y’all are confusing your Walkers. Anthony Walker is David’s hand picked pal at ILB. David Walker is the “steal” of our draft at OLB
May 4th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
@Colin in Canada, good point. Without Hainsey, we’re gonna need a backup at center
May 4th, 2025 at 5:45 pm
dean is seemingly safe for this season, but next season his roster spot is in complete jeopardy…
but if morrison comes on with freight train steam, dean could potentially become trade deadline bait…
it’ll be interesting to see how the corner room seats align over the season…
but i’m guessing dean is good for the season, but probably won’t be on the roster come 2026…
you never really know tho…what if dean has 8 ints, stays healthy all year, and goes to the pro-bowl…i wouldn’t bet on it, but you just never know when that career season is about to happen
May 4th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
I hate it when we have more than one player with the same name. One year I think we had 3 Smiths and the DC was Smith too. God, he stunk. Wasn’t his name Mike Smith?
May 4th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
I wouldn’t mind keeping Dean if he would settle for a smaller salary. He can’t catch. He can’t stay on the field. But he would be an excellent #3 or 4. What do you think? $6 mil?
May 4th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
Seems to me that the suits at One Buc Place are about as delusional as some of the fanboy sycophants on these message boards.
Trust us, everything is fine. We’re going to the Superbowl.
Yep, no need to replace any starters that played so poorly on the defensive side of the ball.
Just run out the same roster with injured and small backups.
That’ll scare the bejeses out of our opponents.
Never mind the soft as butter pass defense scheme of Bowles.
May 4th, 2025 at 7:18 pm
@Toddbowles#1 says:
And if you won’t agree then I’ll just make up a new name and agree with myself – again…. lmao.
May 4th, 2025 at 8:41 pm
After the outstanding play of the offense last season it would not surprise if that unit took a step back this year. I wonder if it might be more than just a step back. If CTB holds true to form and turns in another inexcusable showing. The joys of the off-season could end with a thud. That is certainly not an impossibility.. None of want to see that. But after some of what we have seen the last couple of seasons lets not pretend that it is some kind of far fetched notion,
May 4th, 2025 at 8:52 pm
If Dean is the starter, he’ll be hurt in the second game. He’s way too fragile and should be on the Bears roster now.
May 4th, 2025 at 10:01 pm
ESPN doesn’t get much right especially if it’s not a major market team
May 5th, 2025 at 3:18 am
Soft and can’t catch a cold, bye Felicia