Behind Enemy Lines: 11 questions with The Bucs Wire in Week 6

LE: Leftwich and Brady have both done a great job taking advantage of certain situations and targeting guys at the right time, but a lot of it has just been finding the open man, and that leads to the bigger answer: Ego, or the lack thereof. All three of those guys have bought into team success over individual success in Tampa Bay, and the results are speaking for themselves.

GE: Thursday’s scenario has probably been the best-kept secret of the week from a game-planning standpoint. Slay will likely travel with both Godwin and Mike Evans at times, depending on who has the hot hand. Steven Nelson is battled tested and will see his share of time on Godwin and Evans as well. The wildcard in the scenario is Avonte Maddox’s ability to match up with Antonio Brown without any help. Such a scenario would allow Philadelphia to play more man coverage on the backend, without the threat of Rob Gronkowski scorching the middle of the field. If Jonathan Gannon can get pressure on Tom Brady without sacrificing his linebackers, the Eagles could hang around on Thursday night.

LE: Fournette has really taken over as the lead back on early downs, and even given them some quality reps in passing situations, both as a receiver out of the backfield and as a pass protector. Jones has gotten a few opportunities, and may still be the most talented and explosive of the group, but he’s clearly taken a back seat to Fournette in terms of volume as the season has progressed. Bernard has been a key addition as a third-down back, as is evidenced by his pair of touchdown receptions over the past three weeks.

GE: Jonathan Gannon has started game planning to the strength of his defense over the past week and that means you’ll see a ton of Josh Sweat at defensive, Tarron Jackson at defensive end, and Genard Avery at Sam linebacker. Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave will eat up three to four blockers as a duo, leaving Sweat, Barnett, and Milton Williams as the key players in igniting pressure early and often.

LE: The Bucs returned everyone on paper, but injuries have ravaged that defense. Lavonte David, Carlton Davis III, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Antoine Winfield Jr. are all out of the lineup Thursday night, and Jason Pierre-Paul (listed as questionable) is playing through multiple injuries. Hurts will want to run away from Devin White and toward Kevin Minter (David’s replacement), and he’ll want to throw away from Jamel Dean and target the other Tampa Bay corners who have been thrust into the starting lineup.

GE: His ability to escape the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield will be huge for an Eagles offense missing key players along the offensive line as well. Tampa will likely have to take one defender away as a spy, allowing more room in the middle for Zach Ertz and Jack Stoll. Nick Sirianni’s insistence on RPOs every play means Hurts will apply pressure on each play, regardless of the run-pass option.

LE: Wirfs is just an elite player in every way, something that was obviously heading into the 2020 NFL draft. The Bucs stole him at No. 13 overall, and he’s played at an All-Pro level from the jump. He’s obviously talented enough to play either tackle spot, but the myth of prioritizing left tackle over right tackle has started to disappear in today’s NFL, as NFL defenses continue to move their best pass rushers around.

GE: Jordan Mailata struggled at right tackle against Haason Reddick on Sunday, and his play on Thursday night will be key to the Eagles passing game having sustained success. Landon Dickerson is improving at left guard, and Jack Driscoll has proven to be solid in relief at right guard. I think you’ll see Philadelphia avoid testing the Bucs star defensive tackle vita Vea, choosing to employ quick-hitting running plays.

LE: Nobody thought he’d still be doing it at this point, so it’s hard to put an expiration date on the GOAT’s ability to raise his game and play at a high level. When he’s doing things he’s never done before, still, that tells you everything you need to know. His ability to take care of his body and commit to excellence in every way continues to prove that he can play until he doesn’t want to anymore, and who knows when that will happen.

GE: On offense, Kenneth Gainwell will a player to watch in the passing game. Up until Week 5, the rookie running back from Memphis had started to cut into Miles Sanders’s snaps and he’ll be key for Jalen Hurts as a safety valve. On defense, a punter is a defensive coordinator’s best friend and Arryn Siposs has been huge for the Eagles this season, and against Carolina alone, Siposs averaged 46.0 yards, with a 39.5-yard net, on six punts, including a 64-yarder that went out of bounds at the Carolina 5.