5 Things We Learned from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' OTAs

After months of roster shuffling and draft hype, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finally back on a football field.

The Bucs' first Organized Team Activities (OTAs) began this week, with Thursday practices open to the media.

While OTAs are too early to tell what the Week 1 roster will look like, they do offer some insight as to what the team has in mind for the season.

From learning who is playing with the first-team offense and defense to what coaches have to say about key players like rookie quarterback Jameis Winston, OTAs are the first clues to what the Bucs will look like in September.

Here are five things we learned from the Bucs' first week of OTAs.

The Offensive Line Is Starting with Experience

STEVE NESIUS/Associated Press

The Bucs may have drafted two offensive linemen in the second round this year, but that doesn't mean either will start.

Offensive tackle Kevin Pamphile and guard Kadeem Edwards, both drafted in the fifth round in last year's draft, played with the first-team offense on Thursday, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Roy Cummings.

OT Donovan Smith and guard Ali Marpet have higher draft status, but the gulf of NFL experience between the rookies and even second-year players is a significant disparity to overcome.

Injuries could widen this gap. Marpet sat out of Thursday's practice with a hamstring injury this week, as noted by Cummings.

While the severity of the injury is unclear, these "tweaks" have a way of derailing a rookie's season. Marpet will hope to overcome his injury quickly so he can return to the field and earn a starting role.

The Bucs' Defensive Depth Chart Is Taking Shape

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The Bucs moved a lot of defensive pieces heading into OTAs this year. Their strategy is starting to take shape.

Replacing every starter at defensive end and safety from last season, the Bucs fielded two backup players from last season and two recent acquisitions from this offseason with the first-team defense, according to WDAE-AM 620's Tom Krasniqi:

"

Jacquies Smith and George Johnson lined up at DE with the 1st team defense today at OTAs. Major Wright & Chris Conte at safety #Bucs

— Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) May 28, 2015"

Smith's inclusion isn't a big surprise given his success rushing the passer through the middle of last season. Johnson is only surprising given defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier's previous assertion that the former Detroit Lion would get plenty of snaps but not necessarily a starting role.

Wright and Conte were expected to start in some fashion, but it's surprising that safety Bradley McDougald was not running with the first-team defense. Lovie Smith is high on McDougald's versatility, so it's a bit of a mystery why McDougald isn't starting.

Logan Mankins Looks Like an Established Leader in Tampa Bay

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Sometimes it's the most benign things that indicate a significant development. In the case of Logan Mankins, it's a practice playlist.

At Thursday's practice, the Bucs worked out to a mix of '80s and '90s rock music of Mankins' choosing, according to Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds. The music itself is inconsequential, but the implications about the Bucs guard are telling.

The opportunity to choose the practice playlist for the entire team is likely reserved for veterans and team leaders. Giving Mankins his due, especially on the only day available to the media, might be an indication that Mankins has assumed a leadership role with the team.

When Mankins arrived in Tampa Bay from New England via trade, he was plainly bewildered. He called his first year with the Bucs "tough," as he was no doubt unaccustomed to winning only two games in a season.

Picking a few workout songs doesn't mean that Mankins now embraces the trade, but it does indicate that he has assumed the leadership role with the Bucs that he once held with the Patriots.

Jameis Winston Offers No Surprises

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When the Bucs drafted Jameis Winston, they expected to get a player worthy of starting under center. They have yet to be surprised by anything he does on the field.

Lovie Smith spoke with the media after practice ended Thursday and sang the praises of his new quarterback:

"

You don't want to be surprised as much as anything. You think you have something, and you get something else. No he's been everything. He's a football junkie. We knew that beforehand. We kind of have to tell him when to leave which we expected we would have to do. He takes coaching well, and yesterday was his best day.

"

Coach Smith clearly had high expectations for Winston, who is apparently fulfilling them. Smith's comments intimate a good deal of confidence in both his quarterback and his team's predraft evaluation.

Mike Glennon Has Accepted His Role

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

The Bucs' selection of Jameis Winston instantly relegated Mike Glennon to a backup role. The third-year quarterback apparently took the move in stride.

Speaking to the media after practice, Glennon expressed his desire to stay in Tampa Bay and do everything he can to help Jameis Winston, according to Pewter Report's Mark Cook.

Despite starting more games than any other Bucs passer over the past two years, Glennon seemingly recognizes that Winston is the Bucs' future at quarterback.

That doesn't mean Glennon is out of work. With Winston out at the NFLPA Rookie Symposium, Glennon ran the offense at Thursday practice, as noted by ESPN's Pat Yasinskas.

Fulfilling the very role he would have during the season, Glennon needs to be adept in offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter's system in case Winston can't go at any point.