Observations: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preseason Loss to the Cincinnati Bengals

These observations are based on the projected starters 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell in its preseason opener Friday night to the Cincinnati Bengals 23-12. While the contest did feature a few positive moments, it was overshadowed by poor tackling, lack of explosion in the trenches, and a frustrating kicker. But, altogether now, it's only preseason and these are easily correctable miscues.

The Good

Quarterback Jameis Winston and the passing game looked sharp in the opening series. Winston connected with wide receiver Mike Evans on three separate occasions - one of which a 29-yard lob to the Bengals 48-yard line, and hooked up with tight end Cameron Brate twice. Winston finished the game 9-for-13 for 99 yards.

The pass protection gave Winston plenty of time to throw with a wide pocket, and the third-year signal caller was fluid in his mobility when the pocket did give way. On 3rd-and-8 from the Bengals 16-yard line, Winston was able to step and scramble to his right finding a wide open Evans for a 12-yard gain. Evans caught four passes for 58 yards.

The offense should be even more explosive this season with the additions of free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson and rookie first round tight end OJ Howard, and both players should alleviate the rolling pressure on Evans.

The Bad

The trenches on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball were lackluster and nonexplosive.

The offensive line excelled in pass protection, but was nonexistent in the run game. The push wasn't there and it showed with running back Doug Martin finishing the game with four carries for 11 yards. The play-action pass is an important part of Head Coach Dirk Koetter's offense, and if the run game isn't there to keep opposing linebackers and safeties in check then defenses will play man coverage with two safeties deep and allow for its pass rushers to tee off on Winston.

The Bucs' defensive line is soft and unnoticeable. Bengals' running backs Jeremy Hill and Joe Mixon were able to find big holes and cutback lanes all throughout the first half. Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton had a clean jersey, sitting back and picking the Bucs' secondary apart. If it wasn't for a spectacular interception in the end zone by Bucs' second-year cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, Dalton would've finished the game unblemished.

Poor tackling was also a major issue and didn't help the defensive line look any better. Mixon caught a ball out of the backfield in the second quarter making three Buccaneer defenders miss before being brought down after an 11-yard gain.

The Ugly

Roberto Aguayo, the former second round draft pick and now former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, continues to make fans scratch their heads and bellow in disgust. Aguayo nailed a chip shot field goal from 20 yards out in the first quarter, but missed a 33-yard extra point that bounced off of the right upright in the second.

Was the pressure of being a kicker taken in the second round weighing on him? Bucs' General Manager Jason Licht needs to take some heat for this transaction considering he gave up a third and fourth round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to move up for Aguayo.

The Bucs have since released the place kicker.

Tampa Bay plays Jacksonville this Thursday night at 8pm.