This is a little bit of a cheat, but the right guard spot in general is one to watch as camp reaches conclusion and the team goes onto Nashville this week for joint practices with the Tennessee Titans.
Though hit with the injury bug early on in training camp, the right side of the offensive line is slowly returning to full strength piece by piece. Right tackle Demar Dotson has been practicing for the entirety of camp, but as an effort to ease him back in following his offseason knee injury, the team has been limiting him. He's seen increased snaps now in team drills but did not play in last Thursday's preseason game against Miami.
Another member of the right side that has missed days of practice was Caleb Benenoch. He returned Saturday and looked again to be taking snaps with the first team at right guard. Not only is Benenoch fighting off injury, he's vying for a starting spot. Leonard Wester, who many thought could be the starter, is sidelined right now as well, making way for a little bit of competition as to who will fill the position. Benenoch is one and rookie Alex Cappa is another. Cappa was listed as a tackle coming out of college this past year, but he's been getting looks at guard now and is quickly developing. He comes from Humboldt State in California, a Division II school. But as we know, small school guys aren't unheard of on the line (see: guard Ali Marpet). Cappa is still getting adjusted to this level but seems to be progressing quickly.
Benenoch, on the other hand, started five games for the Buccaneers last season and played in 13, so he has the experience advantage over the rookie. Cappa is raw but he has tremendous size, listed at 6'6" and 304 pounds. Practicing against an unfamiliar opponent should aid in the evaluation of the two players and help the team reach a conclusion as camp itself begins to conclude.
View exclusive photos from week three of the Buccaneers' 2018 Training Camp from Team Photographer Kyle Zedaker
