Bucs Camp Studs And Duds: 8/9

The Bucs held their final practice in Tampa Bay on Sunday before an off day on Monday, when the team will travel northeast to take on the Jets for two joint practices and the preseason opener. It will be the first test of seeing another team this season and which camp performances are backed by the play under the lights.

Following another day of training camp, let’s take a look at the list of studs and duds from the action on Sunday as the offense came to life while the defense did not relent getting into the backfield.

Studs From Day 9 Of Bucs Training Camp

RB Kenny Gainwell

Kenny Gainwell had one of his most explosive training camp practices on Sunday. While Gainwell has not toted the rock much, he has emerged as a dynamic receiving back. Much of that has come on short screens and swing passes to the outside. It is clear that offensive coordinator Zac Robinson trusts him to turn those plays at or behind the line of scrimmage into bigger gains. He did on a couple of catches during the team’s latest practice, and in one instance he broke free and accelerated down the left side for a chunk play. Remember what Bijan Robinson did to SirVocea Dennis in Week 1 at Atlanta last year on a 50-yard touchdown down the sidelines?

WR Ted Hurst

Squint just hard enough, and that No. 17 Ted Hurst wears begins to look more like the No. 13 that legendary wide receiver Mike Evans wore throughout his storied Bucs career. Hurst has a long way to go to reach Evans’ level, but the rookie wide receiver was “Mike-like” after he had two of the biggest plays all morning. His first catch was an instance where he ran a go route down the left sideline with cornerback Josh Hayes on him. Despite Hayes’ best efforts, Hurst displayed amazing body control to leap over him and haul it in as he fell on his back.

Later on toward the end of practice, Hurst again bested one of Tampa Bay’s cornerbacks, using his 6-foot-4 height to his advantage by snagging a fade ball over Jacob Parrish for a touchdown in the back of the end zone. After a couple of practices where he failed to gain much attention, Hurst looked like the kind of “X” receiver that can be an X-Factor this season.

WR Chris Godwin Jr.

In what has become a young wide receiver room around him, Chris Godwin Jr. remains old reliable. Godwin might not be as explosive as he was in his early Tampa Bay days, not at 30 years old and after two major injuries. As head coach Todd Bowles stated after practice, “CG” can still be a playmaker for the offense.

The veteran was the most involved he has been throughout a camp practice, getting a lot of early work in 11-on-11s and finished the day with at least four catches and a nice gain on an end around. Don’t expect him to blaze through a secondary for a 50-yard touchdown, but do not be surprised to see him as one of the biggest beneficiaries of Zac Robinson’s offense. He will get a lot of targets in the short and intermediate passing game as a high-volume chain mover.

OLB David Walker

David Walker has become the biggest regular to our daily recap of Camp Studs and Duds, and for good reason. Walker continues to show why he has been a stud throughout camp.

He recorded a would-be sack in his ninth straight practice as he rotated in more with the first- and second-team defenses. Walker particularly took advantage of promising offensive tackle Ben Chukwuma, easily beating him in consecutive snaps as he blazed into the backfield. And Walker also saw reps with the first-string and second-string today for the first time in camp.

There has not been a practice where the second-year pass rusher hasn’t flashed, only adding to the growing hype surrounding him.

CB Ayden Garnes

It is becoming safer to say that Ayden Garnes will make the Bucs 53-man roster with how he has performed during camp. Garnes has made the most of every opportunity lining up in Tampa Bay’s secondary with Benjamin Morrison being injured. That has opened the door for Jacob Parrish to claim the second cornerback spot, but also for the undrafted free agent to prove that he can hang with the team’s wide receivers. Garnes has two pass breakups on Sunday on passes intended for Dean Patterson IV and Eric Rivers Jr. With his aggressive nose for the football producing plenty of early results, he has separated himself the most among the depth cornerbacks.

Duds From Day 9 Of Bucs Training Camp

WR Eric Rivers Jr.

Eric Rivers Jr. has not put together the camp he would like to have. Seeing Rivers getting bested by former FIU and Georgia Tech teammate Dean Patterson IV in recent days (including Sunday) is not a good sign for his chances of carving out a role.

Rivers joined the team as the more hyped-up wide receiver, with his 4.35 40-yard time and production making for an intriguing undrafted free agent signing. Instead, he has failed to make many plays. There has been lack of nuance in his route-running to create open space, which is why the ball has not come his way. In a deep room to begin with, Rivers has not shown much for why he should make the team.

RG Cody Mauch

The Bucs’ defense might have ceded a few big plays to the offense on Sunday, but they made nothing easy. That was apparent in how quickly the pocket collapsed as the defense generated plenty of pressure and came away with several sacks. Cody Mauch struggled to stay on his feet, getting knocked to the ground twice during the morning. Mauch is still getting his feet under him as he returns from a season-ending knee injury suffered last year, but he has some rust to knock off before the season starts.

OT Ben Chukwuma

Ben Chukwuma is a promising, developmental offensive tackle for the Bucs. With Justin Skule as the backup right tackle, Chukwuma has gotten plenty of playing time at left tackle with Tristan Wirfs yet to participate. Sunday was an instance where he had to work through some ups and downs. “Chuks” struggled stopping David Walker and some of the other outside pass rushers from getting to the quarterback. He was blown by more than I have seen this camp. While he still offers a high ceiling, there is plenty of room for him to grow.