Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 1 Stock Report

The practice games are over, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back to 0-0, looking forward to opening the 2015 regular season at home against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday afternoon.

This year's training camp and preseason have been full of ups and downs for the Bucs, and the team that finished with the league's worst record in 2014 continues to reshuffle its roster as it looks to make big improvements this season.

As with every NFL team, there have been pleasant surprises and underwhelming performances throughout the preseason, with plenty of new faces taking advantage of their opportunities and earning roster spots.

Whose arrow is pointing up or down heading into Week 1 for Tampa Bay?

Up: WR Adam Humphries

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Coming into training camp, the bottom of the depth chart at receiver was a traffic jam, with a handful of undrafted free agents competing with a pair of rookie draft picks for the final roster spots at the position.

Few expected Adam Humphries to separate himself from the pack and earn a spot on the final 53-man roster heading into Week 1, but that's just what he did. The Clemson product finished off a strong preseason performance by hauling in four passes for 62 yards and a touchdown last week against the Miami Dolphins.

He won't wow you with his size (5'11", 195 lbs) or physical traits, but Humphries has the reliable hands, smooth route running and knack for finding soft spots in the zone that make him a perfect fit in the slot. He may have been an undrafted free agent, but Humphries could carve out a decent role for himself in the Bucs offense this season.

Down: CB Sterling Moore

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Despite having plenty of experience playing in the slot for the Dallas Cowboys—and the Bucs having a huge hole there—Sterling Moore spent most of training camp working with the outside corners. But an injury to Leonard Johnson finally forced Moore to slide inside, where he looked to be the front-runner for the starting spot in the nickel.

Enter veteran free agent Tim Jennings.

Recently cut by the Chicago Bears, Jennings signed with his former head coach Lovie Smith, giving the Bucs more depth and experience at the corner position. Furthermore, Jennings should fit rather well in the slot as an undersized (5'8", 185 lbs) but tough playmaker with a nose for creating takeaways—something Smith values quite highly.

Moore looked to be heading for a starting role by default, as neither Johnson nor Isaiah Frey did much to impress during the preseason and were released. But with the addition of Jennings, Moore could be looking at a reserve role—whether in the slot or on the outside—and more time on special teams than he may have anticipated.

Up: Keith Tandy

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

How does a player wrangle a roster spot near the bottom of the depth chart? Make big plays and stand out on special teams.

That's exactly what Keith Tandy has done throughout the preseason, with his most emphatic statement coming at the most opportune time. The West Virginia product capped off a solid preseason with a fantastic effort in the finale against the Dolphins, being responsible for three turnovers.

Tandy set the tone early for the Bucs' home victory over Miami by recovering a fumbled punt deep in opposing territory, leading to immediate points. He followed it up by sealing the win with back-to-back interceptions on the Dolphins' final two drives.

A former sixth-round pick, Tandy just keeps finding a way to stick around in Tampa Bay. His biggest competition at the bottom of the depth chart at safety is Chris Conte, but he's spent most of the preseason fighting off injuries. Look for Tandy to keep making plays on defense and special teams throughout the 2015 season.

Down: C Evan Smith

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

After signing with the Bucs last offseason as a free agent, Evan Smith was expected to bring veteran experience to an offensive line desperate for stability and players with a track record of proven success.

But Smith struggled all season long, failing to live up to expectations. Heading into the 2015 season, the former Green Bay Packer is hoping to right the ship, but he hasn't gotten off to a fantastic start.

Smith has seen limited action due to starters not playing much in the preseason, but he's also been dealing with injuries. His performance when healthy hasn't been much to write home about, with former undrafted free agent Jeremiah Warren outplaying him.

If Smith wants to help anchor a unit in need of veteran presence and leadership, he'll need to make significant improvements starting in Week 1 of the regular season.

Up: K Kyle Brindza

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

After a strong rookie season from Patrick Murray—who beat out veteran Connor Barth in last year's training camp—the Bucs looked set for the 2015 season when it came to the kicking duties.

But when Murray struggled early in the preseason, the Bucs brought back Barth to push him. Even then, neither kicker could establish himself as reliable, both missing a field goal in a home loss to the Cleveland Browns.

That led to a trade, bringing Kyle Brindza from the Detroit Lions to compete with Murray and Barth, and the competition didn't last long. The Notre Dame product nailed field goals from 57 and 55 yards in the preseason finale against Miami, yanking the job away from both of Tampa Bay's previous kickers.

Brindza was also impressive on kickoffs, consistently putting them in the end zone. Both Barth and Murray have been let go, giving the newcomer the reins heading into the regular season.