When the Buccaneers take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is confident that undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will not be afraid when he makes his first-career start.
On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to find a way to get their first win of the season.
The deck is stacked against the Bucs, who come into Week 4 sitting at 0-3 and looking like one of the worst teams in the NFL.
The Green Bay Packers are coming to Raymond James Stadium 1-2 after being embarrassed by the Atlanta Falcons 35-14 at Lambeau Field. Are the Bucs catching the Packers at the right time? Or will Green Bay come into the game with a sense of urgency and extra motivation?
Whatever Packers team shows up, Tampa needs to find a way to win. If the Bucs fall to 0-4, it could be the final nail in the coffin for their season. Most teams can’t recover from an 0-3 start, but the Bucs are fortunate to play in the NFC South, where only eight wins may be enough to win the division for the second year in a row.
To make things worse, Tampa is not a healthy team heading into its clash with Green Bay.
Wide receiver Jalen McMillan is expected to be out for 6-8 weeks with a PCL strain in his left knee.
Star rookie Rueben Bain Jr., who hasn’t been able to make any impact whatsoever, will be missing his second straight game with shoulder and groin injuries.
Cornerback Benjamin Morrison is also out with a quad injury, continuing his early-career trend of not being able to play for long stretches.
However, no injury the Bucs are currently dealing with is more consequential than quarterback Baker Mayfield’s dislocated thumb. Mayfield, who didn’t miss a game in his first three seasons in Tampa, is expected to be out for at least the next three games.
With the Bucs’ season hanging by a thread, the team must now turn to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, who shockingly won the QB2 after a stellar and dynamic showing in the preseason.
Daniels will be the first rookie quarterback to start a game in the NFL this season, and the situation he is being thrust into would be difficult for even the most seasoned veteran.
Not only must he handle the pressure of his first-career start, but he must find a way to lead his team to victory against a tough opponent while playing behind an offensive line that has fallen well short of expectations this season.
How Daniels will respond to the challenge is unknown, but offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is confident that one aspect of Daniels' game is certain:
He will not be scared in his first Buccaneers start.
"Different Energy Level"
Speaking to the media, Robinson expressed his faith that the moment will not be too big for Daniels. He believes Daniels is built to handle the pressure and circumstances waiting for him in his first start.
“He will not be scared. He’ll go in there. He’s got juice. He’s got a ton of confidence… And there’s a different energy level.”
Final Thoughts
Daniels first start couldn't have come in a more pressure-packed situation. The rookie has been all smiles when discussing his opportunity, seemingly unfazed by everything that is riding on his performance.
Hopefully, Daniels can conjure some of the magic that he showed in the preseason. If he can keep the Bucs' season alive until Mayfield returns, he will become a hero in Tampa.
If not, the Bucs' season will depressingly be over before Halloween.
