Bucs Rookie Evaluation: Steelers Game

Mauch was flagged for two penalties, including a false start that eliminated a fourth down attempt on the first drive, and a holding penalty in the second half. Those mistakes are costly to an offense, as it takes them off schedule. He will need to improve his mental awareness in that area, but Mauch looked up to the challenge overall.

OLB YaYa Diaby

Diaby flashed the pass rushing prowess that has many inside the Advent Health Training Center excited about his future. Diaby led the Bucs with three pressures per Pro Football Focus. And he did it on just 11 pass rush opportunities! His 27.3% pass rush win rate is 11th in the NFL at the time of this writing.

Diaby did not record a tackle or a sack on the night but certainly made his presence felt. Diaby’s run defense left a bit more to be desired, though. Diaby will need to work on setting the edge better, especially as the Bucs have to face the Falcons twice a year.

ILB SirVocea Dennis

Dennis has a lot of Bucs fans excited. He is fast with some really great highlights as a blitzer while playing at Pitt in college. This has many seeing him as an heir-apparent to Devin White with White currently not under contract for 2024. Friday night Dennis showed that he has a long way to go to becoming an NFL starter. Dennis missed several tackles, got bodied and tossed by various Steelers and got beat in coverage a couple of times.

All was not negative for the young linebacker. He showed a hustle and pursuit to the ball that you can root for and a good rep as a blitzer that led to a sack.

TE Payne Durham

Durham had a solid opening salvo for the Bucs. From a blocking perspective he had a couple of solid reps including a split block that froze his man in his tracks. As a receiver he almost had a big gain when he got open on a crossing route early in the second half, but Kyle Trask overthrew him.

Late in the fourth quarter Durham put his stamp on the game when he made a catch in the end zone for a touchdown. The catch was made possible by his big frame and secure hands, two things he was known for coming out of Purdue.

Durham finished the day with just that one catch for three yards and the score.

DB Josh Hayes

Hayes had a good debut, executing his coverage assignments well while playing fast and physical. Hayes had four combined tackles for the night.

WR Trey Palmer

Palmer had one of the best showings out of all of the rookies on the day. His route running had nuance and subtlety and he showed good hands and field awareness on his touchdown grab.

It’s good that Palmer is showing an advanced feel for his position that could prove to make him a steal in the sixth round (I had him as a Top 100 prospect on my draft board), as the Bucs are going to be without Russell Gage for the entirety of the 2023 season. Palmer will hopefully combine with other young receivers to help replicate the production Gage would have provided.

OLB Jose Ramirez

Ramirez played three defensive snaps and eight on special teams and did not record any statistics.

WR Rakim Jarrett

Jarrett was held out of the game due to a minor injury. The Bucs decided to be overly cautious with the Maryland product to ensure he wouldn’t aggravate the ailment.

RB Sean Tucker

Tucker showed up on the official stats sheet with a pedestrian six carries for 10 yards while adding one catch for three yards. But those stats don’t tell nearly the whole story. Tucker had another two carries for 16 yards negated by penalties, including this would-be 12-yard touchdown.

Tucker showed good vision, contact-balance and burst all in that single run. The undrafted free agent is making a strong case to make the team’s final 53-man roster. And his catch was impressive as well. It was a difficult shoe-string grab that not every back would have made.

DB Christian Izien

Izien had an unspectacular game, but overall did his job well. For a more detailed recap on Izien’s game please click here.

S Kaevon Merriweather

Merriweather had a solid game. You didn’t hear his name called much because he executed his assignments soundly in coverage as a free safety. He also showed a willingness to defend the run I previously hadn’t seen from him when he was in college, which was a pleasant surprise. That includes this defensive stop he made to help eventually force Pittsburgh to have to punt from deep in their own territory.

Merriweather finished the night with four tackles.

Bucs Should Be Encouraged By First Look

Between Izien, Jarrett, Merriweather and Tucker, the Bucs may have found themselves a string of undrafted players who are legitimate players that could wind up on the 53-man roster. That could be huge as the team resets their cap situation going forward. And some of the draft picks who played had encouraging performances of their own. That is a successful first pre-season game in my book for the Bucs rookies.