Buccaneers get game-like test in Jacksonville with starters likely done for preseason
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —
We’re getting closer and closer to kickoff. The NFL regular season begins in just over two weeks, but for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there is still work to be done.
WESH 2 Sports Anchor Kristen Lago was with the Buccaneers in Jacksonville as they kicked off the first of two joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bucs will close out the preseason Friday night in Duval County, but these two joint practices could hold even more value for Tampa Bay’s starters.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said he’s leaning toward sitting his starters Friday, making the joint practices a final dress rehearsal of sorts before Week 1. Facing another team provides an opportunity to simulate the physicality, intensity and emotions of a live game environment — and learn how to settle into them.
“I thought that we had some good work right out there. Thought we played more with emotion than we did fundamentals, so we’ve got to clean that up, ’cause the guys haven’t played in a while. But I thought it was very good work,” Bowles said.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin agreed there were some ups and downs throughout the two-hour session.
“We started the practice pretty good; I thought we finished it pretty good. But we had a bit of a lull in the middle,” Godwin said.
He added that against a talented team like Jacksonville, some back and forth is to be expected.
“We’ve got to bring it,” Godwin said.
There was certainly no shortage of intensity Tuesday, with plenty of chirping and a couple of skirmishes between the Bucs defense and Jaguars offense.
There were familiar faces on the other sideline, too. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spent one season as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator, helping lead one of the NFL’s top offenses before taking the Jacksonville job. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said he has fond memories of his time with Coen and still considers his former offensive coordinator a close friend.
On Tuesday, however, Coen’s new team provided a challenge for his former one — exactly the kind of test Tampa Bay was looking for before the regular season begins.
The Bucs and Jaguars will get one more opportunity to work against each other Wednesday before closing out the preseason Friday night in Jacksonville.