Protect the football
Nothing matters more after what happened in Cincinnati: the Buccaneers fumbled four times against the Bengals, and those turnovers led to 24 Cincinnati points. Tampa Bay still managed to move the football and stay within one possession, which makes the mistakes even more frustrating. Baker Mayfield and the offense do not need to completely change how they play. They simply need to stop giving possessions away. Against a Browns team looking to rebound from a rough opener, Tampa Bay cannot give Cleveland short fields and easy opportunities to stay in the game. Ball security has to be the first priority.
Give Baker Mayfield time
Tampa Bay's offensive line moved into the top three of PFF's offensive line rankings following Week 1, but Cleveland still has players capable
of disrupting the pocket. Jared Verse gives the Browns a dangerous presence off the edge, while Mason Graham can create problems inside. If Tampa Bay keeps Mayfield clean, there should be opportunities through the air. Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns against Cleveland in Week 1, finishing with a 150.6 passer rating. The Browns entered Week 2 ranked 23rd in pass defense. That could create opportunities for Emeka Egbuka and the rest of Tampa Bay's receiving corps, especially if Jalen McMillan is cleared to return from his knee injury.
Keep Bucky Irving involved
Bucky Irving was one of Tampa Bay's biggest bright spots against Cincinnati, and the Bucs should continue finding different ways to get the football into his hands. Cleveland allowed Jacksonville to rush for 123 yards in Week 1 after surrendering 116.4 rushing yards per game last season. But Irving's impact does not have to come exclusively on the ground. His ability as a receiver gives Tampa Bay another way to attack Cleveland's linebackers and get the ball out of Mayfield's hands quickly.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Three keys for Buccaneers offense vs Browns
