Scott Smith: Bucky Irving
I can’t get too tricky with this one. I’ll go with a player who would feel like a legitimate choice in just about every game. In this case, I note that Miami ranks 26th in rushing yards allowed per game (130.3) and 27th in yards allowed per carry (4.67).
While Todd Bowles and Josh Grizzard faced some second-guessing this week for emphasizing the rushing attack over the Bucs’ quartet of star receivers, I still think they will want to lean on the ground game again this week. The best way to limit the damage done by Miami’s De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle is to keep them off the field as much as possible. Controlling the clock is a goal for Bowles and Grizzard, and in last week’s narrow loss in Charlotte the Bucs had a nearly 10-minute edge in time of possession.
Irving is healthy and has fresh legs after he missed seven midseason games, and while he hasn’t had a huge outing since his return he’s been very consistent, with 71 to 81 yards from scrimmage in four straight outings. Let’s take that number, add about 50 more yards and throw in a touchdown. That’s my prediction and I think that will be enough to get me a much-needed ‘W.’
Brianna Dix: Emeka Egbuka
Against the Panthers in Week 16, the Bucs’ lone completion of more than 13 yards through the air was a 40-yard catch by Emeka Egbuka on a deep over. With Tampa Bay taking a run-heavy approach against Carolina and Egbuka falling to the end of the progression more often than not, he did not “wow” on the stat sheet; however, Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard stressed the notion of getting Egbuka more involved in Week 17 at Hard Rock Stadium.
“It wasn’t necessarily what they were doing as much as if the first read was open and it didn’t get to his side of the field,” stated Grizzard. “On that particular play, he was really the third read in the way they played the coverage. Mike [Evans] was covered, Chris [Godwin Jr.] was covered, and the coverage structure allowed ‘Mek’ to get behind them. It wasn’t necessarily as much of a double-team element to it like we’ve seen from some teams in the past, but we’ve definitely got to try to get the ball to ‘Mek’ earlier in the game and keep him involved.”
Egbuka, the Bucs’ first overall pick in April, is one of four rookies since 1970 to record 40-plus receptions and average at least 16.5 yards per reception through their first nine games. His numbers have dipped in recent weeks but with the club’s talent at the position group with Evans, Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan, it is only a matter of time before No. 2 goes off. The Dolphins cannot account for all the team’s weapons and Egbuka possesses inside-outside versatility. He has a feel for coverage and how to generate leverage with subtle maneuvers at the stem and he commands the catch point. I expect the savvy route runner to have a breakout game against Miami.