A new Pewter Report Roundtable appears every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, Pewter Reporters tackle a different tough question. This week’s question: What was your biggest takeaway from the Bucs’ 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders in Week 1?

Scott Reynolds: SirVocea Dennis will be a factor in the Bucs defense

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

There’s a reason KJ Britt wasn’t named a team captain this year, as he replaced former team captain Devin White in the lineup as the starting inside linebacker alongside Lavonte David. Britt won’t be an every-down backer like White was for much of his five years in Tampa Bay. Even last year, when Britt replaced White as the starter, head coach Todd Bowles often had Britt and White alternate during the closing stages of the 2023 season.

Britt is a solid run stuffer, but his limited athleticism holds him back in pass coverage, essentially making him a two-down linebacker in Tampa Bay.

Cue second-year linebacker SirVocea Dennis, who will replace White this year as a platooning player with Britt, and we saw that in Week 1’s win over Washington. Britt played 39 snaps on Sunday while Dennis logged 21 snaps — mostly on third-and-long or obvious passing downs. Despite playing nearly half the snaps, Dennis was more productive on the stat sheet. He had six tackles to Britt’s five and added another on special teams.

While Britt missed a sack opportunity on Jayden Daniels in the first half, the faster and more athletic Dennis recorded his first career sack on a second down blitz in the second half. I don’t think Dennis will take over the inside linebacker role full-time this year, but I think he’s certainly capable of it. If Dennis can continue to be an impact player in coverage and as a blitzer in his role on passing downs, he could replace him next year since Britt will be a free agent. But for now, it looks like the Bucs have two quality inside backers alongside David in Britt and Dennis for this season.

Matt Matera: The Bucs defense will be able to build constant pressure

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs were missing key defensive tackle Calijah Kancey before the game and suffered a number of injuries throughout the game. Despite all of this, Tampa Bay was able to consistently apply pressure and penetrate the backfield. We must remember that Jayden Daniels is unparalleled in his speed and agility, so it’s no surprise that he was able to create plays with his legs.

Although the Bucs only had two sacks in this game, don’t let that fool you. Yaya Diaby missed two of his own and there were chances for more. He finished with five pressures, a team-high, and Tampa Bay’s defense recorded 18 pressures (16 hurries, two sacks) on 40 passes, forcing Daniels to go on the defensive 16 times. Once again, credit goes to Daniels for his escape, not a missed opportunity by the Bucs.

Diaby looked as good as ever on his pass rushes and didn’t seem to be in any worse shape after his ankle injury. He only played 32 snaps and that was probably because they wanted to slowly ease him back into the lineup. I would have imagined the number of snaps increasing in the following weeks.

When the Bucs face immobile quarterbacks like the Falcons’ Kirk Cousins, that pressure will translate into sacks. It was also great to see that the two players who recorded sacks on Sunday were Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who also had a forced fumble, and second-year inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis. Bucs fans have been demanding JTS play like he does for years, and Dennis is getting more playing time on third down, giving him the opportunity to blitz.

And that’s the benefit of all of this. Even if Tampa Bay can’t get to the quarterback with their group up front, Todd Bowles will find other creative ways to do so by blitzing defensive backs and inside linebackers. The important thing will be that he executes those blitzes not out of necessity, but out of desire. Perhaps having Diaby back in action and having an improved JTS and a promising rookie in Chris Braswell on the team should help the Bucs tremendously.

Bailey Adams: Chris Godwin looks like Chris Godwin again

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

It was frustrating a year ago when Chris Godwin didn’t seem to be a major part of Dave Canales’ offense despite over 1,000 yards receiving, despite playing mostly as a Z-receiver (flanker) on the outside. When new offensive coordinator Liam Coen moved him back to the slot – where he’s done the best work of his career – it caused a stir. But it remained to be seen: Would Godwin be more of himself again?

