San Francisco 49ers

Buccaneers Prepare For Trip To 49ers

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

After a bye week where the Buccaneers will hopefully have some injured starters returning, they will have to prepare for a flight to the west coast and an unknown at quarterback.

Today marked Colin Kaepernick‘s first start since week eight of last season where we saw Kaepernick go 13/29 for 187 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 66 yards on eight carries. Overall, Kaepernick looked rusty and didn’t really perform very well, leaving next week’s start against the Buccaneers a question mark. After the game, Chip Kelly was asked about whether or not Kaepernick would get the start;

“We’ll see.”

“I thought (Kaepernick) was OK. There were some positives that you can really build on with him. I thought he extended some drives, keeping plays alive with his legs. Obviously he did a good job. It was a pretty good situation in terms of him running the football. But overall, as a group, we need to run the ball as a group better. We need to better in the passing game.”

More from The Pewter Plank

10/16 - Buccaneers: What Are the Most Important Improvements After the Bye?

10/16 - Fantasy Football Start, Sit, and Sleeper Advice for Week 6

10/15 - Buccaneers’ State of the Team Address

10/15 - Buccaneers’ Roberto Aguayo: Clutch Performer of the Week?

10/14 - Armed with New Heart, Former Buccaneers’ Coach Sam Wyche Looks to Pay it Forward

It seems Kaepernick would likely be the guy Tampa Bay faces, but with Chip Kelly, you just never know. After a 45-16 thrashing at the hands of the Buffalo Bills, it may be hard for the Niners to put Kaepernick back out there. Having faced Tampa Bay twice in his career, Colin is 2-0 with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Kaepernick’s speed would be the biggest challenge for a defense that is depleted along the defensive line. There are high hopes Gerald McCoy and Robert Ayers make their returns, but Kaepernick playing may render rookie Noah Spence completely ineffective considering his poor run defense.

One thing is for certain – should the Buccaneers face off against the polarizing and controversial quarterback and he tries any deep passes like this, the Bucs’ secondary is going to have a field day. You can’t under throw your receiver by ten yards and continue to get away with it.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/787712585839718400