Story by
Paul Rubelt Makes Strong Case With Every Offensive Snap Against Chiefs
- Story by
- Paul Rubelt Makes Strong Case With Every Offensive Snap Against Chiefs
Paul Rubelt played every offensive snap in Tampa Bay 's 16-15 comeback victory over Kansas City , making him the only Buccaneers offensive player to remain on the field for the entire game. The 6'10 rookie started at left tackle with Tristan Wirfs , Ben Chukwuma and Justin Skule all sidelined.
Rubelt protected Baker Mayfield 's blind side during the opening two drives, and the Buccaneers also used a run-heavy, quick-passing approach to account for the inexperienced tackle protecting the quarterback. Mayfield completed two of four passes for 10 yards before giving way to the backups, but Rubelt then stayed on the field long after the starters departed.
Advertisement
Tampa Bay could see how Rubelt handled different defensive looks, how he communicated with the rest of the offensive line, and whether his massive frame could hold up over an extended workload. The rookie did have some struggles. He was credited with a false start and faced some difficult matchups against Kansas City's defensive front, but those moments are part of the evaluation for the big man making the jump from UCF to the NFL, after the Buccaneers signed Rubelt as an undrafted free agent after he started 10 games at left tackle for UCF last season. His size immediately makes him an intriguing developmental prospect, but his ability to handle a massive workload against NFL competition could ultimately separate him from other young tackles competing for roster spots.
Todd Bowles said Rubelt "played his butt off" following the game, another encouraging sign for the rookie. The preseason finale will provide another chance to evaluate him, but playing every offensive snap against Kansas City certainly helped Rubelt make his case to stick on a roster that knows all too well about needing quality offensive line depth.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Paul Rubelt Makes Strong Case With Every Offensive Snap Against Chiefs
