Teammate Talib, Rookie Body Language & Cursing
June 30th, 2011
Joe paid a very seasoned videographer to attend the Bucs’ players-only minicamp yesterday, a guy who knows how to use his fancy HD equipment and knows how to make people feel comfortable and get access.
Here are some sound bytes, if you missed them. But Joe will have more video later today.
The point here is Joe came home last night and watched about 90 minutes of raw footage from Tuesday’s minicamp. Very interesting stuff, from drills to player conversations around the Gatorade coolers.
Joe’s not about to go all TMZ or Hard Knocks on the Bucs, but Joe will share some interesting observations.
First, the body language from rookies Mason Foster and Adrian Clayborn screams of two guys who are a little nervous and a little lost. It’s perfectly understandable, but it underscores the value of rookies joining their clubs in early May and acclimating before training camp.
Jeff Faine said yesterday the impact of the lockout on rookies is an untold story. Joe’s has to think he’s on the money.
Second, Joe hasn’t heard that much foul language in a long time. Joe’s hardly offended. It’s more funny than anything else. Once guys let their guard down and got used to Joe’s videographer following them around, the free speech was flowing. It gave Joe some unique perspective into what Hard Knocks could have turned into.
Lastly, Joe’s camera guy spent a good share of time on Aqib Talib in various scenes around minicamp. It’s obvious that Talib is well liked and a leader. He’s bringing a high level of energy to the practice field. He’s eager to coach, and he seems to be a magnetic personality among his teammates.
Remember, more video to come later.
June 30th, 2011 at 8:25 am
Wow hiring a videoographer Joe? Very impressive you really did outdo yourself with the coverage of the IMG camp. I’m very impressed!
June 30th, 2011 at 8:48 am
Joe
I’m impressed too, but not surprised! Great stuff, Joe! I can’t wait to see the F#$% Joehardknocks video!
June 30th, 2011 at 8:52 am
Thanks OAR.
June 30th, 2011 at 8:54 am
Thanks Travis.
June 30th, 2011 at 8:58 am
Joe, have you gotten a different vibe from rookies during a normal training camp? Or is this lockout bearing down on them?
June 30th, 2011 at 9:18 am
espo:
Normally, rookies are wide-eyed during rookie minicamp and the early OTAs.
This week has been rookie minicamp for them.
Of course, no one knows about Da’Quan Bowers. He’s still hiding in South Carolina — wouldn’t even go to the rookie symposium.
A month ago Joe wrote, in effect, why was Bowers hiding and Joe got crucified for that. Joe’s still asking why Bowers is playing hide-and-seek.
June 30th, 2011 at 9:20 am
yea i agree not sure why Bowers is not around the guys right now. If he cant participate atleast show up meet the team and learn the terminology of the defense. Def makes ya think he’s hiding something
June 30th, 2011 at 9:27 am
Thank you Teflon Don:
If Davin Joseph can show up…
If Jeremy Trueblood can show up…
If Michael Clayton can show up…
If Tanard Jackson can show up…
If hobbled Brian Price can show up, so too can Bowers, at least just to slap skin and bond and show solidarity.
Joe can understand him not going to the minicamp, but to also blow off the rookie symposium where the NFLPA paid for travel expenses? No excuse.
Hopefully, this is just an example of Bowers getting terrible advice from his agent.
June 30th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Wow Joe you are awesome! I would pay for all that raw video. That is exactly why I wanted us to be on hard knocks, to see our players raw and uncut. And now here you are providing some of that, great job!
June 30th, 2011 at 9:35 am
Please dont condense 90 minutes of tape into 2 minutes. We want all we can get!
June 30th, 2011 at 9:47 am
Joe, what is the deal with Dezmon Briscoe? Has he shown up? How does Freeman/other players feel about his absence? Has he made any offseason practices? Is this a continuation of his questionable work ethic that caused him to drop in the 2010 draft?
June 30th, 2011 at 10:09 am
Macabee:
Whew. Lot of questions there. In short, Joe is not an intimate of Briscoe’s and Joe cannot confirm if he was there this week but Joe will ask specifically later today. Aside from the one scrimmage Tuesday afternoon, the skill position players are kept far away from the pen and mic club. Without uniform numbers, it’s difficult at best to confirm who is there and who isn’t.
For example, a panic went through the media pool yesterday when one beat writer was convinced Tanard Jackson slipped out without being noticed. For quite a few minutes there was much anxiety that Jackson had left when in fact he was practicing all along, just that he was so far away from the media tent, short of a telescope, no one knew for sure.
Of course Freeman wants all of his teammates there.
June 30th, 2011 at 10:32 am
This is good stuff … I definitely dont agree with Joe on all his thoughts but have to say he runs a good website and does a good Job of finding something even when there has been nothing recently
June 30th, 2011 at 10:34 am
Still don’t think Bowers is hiding. It’s probably just a matter of priorities for him. He’s probably thinking that every single day of rehab, strengthening and conditioning is more important than a symposium or even a camp where he wouldn’t be able to participate anyway. I guarantee you that Bowers is so occupied with proving his doubters wrong that he’s making every single day count. I bet he shows up to camp and wows everyone and proves that he should’ve been a first round selection. He’s focused like a laser right now and won’t let anything stand in the way of that or disrupt him momentum. Just my take.
June 30th, 2011 at 11:07 am
God I hope your right FL in Dallas. I was so excited when Bowers fell to us, but now with hearing we might not have Price it makes me even more concerned about Bowers knee holding up.
June 30th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
I’ll second the FLboyinDallas’s comment.
Healthy and with two LARGE chips on his shoulders.
Bowers/McCoy/Miller/Clayborn is a load AND a mean streak through them.
June 30th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Joe here,
@jvato24 — Thanks. Joe has no interest in everyone agreeing with him. That would be awfully boring.
June 30th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Maybe it was because of Talib’s “Magnetic Personality” that Texas Cops did not find the Bullet ?
Seriously, from all I read, Talib is a leader in Tampa, and well liked by his Teammates. I think it will go well for him in Texas, and a plea deal will be struck allowing him to stay in the NFL.
June 30th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
@AppleRoof, If Talib is going to get a plea, something is going to have to break in his favor soon because another local website is reporting that a trial date has been set for March 26, 2012.
June 30th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
All the pottymouth talk, not just by pro athletes but by all segments of our society, has really coarsened our culture.
Just yesterday, a nationally known journalist who’s frequently on TV called the President a “dick.”
It’d be sort of refreshing if the Bucs tried to stop cussing so much. Set an example. Whattya think Joe? Can you get behind this initiative?
June 30th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
good luck with that mr. costanza. the day curse words cease to fly at a football practice will probably be the end of the world.
June 30th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
This truly is a time for miracles. The lockout MUST be close to ending.
I NEVER thought I would see Joe agree with Faine…never…someone pinch me…
June 30th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Interesting post Joe. You’d get quite a lot of action around here with that uncut video.
July 1st, 2011 at 1:47 am
I”m all about keeping it clean in certain situations or around kids but these are young men that obviously have testosterone spilling out their ears. Who is surprised or offended about the cursing? I mean talk about a DUH, LIGHTEN UP!!! Geeeez