Bucs vs. Chiefs: 5 things to watch

Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris has dubbed the NFL's regular season a race to 10 wins. If that's the case then the preseason can best be described as a series of preliminary heats.

Heat 1 was a 10-7 loss at Miami.

Heat 2 is Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium.

Here are five things to monitor as the Bucs continue to stretch and loosen their legs in preparation for the Race to 10, which begins in earnest with the regular-season opener against Cleveland on Sept. 12.

Running back Derrick Ward

Ward played himself onto the roster bubble last week with a lethargic 12-carry, 20-yard rushing effort almost as controversial as it was lifeless. Ward's performance on the sloppy, rain-soaked turf at Sun Life Stadium was bad enough but his decision to scream on the sidelines and ask coordinator Greg Olson to stop running a particular play was even worse. Ward later apologized to coaches and general manager Mark Dominik for his attitude, and vowed to play a "great'' game tonight against the Chiefs. He needs to. Kareem Huggins continues to be one of the big surprises of the preseason and could unseat Ward as the backup to Cadillac Williams.

Quarterback Josh Freeman

Freeman threw a perfect game against the Dolphins. In two series of work, he was 4-for-4 passing for 53 yards and a touchdown, plus his decision making was superb. Now he has to do it again. The Bucs need consistency from their best players and Freeman needs to be the most consistent. He doesn't have to be perfect, at least not statistically, but needs to avoid taking a step backward in terms of decision making. Last week, Freeman adjusted well, especially on a 30-yard completion to Mike Williams and the touchdown to Sammie Stroughter. If he continues to excel and develops a willingness to give up on plays that aren't there, it will be a sign Freeman is developing.

Wide receiver Arrelious Benn

Benn looked as if he were playing in slow motion against the Dolphins. He still is trying to develop a fundamental understanding of the offense and his role, which keeps him from performing at top speed. Benn put in extra hours on and off the field in an effort to get up to speed, and the extra work seemed to pay off in practice the past week. The key to success in the NFL, though, is to take what you learn in the classroom and practice and apply it in games. Benn is as talented a receiver as the Bucs have, but won't take advantage of it if he can't get comfortable. If Benn plays the way he practiced, it will be a sign he is finding his comfort zone in the offense and on pace to be a major contributor.

The pass rush

It didn't show on the stat sheet, but rookie defensive tackle Gerald McCoy did his part to spark the pass rush at Miami. He consistently drew double teams and, on a couple of occasions, the ends took advantage and got into the backfield. A few pressures here and few pressures there, though, aren't good enough. The Bucs have to find a way to harass the quarterback on nearly every down, which means getting better play out of right end Stylez G. White. White is not going to wow you with his run-stopping ability. He's a pass rusher, and needs to force opponents to game plan for him. White may be the team's best pass rusher, but the Bucs won't hesitate to replace him with Michael Bennett or Tim Crowder if he doesn't get to the passer more regularly.

Smarty pants

The Bucs moved the ball on their first possession against the Dolphins until, on second-and-2 from the Miami 35-yard line, tight end Jerramy Stevens was whistled for a false start. That mistake derailed a promising drive and it wasn't the only one of its kind. Sure, it's only the preseason, but now is the time to get that stuff out of your system. Bucs coach Raheem Morris has mentioned several times the need to play smarter, and the players must heed his warning. Mistakes are part of the game and a young team such as the Bucs will be prone to them. But a young team also has less room for errors. Eliminating penalties and ball security are areas in which the Bucs need to improve dramatically.