Buccaneers Week 1 Mailbag: Contract Concerns, Devin White, Winning NFC South

Writer and NFL Draft Analyst, Collin Haalboom, answers a number of questions following the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 20-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.

Welcome to our first edition of the BucsGameday mailbag! 

Each week throughout the NFL season, we'll offer our readers the opportunity to submit any questions they may have about their favorite team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In turn, we'll select a collection of the best questions we receive, and answer to the best of our ability. 

So without further ado, and in honor of Tom Brady, LFG! 

Question 1: Submitted by Bucco Tha Champ | @buccobruce83

What are your thoughts of a much improved Special Teams performance, a long suffering area of the game for Bucs fans was excellent Sunday. 

I’m glad you brought this up. There’s no question that the Bucs’ special teams units showed out in week 1 vs. Minnesota. Zyon McCollum, Jake Camarda, Deven Thompkins, and Chase McLaughlin are just some of the players who deserve credit for their contributions to this phase of the game. I can’t guarantee that all facets of Tampa Bay’s special teams units will be improved this season – there are a lot of variables involved on a week-to-week basis – but it’s definitely something that has plagued the Buccaneers historically, as you mentioned.

READ MORE: Former Buccaneers' Wide Receiver Bet Over $100,000 for Vikings to Beat Tampa Bay

The good news is that each of those players mentioned above are entering just their second season with the Bucs, with the exception of McLaughlin, who’s in his first. So hopefully for the Bucs, they’ve found themselves some key special teamers moving forward, and week 1 wasn’t just a mirage, but a sign of things to come.

Question 2: Submitted by Cody Haynes | @codyh33

What are your thoughts on Devin White's play week 1? Had an encouraging game.

He sure did! I think Devin White’s performance on Sunday speaks for itself. He was tremendous. From the very start of the game, he was all over the field, using his speed to his advantage while at the same time, efficiently defending both the run and the pass. The key for Devin White is containing his own athleticism. There are times when he can utilize his elite speed/power combination, but he also needs to stay under control and play disciplined football within Todd Bowles’ scheme. There’s no question he did that on Sunday, and it had a significant impact on the outcome of the game. 

Not only did White lead the Bucs in tackles by a healthy margin (he had 12), but he also registered the highest PFF grade of any defensive player on the team (90.7). Devin White was my pick for MVP in the team’s Week 1 victory over Minnesota.

Question 3: Submitted by Anthony Caban | @antmc0123

Given how all the games went yesterday how do you feel about us against the division. Do you think we have a chance to win this division with inconsistency on offense?

I think yesterday serves as a strong reminder that the 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers absolutely have a chance to win the NFC South. You mention inconsistency on offense, but I think that same concern applies to every team in the division. Desmond Ridder is the only starting quarterback in the NFC South who is a returning player, and he hasn’t exactly looked the part of a franchise guy. 

The biggest concern for the Buccaneers, in my eyes, is their lack of depth. If they can avoid getting bit by the injury bug, their defense has a chance to be very good. On the other side of the ball, if Baker Mayfield continues to improve within Dave Canales’ offense, and can limit his turnovers like he did in week 1, there’s no question that he has the horses needed to lead this team to the postseason.

Question 4: Submitted by Brady Butler | @tommytomato13

I thought the defensive line snap counts were perfect for trying to get guys in and out and keep them fresh. Is this the way you see this going for the rest of the season to keep us fresh and explosive or are we going to see starters form themselves for larger roles as we go?

Todd Bowles would love to have a consistent rotation amongst his defensive linemen, especially along the interior. I think rotating guys in and out – in order to keep them fresh – will remain a priority as long as he has enough healthy players in the lineup. 

That said, if a player like Calijah Kancey (who didn’t make it through the first half on Sunday) proves to be an adequate run-stuffer, then I could see a scenario where he cuts into Logan Hall’s weekly snap count. Players can always earn more (or lose) playing time through their performance. Generally, though, I think Bowles would like to use as many bodies as possible, in as many games as possible, in order to keep his best players fresh for crucial passing downs.

