After two days of banging on each other in the scorching Florida heat, the Bucs and Browns are looking forward to playing a game Friday night at Raymond James Stadium.
- Buccaneers host Browns, 8 p.m.
- Starters likely to play a little more in this game
- Fans will get first look at Raymond James Stadium enhancements
Being that it’s the third preseason game, it means more playing time for the starters.
“Our last of these preseason games have been teasers,” Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston said. “Now you just have to have the mentality like, Hey man we are gonna ask you to play a whole game.” Well Winston won’t be playing an entire game, but at least a half, seems to be the norm in the third game of the preseason.
“You’re just trying to see where you’re at,” Bucs linebacker Lavonte David said. “Conditioning wise and also mentally going through a football game because that opening week, you’re playing against at least 65 plays, plus.”
The Browns were in quite a shock when they got off the plane this week in Tampa. Hitting the field with pads on took some getting used to.
“The elements were hot, it was though, it was a whole different schedule doing things differently and I wanted it to be that way,” Browns head coach Hue Jackson said. “Guys have to get used to that to get uncomfortable a little bit, be out of your element.”
Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter after the first joint practice with the Browns, wasn’t too happy with his offense, but he later admitted after watching the tape, it wasn’t as bad as he first thought. On the other side, Jackson says his quarterback Robert Griffin III showed a lot of good but made some decisions that he probably wishes he could do over.
Bucs are banged up on the offensive line. Guard Ali Marpet was in a walking boot late in the week. JR Sweezy still isn’t ready to go. Watch to see how the line blocks for the running backs and especially Winston and Mike Glennon Friday night. That could be a key in the regular season.