Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 To Watch vs. Bengals

Sep 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Louis Murphy (18) runs past Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen (28) during the second half at Heinz Field. The Buccaneers won the game, 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

WR Louis Murphy

Most likely the star of the offense in the Buccaneers first preseason game, veteran wide receiver Louis Murphy hauled in all four passes thrown his way for 54 yards, meaning that he averaged 13.5 yards per target against the Vikings defense. Murphy looks set to be the No. 3 receiver behind the dominant duo of Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, and it seems like Lovie Smith has long been a fan of the journeyman receiver’s.

If he can have another impressive performance this week, then Murphy will have really put some space between him and youngsters Robert Herron and Kenny Bell. Herron showed nothing as a rookie, but the former Wyoming prospect, who was penned by some as a sleeper receiver in the 2014 class, did catch two passes for 38 yards last week. Meanwhile, Bell had plenty of people clamoring for him to play over Murphy earlier this offseason, so Murphy knows that nothing is set in stone after just one preseason game.

Likewise, the pressure is on Bell to improve after catching none of the three passes thrown at him in Week 1, but it’s easy to envision him having a better outing in his second preseason game.

Next: The Hobart Product