5 Bucs to Watch Against the 49ers in Week 11

In a battle of the bays, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will head to the West Coast for a Week 11 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Both teams snapped losing streaks in Week 10 and will vie to continue the forward momentum in Santa Clara. The 49ers – widely considered a Super Bowl contender – will present a litmus test for the Bucs. The Niners boast one of the NFL’s most talented rosters, featuring an embarrassment of riches on both sides of the football. Tampa Bay will strive to build off last week’s stifling defensive performance and offensive surge. Here is a breakdown of five Buccaneers to watch on Sunday:

While the Buccaneers continue to build their run game with mid-zone and duo concepts, Rachaad White has made a significant impact on screens and empty packages. He ranks second only to Christian McCaffrey in receiving yards by a running back this season and broke off a sensational 43-yard touchdown catch-and-run off a screen pass in Week 10. White’s open-field prowess accentuates the run game and keeps defenses honest. He has an innate ability to make defenders miss and accelerate down the perimeter, working from reactive mode to aggression. On Sunday, he will face one of the NFL’s best off-ball linebackers in Fred Warner. Warner is adept at limiting teams that try to attack the middle/intermediate area of the field. He has it all: closing speed, technique, pursuit, diagnosis and coverage skills. Warner’s ability to get from point A to point B is rare. He is responsive to the quarterback’s eyes and has amassed a team-high 78 tackles, three interceptions and six passes defensed in 2023.

Trent Williams is not only one of the best tackles in the league but one of the best players in the entire league, regardless of position. He sets the standard of excellence when he steps on the field. Williams consistently generates power and creates highlight-worthy athletic plays at the second-level when move blocking. He is elite at both anchoring in pass protection and coming off the ball in the run game. Williams handles both speed and power rushes with ease, making it a challenge for edge rushers to come up with an effective rush plan of attack. The way Williams plays the game cannot be mimicked or replicated – he is a transcendent talent. On Sunday, Bucs’ Joe Tryon-Shoyinka will face the freak of nature. JTS primarily lines up on the right side and will see a heavy dose of…