For me, the big takeaway from the Bucs’ Week 1 win is: Chris Godwin looks like Chris Godwin again. Even though he dismissed Mike Evans’ claim that he looked like the Godwin of 2019 again, saying he’d rather see himself as the Godwin of 2024, Tampa Bay’s No. 14 really looked like he was back home against the Commanders. He finished the game with eight catches on eight attempts for 83 yards and a touchdown. After not scoring a point until Week 7 last year, Godwin got his first point early this year.

It was more than the performance itself, though. It was seeing Godwin drive the offense the way he did before his knee injury in 2021. Seven of his eight catches resulted in first downs, and five of those came on third down. As good of a day as Mike Evans had with his two touchdowns, it was Godwin who led the team in targets, catches, receiving yards and first downs. Baker Mayfield found him on nearly every third down, and Godwin converted:

Third and 7 – 11-yard catch
Third and second attempt – 5-yard catch
Third and third attempt – 14-yard catch
Third and sixth attempt – 9-yard catch
Third and 18 – 24-yard catch

Before every season, we know Mike Evans is going to be Mike Evans. But the takeaway from Week 1 is that Chris Godwin is going to be Chris Godwin — in addition to Evans’ consistent performance — will give Mayfield and this Tampa Bay offense very high potential in 2024.

Josh Queipo: Bucs’ new offensive coordinator shows adaptability

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In a profile of the Bucs offense, I raved about the adaptability of new offensive coordinator Liam Coen in a previous Pewter Report article but let me expand on this point. The Bucs tried to establish a run in the first half. Tampa Bay ran the ball nine of 13 times on first down in the first and second quarters.

But they were unable to get any success on those plays, gaining less than 15 yards on those runs. However, the few passes the Bucs attempted on their first attempt in the first half were extremely successful.

Under former offensive coordinator Dave Canales, that trend likely would have continued in the second half. But something strange and amazing happened in the third quarter on Sunday. The Bucs started throwing the ball on their first attempt.

And they kept throwing. Six times, to be exact. Six first down passes in the third quarter, but zero first down runs. Coen and the offense adapted to their run/pass success and kept doing what was working and stopped doing what wasn’t.

This may seem simple, but it is far from Canales’ mantra that he took with him to Carolina, namely that he stubborn when running with the ball even if he doesn’t succeed. The NFL is constantly adapting and each team brings unique challenges. The best coaches can adapt their approach to the current demands. And in the smallest sample size, Liam Coen has shown that he is up to the challenge.

Adam Slivon: Baker Mayfield is worth being a $100 million man

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

After a strong performance in Week 1 against the Commanders, Baker Mayfield proved he was worthy of the Bucs re-signing him to a three-year, $100 million deal. After a career year in 2023, Mayfield was electric all day Sunday afternoon in his opening appearance of 2024, completing 24 of 30 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns by spreading the ball around and moving the chains. When necessary, he ran out of structure to avoid pressure and made things happen without forcing throws.

All of this reinforces Tampa Bay’s decision to sign Mayfield this offseason. The past year has shaped the veteran quarterback as a player and a person, and his new contract is a steal compared to what other quarterbacks are making these days if he can maintain his performance from last year. If he plays even better, Jason Licht, Mike Greenberg and the rest of the front office could have pulled off a coup. Mayfield has shown he’s smarter with the football and has changed his playing style and demeanor — although he’s still remained a little cocky. He’s proven he’s worth the investment with the way he’s fitted into the organization as he became a team captain and a key part of the culture.

With wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and rookie Jalen McMillan on target — and more promise and results expected from the running game and offensive line — the Bucs’ offense will be more successful this season. It also doesn’t hurt to have offensive coordinator Liam Coen calling the shots on offense and accounting for Mayfield’s strengths. But the train only goes as far as the conductor on the field, and with his focus on efficiency and letting the players around him make plays, Baker already seems to be worth every penny to Mayfield. Time will tell how much better he can be for an encore.