5 Giants-Bucs questions: Sterling Shepard’s role, how to beat Tampa Bay, more

Let’s learn more about the Buccaneers

The New York Giants have a game Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With everything going on with the Giants currently it is easy to overlook that simple fact. Let’s check with SB Nation’s Bucs Nation for this week’s ‘5 questions’ segment. Evan Wanish answers our questions.

Ed: The Bucs are 4-6. How would you describe their season to date?

Evan: Simply put, a roller coaster. They still remain being the only team to beat the Detroit Lions this year and did so on the road while short handed on defense but then they get swept by Atlanta and their hopes of a division title suddenly take a huge nose dive.

That being said, 2023 was quite similar. They had a stretch during the middle of the season where they struggled but then flipped the switch in the second half of the season to win the division. We’ll see if that happens again.

Ed: Ben Bredeson and Sterling Shepard are former Giants playing big roles for Tampa Bay. Tell us about how they have done and what they mean to the team. Shepard is of particular interest since we thought his career was over after last season.

Evan: Both guys have come in and played a role for Tampa Bay. Shepard is probably playing a bigger role than the Bucs imagined or hoped he would when they signed him. He was supposed to be veteran depth but with the wide receiver room being banged up, Shepard has become one of the team’s top options in terms of receivers. I have actually been pleasantly surprised with how Shepard has looked. Definitely seems to be at least a little more gas left in the tank.

As for Bredeson, he’s been steady at the left guard spot. Nothing spectacular, but he’s gotten the job done and on a one year, small contract that’s a fine outcome for the Bucs.

Ed: If you could take one player off the Giants’ roster and put him in Tampa Bay’s lineup, who would it be? Why?

Evan: This one is easy. Brian Burns. While the numbers are there for the Bucs in terms of sack numbers (10th in the NFL with 28) watching the games tell a different story. Too often will the Bucs give opposing QBs ample amounts of time to find open targets. Adding Burns to the lineup and having him on the outside with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey in the middle would be a huge boost for the Tampa Bay pass rush and defense as a whole.

Ed: Are there a couple of under-the-radar players on the Bucs that Giants fans might not know a lot about but should be aware of on Sunday?

Evan: Rookie nickel corner Tykee Smith has quietly been one of the better rookie defenders in the league this year. He’s battled through some injuries but when he’s in the lineup, the Bucs defense is better. We’ll see if...