Each week during the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ communications department publishes a “Game Release” to aid the media in coverage of their upcoming game. Included in that release are a number of documents regarding the player roster, including a depth chart, which lists the pecking order at every position on offense, defense and special teams.
Each game week, we will be taking a closer look at that depth chart, pointing out any changes or relevant notes from the previous game. Let’s start on offense. Players we will be discussing in depth are highlighted in bold text.
- WR: Mike Evans, Russell Gage, Deven Thompkins
- WR: Chris Godwin, Breshad Perriman
- LT: Donovan Smith, Brandon Walton
- LG: Nick Leverett, Luke Goedeke
- C: Robert Hainsey, John Molchon
- RG: Shaq Mason
- RT: Tristan Wirfs
- TE: Cade Otton, Cameron Brate, Kyle Rudolph, Ko Kieft
- WR: Julio Jones, Scotty Miller
- QB: Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask
- RB: Rachaad White, Leonard Fournette, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Giovani Bernard
Rookie lineman Luke Goedeke started the first seven games of the season at left guard, but in the seventh contest the Buccaneers began alternating Nick Leverett in with him at that spot. Goedeke suffered a foot injury in that same game, at Carolina, and was inactive for the next four weeks. By the time he returned from his injury, Leverett had solidified his hold on the starting job. Goedeke was active but did not play for two more contests, then began seeing limited action as a sixth lineman in jumbo packages.
Goedeke got plenty of action in Week 18, however. With the Bucs locked into the fourth seed in the NFC playoff field, the team was cautious with any injured players and pulled almost all of its starters at halftime. Goedeke, who played right tackle at Central Michigan before the Bucs drafted him in the second round in April, started at that spot while the Bucs rested Pro Bowler Tristan Wirfs and his banged-up ankle. Goedeke was one of only three players to take every snap on offense. Leverett started in his usual spot but later slid to center when Robert Hainsey came out of the game with a hamstring strain. Brandon Walton started at left tackle in place of the injured Smith, then later moved to left guard when practice-squad call-up Justin Skule came in to play left tackle.
In addition, guard John Molchon saw the first regular-season snaps of his career. He entered the game on the 14th offensive snap after Hainsey’s injury, taking over at left guard after Leverett’s move to the pivot….
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