The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have opened their preseason, and judging from last Thursday’s game, they still have a lot of work to do.

Last season’s Super Bowl champion, the Baltimore Ravens, manhandled the Bucs 44-16. The Buccaneer backups and special team players all got a “F” on their first report card. The Ravens dominated the game when their backups came onto the field, exposing a lack of depth on the Buccaneer roster.

Buccaneer starting offensive linemen, Davin Joseph and Carl Nicks are both returning from injury and sat out the game. Ted Larsen and Cody Wallace took their places, and the absence of the starters was apparent on the team’s first drive. The Bucs did get a spark from Brian Leonard, a backup running back, and wide receiver Kevin Ogletree.

Although the Bucs gave most of their starters limited work, a few players did stand out, particularly Da’Quan Bowers, Johnthan Banks, and Dekoda Watson. Gerald McCoy played well, but the Bucs never really put any pressure on Joe Flacco or the other quarterbacks. This year, the Bucs hired Dave Wannstedt as Special Teams coordinator, and it appears he has a lot of work to do.

Next, the Bucs will travel to New England to face the Patriots, then on the road again the next week to face the Miami Dolphins. They will finish their preseason at home against Robert Griffin, III and the Washington Redskins.