The Crow’s Nest: It’s gameday! Bucs Bold Predictions for 2018

- Buccaneers.comTwo thousand-yard receivers Scott Miller Jersey , two double-digit sack guys and an impenetrable offensive line, oh my! Check out some bold predictions just in time for the start of the regular season.Sound-Smarter-Than-Your-Friends Guide to Buccaneers-Saints: How Tampa Bay can win with Ryan Fitzpatrick | Tampa Bay TimesSo here we are. Game 1 without Jameis Winston. Against the Saints. In New Orleans.Pewter Preview And Predictions: Bucs at Saints | Pewter ReportThe PewterReport.com staff offers up our staff predictions weekly and welcome you to add your own.Tampa Bay Buccaneers without cornerback Brent Grimes vs. New Orleans Saints - ESPNWithout cornerback Brent Grimes, who will miss Sunday's season opener after suffering a groin injury in Friday's practice, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to shuffle their secondary against the New Orleans Saints.Highlights Of Dirk Koetter's NFL Radio Interview - JoeBucsFan.comKoetter had more to say about your beloved Buccaneers.Brent Grimes Didn't Travel With Team To New Orleans; Out For Sunday's Game - JoeBucsFan.comThe Bucs’ best cornerback won’t be dressed for tomorrow’s game against New Orleans.Bears vs. Packers 2018 odds: Green Bay a touchdown betting favorite for Sunday night - SBNation.comThe Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears looking to earn their fifth straight win against them, with the sportsbooks giving Aaron Rodgers and company the clear edge.Cardinals sign David Johnson to three-year extension - NFL.comThe Arizona Cardinals announced Saturday the team has signed running back David Johnson to a three-year contract extension. The new deal is worth $39 million, Ian Rapoport reports.Bell a no-show before Steelers opener; Conner to start - NFL.comLe'Veon Bell was a no-show Saturday as the Steelers boarded their buses to Cleveland for their season opener. The running back did not show up to the Steelers facility in time to join the team.Monday Night Football 2018 odds: Doubleheader has Lions, Rams set as the betting favorites - SBNation.comThe New York Jets visit the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams visit the Oakland Raiders on Monday night to close out the NFL Week 1 betting slate at the sportsbooks. The Buccaneers took their first loss of the year on Monday night, falling to the Steelers by a score of 30-27. Through three games, it appears that the newcomers in the secondary are going to be the crown jewels of Tampa Bay’s 2018 rookie class. It’s time for this week’s rookie recap.CBs M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis, S Jordan WhiteheadAs stated above, the Bucs have to like what they’re seeing from the rookies in the back half of the defense. M.J. Stewart finished as the team’s leading tackler in Monday night’s loss, picking up nine (all solo) and one pass defended. He did that in just 43 snaps (65 percent of the overall snaps). His role on the defense is growing as a result of Vernon Hargreaves’ injury, but he has handled it extremely well. Tampa Bay’s pass defense is struggling, sure, but there’s so much youth back there. It’s clear that the rookies are progressing. Stewart has impressed, but he isn’t the only one coming into his own.Carlton Davis had another tough matchup this week, getting some time against Antonio Brown. “AB” is the best receiver in the NFL, but Davis pretty much locked him down whenever the two were matched up. Brown caught six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, but 27 of those came on a touchdown he scored on Brent Grimes. Davis was in on 63 snaps (95 percent). Him getting as much time as he is, this early in his career, is doing wonders for his development. By the end of this year, he very well could be the team’s top corner for the foreseeable future.At the safety position, Jordan Whitehead is developing as well. Chris Conte reportedly started Monday’s game with a torn PCL. It was quickly made clear that him playing was a horrible idea Scott Miller Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jersey , as Vance McDonald stiff-armed him into 2019 on a 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter. After that, Conte left the game and was later placed on injured reserve. With the veteran out, Whitehead stepped in and played well. He took 55 snaps (83 percent) and racked up four solo tackles. He and Justin Evans are the team’s future at the safety position. Getting a jump on that this early in Whitehead’s career is only going to help the future of the defense as a whole.Head coach Dirk Koetter was clearly impressed with the performance of his rookie defensive backs. Here’s what he had to say about the three guys on Tuesday:RB/KR Shaun WilsonUndrafted free agent Shaun Wilson was active again on Monday, but didn’t have as much of an impact this time around. He only got three snaps (four percent) on offense and took five kicks back for a total of 68 yards (just 13.6 yards per return). He is valuable on special teams, so he will surely continue to get his chances on Sundays. He caught two passes for nine yards in the loss, but didn’t get a carry. With the team struggling to run the ball, could he get some looks in the coming weeks? Possibly, but there’s also another rookie on the outside looking in at a struggling backfield...Inactives: DT Vita Vea, RB Ronald Jones II, OL Alex Cappa, WR Justin WatsonNo. 12 overall pick Vita Vea came back to practice last week, but was still inactive on gameday. He is still listed as a limited participant this week, so his status for Sunday’s game in Chicago still isn’t promising. He may not be back until after the bye week, but the team needs to get him fully healthy before he debuts. Still, it was hard to not wonder about Vea while watching James Conner run right up the middle repeatedly on Pittsburgh’s game-sealing drive.Second-rounder Ronald Jones was still inactive this week. No, he’s still not a bust. Is the current situation frustrating? Sure it is. If you’re thinking about what it would’ve been like had the Bucs selected Derrius Guice or someone else instead, you’re certainly not alone. But if Jones comes in and plays well, this will be forgotten. With the ground game lacking right now for Tampa Bay, he could get his call soon. After next week’s bye week may be a good bet.Alex Cappa and Justin Watson both found themselves inactive again. Without injuries to the guys ahead of them, both rookies may be waiting a while for their NFL debuts. The best of the restSixth-rounder Jack Cichy got 15 snaps on special teams, but didn’t register a tackle.