Even in preseason, Bucs hungry for home victory

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Jameis Winston knows nobody gets too caught up in the final score of NFL preseason games. Starters don't play very long. Some exchange a helmet for a ball cap before the fans' first beer gets warm. It's treated more like a movie trailer, a simple preview of coming attractions.

But Winston believes tonight's preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Raymond James Stadium ? televised on Monday Night Football no less ? should count for something.

"People always talk about preseason, you're not really focused about the winning and losing," Winston said. "But we need wins. That's very important to me, and I know it's important to those guys in the locker room. To get a win up under our belt."

That's because including the preseason, the Bucs have lost 11 games in a row at RJS. Their last victory of any kind at home came on Dec. 8, 2013, a 27-6 win over the Buffalo Bills. Lovie Smith hasn't won a game there since taking over as the Bucs coach 19 months ago.

It's important to note that the Bucs haven't won much on the road, either. Tampa Bay has only 12 regular-season wins since 2012.

"It's important, but I don't live in the past an awful lot," Smith said. "We are trying to go past that. I know this year we haven't lost a game there and that's what I'm talking (about) to our football team. Just the opening home game is important. Fans have been great here. ?We need to eventually have a great homefield advantage and that's based on our play, starting off with that. We realize that. I know the guys can't wait to play."

Lately, Bucs fans have stayed away in droves. A crowd just south of 50,000 is expected in 65,908-seat RJS. That includes the five free tickets distributed to each of the thousand or so active duty and veteran military personnel and their families invited for the final training camp workout at One Buc Place last week.

"Since I've been here I don't think we have won a home game," center Evan Smith said. "That's something I want to change really quick. It's something that I have talked to my guys about, and it's something the fans deserve to have."

The Bucs once had a decisive homefield edge. In a six-year stretch from 1997-2002, Tampa Bay went 37-14 during the regular season and postseason combined at RJS. But when it has been seven years since the last playoff appearance ? and 12 since the last postseason win ? memories can be fleeting.

Of course, the Bucs are banking heavily that Winston can begin to change all that. As much as any player in the past decade, he is the biggest marquee talent to help spin the turnstiles.

Winston had a down-and-up performance in the 26-16 preseason loss Aug. 15 at Minnesota. He started only 2-of-9 passing before finding a rhythm in the two-minute offense to finish 9-of-19 for 131 yards with an interception. He set up a field goal and ran for a touchdown.

"His command ? like we talked about since Day 1 ? of the huddle, of the line of scrimmage was very good," quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian said. "Then obviously he bounced back after throwing the interception. He led that drive down for a touchdown and scored with a good play."

Winston and much of the starting offense is expected to play the first half tonight against the Bengals. He'd like to get off to a faster start. Put some more points on the board. Maybe build a lead. Even Winston can't be sure in a preseason game whether the Bucs will win. But as he points out, if you don't believe it, you're already defeated.

 

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Heading into Monday night's game here are four things to keep an eye on that will factor into the Cincinnati Bengals' 2015 season.

1. Continuation of a flawless first-team offense

Cincinnati's first-team offense, captained by the divisive Andy Dalton, pieced together an all-too-easy six-play touchdown drive last week. Capped by Mohamed Sanu's three-yard touchdown reception, it was a scoring drive that spanned 54-yards and generated five first downs.

Dalton completed all three passes for 31 yards passing and a near-perfect 149.3 passer rating, all while dictating a comfortable pace for Hue Jackson's offense. When Sanu Sr. (he had a baby son, named Mohamed Sanu Jr., last week) scored during Cincinnati's preseason opener against the Giants, it was the final play for starters including Dalton, A.J. Green, and Andrew Whitworth. A majority of the first-team offense concluded their evening after the second series.

How will Cincinnati's offense respond on Monday? Was last Friday's effortless performance the product of two joint practices (gaining familiarity) and the friendly atmosphere at of Paul Brown Stadium? Or was it a preview of a more efficient offense that we'll be seeing frequently in 2015?

2. AJ McCarron expected to make preseason debut

Speaking of quarterbacks, it's a near-certainty that backup quarterback AJ McCarron will make his preseason debut today in Tampa Bay. McCarron, who squatted on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list until December last year, didn't take a preseason snap as a rookie. In fact, he hasn't played a competitive game since Alabama's 45-31 loss to Oklahoma during the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 2014.

A bit erratic early during training camp, McCarron began taking control of his accuracy issues during the team's annual scrimmage. Unfortunately, a rib injury has impacted his development, even forcing him to miss Cincinnati's preseason opener against New York.

Though he's not in danger of losing his spot as the team's primary backup, fans and coaches want to see how McCarron reacts during a competitive game -- especially if he's going be relied on as Dalton's primary (and only) backup.

3. Position battles gaining focus

Rookie cornerback Troy Hill has made plays during training camp and made a red zone deflection that ended a Giants threat with a minute remaining in the game. If we're playing out roster projections, the team's cornerback depth will include Dre Kirkpatrick, Adam Jones, Leon Hall, Darqueze Dennard and Josh Shaw. Will Dennard make an impact to move higher on the team's depth chart? If Cincinnati keeps a sixth cornerback, which is possible due to obvious depth issues at safety, Hill comes into play with names like Brandon Ghee and Chris Lewis-Harris.

On the opposite side of the field, what have we learned at wide receiver? Presuming that Green, Sanu, Marvin Jones and Mario Alford are locks on the 53-man roster, the competition between veterans Brandon Tate, Greg Little, and Denarius Moore increases. Even undrafted rookie Jake Kumerow hovers around the discussion.

4. Progress among the first preseason game's winners

Running backs James Wilder Jr. and Terrell Watson took advantage of their opportunities last week when Cedric Peerman and Rex Burkhead were pulled from the game due to injuries. Wilder and Watson combined for more than 100 yards rushing with Wilder generating a second-quarter touchdown, expanding Cincinnati's lead. Will they receive another round of substantial snaps before the preseason finale? It doesn't seem likely; Burkhead and Peerman need work but they also enjoy easier paths to the 53-man roster.

Due to the rehabilitation work of Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher, who has missed substantial time recently due to an injury, Dan France is projected to become a significant contributor for Monday's game against Tampa Bay. France has rotated at offensive tackle and guard since July, giving the versatility-loving offensive line coach Paul Alexander options. Even linebacker Chris Carter, working primarily as a pass rusher last week, has received significant work while Michael Johnson and Margus Hunt are rehabilitating from injuries and allowing depth chart backups, like Carter, more playing time to impress coaches.