READ MORE: Takeaways From The Buccaneers Win Over The Vikings

Question 5: Submitted by Tobias Starke | @tst1860

The defense looked great in Minnesota, except our pass defense, in short to mid, over the middle of the field… can you give me hope that we can fix it over the season? And how would you do that? #GoBucs #GermanBuccaneers

I can try. Say what you will about Todd Bowles’ resume as a head coach, he is still one of the most respected defensive play callers in the game. He has a knack for making good adjustments and learning from his mistakes. Think back to when the Buccaneers got drubbed by Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs in November of 2020, and went on to shut them down completely when the two teams met later that same season in the Super Bowl.

Kirk Cousins was gashing the Bucs’ zone defense on Sunday, there’s no denying that. Having the best receiver on the planet to throw to certainly helps, but it was a bit perplexing to see the Bucs' defense continually give up explosive plays up the seam. If the Vikings hadn’t shot themselves in the foot so many times in the first half, then maybe the final result would have been different. That said, the Buccaneers did a solid job on third downs, and they were much better in the second half overall. If they can stay healthy, I think Tampa Bay’s secondary is good enough to defend the pass at a relatively high level this season.

Question 6: Submitted by Salty Buccaneer | @SaltyBuc91

Run blocking seems to be abysmal still. Were there any encouraging signs?

I’d have to re-watch the tape to provide a more thorough analysis of the Bucs’ run blocking, but it was definitely a challenge for Rachaad White to find any creases of daylight on Sunday. Hainsey got pushed around at times, but I expect him to settle down and perform well enough this year. Cody Mauch was banged up, but he has the athleticism and mentality to really excel in the run game. I think he'll get better each week, and his progression throughout the season should be fun to watch. The jury is still out on Luke Goedeke, but he did have some strong reps in the run game on Sunday. I thought Feiler looked good at LG, and Tristan Wirfs is Tristan Wirfs. That said, I don’t anticipate the Buccaneers’ OL to be dominant in the run game, by any means, but I do think there’s reason to believe they won't be 'abysmal' each week. They're a young group and should improve as the season moves along.  

Question 7: Submitted by Tv77 | @Tv7715

I’m getting a little nervous about next years contracts man. Evans, Winfield, Wirfs, Devin White, Neal, Baker, Lavonte... Idk how we’re going to handle this. 

The Buccaneers won’t be able to keep all their guys next offseason, that’s all but certain. In terms of how Jason Licht and his staff will prioritize their spending when that time comes, It’s hard to say. I’m confident that both Wirfs and Winfield will re-sign in Tampa for big-money contracts.

How the rest of these players perform in 2023 will likely play a big role in determining how the Bucs choose to spend their money. This certainly applies to Baker Mayfield, who is out to show the world he can still win in this league. Ryan Neal came to Tampa because he saw an opportunity, and he felt like he could thrive in Todd Bowles’ system. If he does, I doubt he’ll be back with the Bucs next season. There’s only so much the team can justify spending on their secondary. With Dean, Davis, and (hopefully) Winfield locked up, I don’t see Neal re-signing. I think there’s a good chance that he’ll end up playing for whoever offers him the most money in free agency.

Devin White and Mike Evans present an interesting predicament. Both players want to prove their worth this season and earn big paydays as a result. But the prevailing belief around the team is that the Bucs simply won’t have the resources to retain both guys. In which case, It’s more than likely going to come down to one or the other.

With Lavonte David, it really depends on him. If he wants to stay in Tampa and is willing to take a below-market deal (again) in order to do so, I think it’s a no-brainer. Some have suggested that his performance is due to regress because of his age, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Lavonte David is one of the most cerebral, instinctual, and versatile linebackers I’ve ever watched. A living legend in Tampa, as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully for David, and the Buccaneers, he retires on his terms, without ever suiting up for another organization. 

That's it for this week. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions! Make sure to submit yours through any of BucsGameday's social media accounts for a chance to be featured in this article next week. 

You can follow Collin Haalboom on X.

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