On the beat: 5 questions with Bucs writer Greg Auman

In what will be a weekly feature here at BSJ, we’ll chat with a writer who knows their stuff who covers the other team, and we throw five questions at them to get a better feel for the Patriots’ next opponent. For the Bucs, we check in with Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. Check him out on Twitter here, and read his coverage here.



1. How does the return of Doug Martin impact the Tampa Bay offense, specifically this week?
Auman: Getting Doug Martin back is a big boost for the offense — Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 83 in the win against the Giants, but Martin is more of a threat and takes more of the burden off Jameis Winston. Dirk Koetter likes offensive balance to keep his team out of predictable situations — to help take advantage of a surprisingly porous Patriots defense, getting back Martin is a big help. I'd expect Martin and Rodgers to split the workload until they have a better sense for what shape Martin is in, and Charles Sims will continue to catch passes out of the backfield as well.

2. Is there someone on the Bucs roster who isn’t a household name who we could be talking about by the time the ballgame is over?
Auman: The player most likely to emerge on a national level is rookie linebacker Kendell Beckwith -- he's stepped in as the middle linebacker while Kwon Alexander has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. He's handled a big role very well, not only as the leading tackler, but in being tasked with communicating the defensive calls from coaches and getting everyone in position. The Bucs traded up into the third round to get him, and he's looking like a great pick, making plays and adding to a strong young linebacking corps for the long-term.

3. What is the biggest weakness on the Bucs’ offense you expect the Patriots to try and exploit?
Auman: If there's a vulnerability to the Bucs offense, it's still probably Winston and the potential for turnovers -- he's done a great job limiting them in Tampa Bay's two wins, but had three costly interceptions in the loss to the Vikings. The Patriots defense has been among the NFL's worst in the first month of the season, but much of the yardage they allow can be offset if they can pick off a Winston pass or two. Minimizing those mistakes is a huge part of Winston and the Bucs having a chance at an upset on Thursday.

4. What’s the biggest weakness on the Bucs’ defense you expect the Patriots to try and exploit?
Auman: The Bucs have only one sack in three games this season -- every other NFL team but Miami (four) has at least six. Tampa Bay needs pressure to disrupt Tom Brady and keep him from having time to pick the defense apart, and the Patriots have given up 13 sacks in four games already this year. If Tampa Bay can't get to the quarterback, the quarterback has shown he'll get to them.

5. Tampa wins Thursday if…
Auman: For Tampa Bay to beat the Patriots, they need the kind of dominating defense they had in the opener against Chicago, forcing turnovers on the first three possessions of the season. They have none since, however, and it's made life harder on both sides of the ball. Turnovers can give the Bucs' offense a short field, and they can help make up for what has been the NFL's worst third-down defense this season -- this after finishing No. 1 on third downs last year.

Greg’s pick:

Carolina's win last week reinforces how bad this Patriots defense is, but the Bucs would need their best game of the season on both sides of the ball to stay close against a full game of Tom Brady.

Patriots 31, Bucs 24