Observations: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preseason Victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars

These observations are based on the projected starters

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense displayed balance and precision throughout its first few drives during Thursday night's victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jameis Winston was locked in early, finishing the night 21-of-29 for 196 yards. The ground game got going in the second exhibition game and the defensive front seven impressed, but the secondary was below average - struggling against the likes of an undrafted rookie. Winston has got to cut down on stupid mistakes and the kicking game is a disaster.

The Good

Winston has been a notoriously slow starter, sometimes allowing his emotions to get the better of him then taking a quarter or two to settle down. In both preseason games, Winston has been poised - going 5-of-6 in the opening drive while hitting four different receivers not named Mike Evans. Doug Martin would eventually punch it in for a two-yard touchdown run.

The check-down pass has eluded Winston in his first couple of seasons, but he utilized his fourth and fifth reads thanks to stellar pass protection. On the second offensive drive, Winston threaded a laser to Evans for a 21-yard gain, eventually leading the offense to a field goal. The superstar wide out caught five passes for 57 yards in the first half.

The offensive line struggled to run block against the Bengals, but had plenty of wide holes and cutback lanes for Martin, who finished with five carries for 30 yards and the score. In the first quarter, Martin found a huge hole behind the right side of the line for an 11-yard gain. Martin may have scored if not for Jags' safety Barry Church.

The defensive front seven came out more aggressive than it did against Cincinnati. Strong side rookie linebacker Kendall Beckwith dragged Jags' running back Chris Ivory down for a one-yard loss and weak side linebacker Lavonte David continues to show why he's one of the best in the game, stopping Jags' running back T.J. Yeldon behind the line then sacking quarterback Blake Bortles later on in the second.

The linebackers can't do their job unless the defensive line has a push, and the front four was in the Jags' backfield all throughout the first half.

The Bad

Roberto Aguayo is gone. Kicker Nick Folk has this kicking job in the bag, right?

Folk struggled, getting an extra point blocked then missing a 47-yard field goal in the third quarter. A kick that long isn't a gimme, but the coaching staff is frustrated nonetheless considering they cut Aguayo for doing the same things. The difference is Folk isn't a second round pick. Aguayo was.

Folk will continue to get his chances, but another game like that and Head Coach Dirk Koetter along with General Manager Jason Licht might be looking elsewhere.

The Ugly

Tampa Bay's secondary isn't very good and wrinkles must be ironed out before next week's dress rehearsal. Vernon Hargreaves III was abused by Jags' wide receiver Allen Robinson throughout the first half. Hargreaves earned a pass interference penalty against Robinson in the second quarter then followed it up allowing Robinson a 12-yard gain.

Late in the first half, Robinson deked Hargreaves for what would have been a 22-yard touchdown pass, but Robinson dropped the ball. Hargreaves was also abused by undrafted rookie free agent Keenan Cole out of Kentucky Weslyan when the rookie sped past Hargreaves and dropped what would have been a wide open touchdown.

Jags' tight end Mercedes Lewis had a drop in the second quarter and Bucs' nickel cornerback Javien Elliot allowed Robinson to run right past him for a potentially huge gain, but Bortles vastly under threw the wide out.

This game changes drastically if not for so many drops by Jags' wide receivers, but the offense isn't without its faults.

With less than eight minutes remaining in the first half, Winston threw an ill-advised interception in the end zone. Lucky for the Bucs he was called down before he threw the ball.

On third-and-goal, Winston went back to pass, but was met by Jags' defensive end Dante Fowler. With Fowler wrapped around his legs and another Jags' defender grabbing at Winston's helmet, the third-year QB threw up a prayer and was intercepted by Church. It was a stupid play that could've cost the Bucs the game.

A few plays before Winston's mistake, Evans dropped what would've been a 43-yard touchdown. It hit him right in the hands.

Backed up close to its end zone on second-and-long, Winston forced a ball to wide receiver Chris Godwin, who was double covered. The ball was nearly intercepted by Jags' safety Jarrod Wilson. Those plays are aggravating and can't happen with an offense this talented.

The Bucs play the Cleveland Browns this Saturday at Raymond James.