The Steelers finally got an opportunity to see what they had in first-round draft pick Devin Bush. And the results of that were exactly what they expected.
Just as important, they got a nice night of production out of the second-year duo of James Washington and Mason Rudolph as they held off the Buccaneers in their preseason opener, 30-28, Friday night at Heinz Field.
While Bush was all over the field, making 10 tackles in his debut -- all in the first half -- Rudolph and Washington were helping the Steelers forge a 20-10 lead early in the third quarter. Rudolph, who relieved starter Josh Dobbs, completed five of his eight passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns, the first of which was a nicely executed back-shoulder throw to his former Oklahoma State teammate Washington. Washington finished with a team-high four receptions for 84 yards and the touchdown.
He also caught this 43-yard bomb from Dobbs early in the game to get the Steelers out of the shadows of their goal posts:
"I was just making plays and doing whatever I could do to help the team move down the field," said Washington, who struggled as a rookie, catching just 16 passes. "It's just things slowing down for me and knowing more of the playbook, and being a more well-rounded receiver."
It was good news for the Steelers, who didn't play veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster or Donte Moncrief, among many others, in the game. They know what those two can do. But coming into this training camp, the expectation was for Washington to take a big step forward to help the team replace the production of Antonio Brown.
"It shows the coaches and gives them a true evaluation and builds the trust of the quarterbacks, as well," Washington said of his play. "That's a big factor that goes into it."
Washington nearly scored twice. He just missed getting the tip of his left foot in bounds on a throw from Dobbs in the end zone on a corner route early in the second quarter.
"I just missed it," Washington said. "Once I saw it, my foot was barely on the line."
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
THE GAME BALLS
My top three performers:
1. Devin Bush
Steelers inside linebacker
The rookie had 10 tackles, including two on back-to-back plays that ended Tampa Bay's second possession deep in Pittsburgh territory. The Bucs gained eight yards on a third-and-nine pass stopped by Bush for an eight-yard gain. He then knifed into the backfield with Ola Adeniyi on fourth-and-one to shut down the drive. Our Hunter Homistek has more with Bush in his post-game piece.
2. James Washington
Steelers wide receiver
Washington had four receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown on just five targets. The one catch he missed was nearly his second touchdown.
3. Ulysees Gilbert
Steelers inside linebacker
A sixth-round draft pick, Gilbert had three tackles, 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, forced a fumble and also intercepted a two-point conversion pass -- all on his birthday. A lot of that came working against the Bucs' fourth stringers in the fourth quarter, but he might have earned himself a longer look against more front-line players.
THE GOOD
Placekicker Chris Boswell alternated kicks, as expected, with rookie Matthew Wright and had a solid day. Boswell made field goal attempts from 33 and 47 yards and also knocked home his only PAT attempt.
Boswell has been under fire since missing 11 kicks in 2018 -- seven field goals and four PATs -- but this was a good start for him to show he's back to being the kicker who had made 89 percent of his career kicks heading into last season.
"It's more me vs. me," Boswell said of he and Wright. "I'm not out there with him. It's, 'What am I doing with this kick?' I go from there."
But, I asked, it had to feel good to make all three of his kicks.
"Yeah, it felt really good," he told me. "I'm getting more and more confident as we get going. ... I've worked on getting a lot more speed (on his leg) and getting through the ball. It's transitioning well. I've just got to keep it up."
THE BAD
Rookie cornerback Justin Layne played nearly the whole game with Joe Haden, Steven Nelson, Brian Allen and Artie Burns being held out because of injury or coach's decision.
Layne struggled in coverage, missing a tackle that led to Tampa Bay's first touchdown -- a 9-yard catch by Chris Godwin -- and giving up some easy catches.
The third-round pick out of Michigan State knew he was going to play a lot because of who wasn't playing at his position and admitted nerves were a factor.
"As a DB, you have to have short-term memory and it's also my first game, so I just have to put it behind me," Layne said. "I know what I've got to do."
THE PLAY
Facing a first down and goal from the 8 just after the two-minute warning, the Steelers had some extra time to talk about what play they wanted to run.
For Rudolph and Washington, who played together at Oklahoma State, the answer was clear.
"We were in the huddle and I said, 'Let's take it back to Oklahoma State one time,' " said Washington, who had earlier hauled in a 42-yard pass from Dobbs. "I just wanted to make him laugh."
The touchdown throw on a back-shoulder fade definitely put a smile on the face of Rudolph, who is battling Dobbs for the No. 2 spot behind starter Ben Roethlisberger on the roster.
"We did that a few times at Oklahoma State," Rudolph said. "Usually, it was a little more over the shoulder. But with the higher quality of defensive backs in this league, it's a little tougher to trust that spot. He did a great job adjusting to the throw. He's just a tough guy, and in those combative situations that coach (Mike) Tomlin talks about, he makes those catches with guys draped all over him."
That score put the Steelers ahead 10-7 and they never trailed again.
But Washington, who had a very good preseason a year ago before struggling in his rookie season, isn't going to rest on his laurels.
"It's just the first preseason game. I can't get too high on my play. I've just got to keep going," he said.
THE OTHER SIDE
The Bucs drafted linebacker Devin White with the fifth pick this year, five spots ahead of where the Steelers selected Bush. While White didn't play nearly as much as Bush in this game, Bush clearly got the better of the matchup, recording his 10 tackles to just one for White.
"I never really saw Bush," said first-year Bucs head coach and former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. "I can't see that stuff. But for Devin (White) -- size, strength, speed and maturity. Everything you look for to be the leader of your defense. Devin Bush, I liked, but I didn't really see him."
Arians must not have looked all that hard.
THE INJURY UPDATE
• Ola Adeniyi, outside linebacker, suffered a minor knee injury in the third quarter and did not return. But he said he was OK after the game.
• Christian Scotland-Williams, tight end, suffered a hamstring injury and did not return.
THE SCHEDULE
The Steelers return to Saint Vincent College Sunday for their next training camp practice at 2:55 p.m. They'll play their next preseason game next Saturday at Heinz Field against the Chiefs.
THE COVERAGE
Visit our Steelers team page for everything from this game.
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Steelers vs. Buccaneers, Heinz Field, Aug. 9, 2019 - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS