The Buccaneers' losing streak extended to four this week as they fell to the Green Bay Packers 17-14. With Baker Mayfield out, Tampa Bay debuted undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels. He gave a valiant effort, but his lack of experience was obvious when he turned the ball over twice. The offensive game plan did him little favors either. The Bucs defense forced two turnovers of their own, but for most of the game they did little to affect Green Bay's passing attack. Tampa Bay was simply unprepared to pick up the slack for their young quarterback.
Here are the studs and duds from the Bucs' Week 4 loss to the Packers:
DUD: Jalon Daniels
It may be unfair to deem an undrafted rookie in his first NFL game a dud, but the designation is unavoidable given the results. Down to down,
Daniels made an impressive debut. He was largely accurate throwing the ball, completing 70% of his passes for 148 yards, and made plenty of plays with his legs, adding 55 yards on the ground.
His downfall was his two interceptions, which ended up being the deciding factors of the game. His first pick set up Green Bay's first touchdown, and his second set up their next points off a 58-yard Trey Smack field goal. Both picks were entirely on Daniels, who either failed to read the coverage or underestimated Green Bay's defenders' ability to make the play.
DUD: Zac Robinson
The Bucs started an undrafted rookie at quarterback, so there was an expectation that the offense would be simplified for his benefit. It may have been simplified, but offensive coordinator Zac Robinson did Jalon Daniels few favors with his game plan. The offense was downright predictable, as Robinson started many of Tampa Bay's drives with two consecutive runs. While the run game took work off of Daniels' plate early, the Packers adjusted quickly and bottled up the run through the second and third quarters. Robinson also had no apparent plan for adjusting pass protection when Green Bay blitzed, which blew up the Bucs' final attempt at a game-winning drive.
STUD: Jacob Parrish
Sometimes players simply have to take matters into their own hands. Down three points with under five minutes in the fourth quarter, the Bucs were backed against their own end zone. Packers QB Jordan Love had been feasting on the Bucs' defensive backfield all day with passes to the middle of the field and looked to do so again, targeting Matthew Golden. Bucs cornerback Jacob Parrish had other plans, leaving his perimeter zone to undercut Love's pass. He intercepted the pass, giving the Bucs one last chance to escape with a victory.
DUD: The pass rush
While the Bucs' linebackers and secondary may draw considerable derision for allowing Jordan Love to complete 73% of his passes, the real problem was Tampa Bay's pass rush, or lack thereof. The Bucs' defensive line barely sniffed Love all day, recording no sacks and a measly three pressures per PFF against an offensive line that allowed 29 pressures last week. What was expected to be the strength of the Bucs' defense coming into this season has turned into an utter disaster. Through four games, the Bucs have just six sacks, hanging the defensive backfield out to dry.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Studs and duds from the Bucs' Week 4 loss to the Packers
