Penn, Schiano Talk Steven Means
August 5th, 2013
Rookie defensive end Steven Means, right, gets past Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn in a recent Bucs practice.
Last week Joe noted a right defensive end getting pressure a decent amount of time on Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman. Naturally ,with the Bucs franchise quarterback wearing the troublesome green jersey, defenders were not allow to touch him, or risk catching the wrath of Greg Schiano.
With starting right defensive end Adrian Clayborn on the shelf due to the ever problematic groin injury, rookie Steven Means has been getting a lot of reps with the first team defense.
And Means has been giving Bucs left tackle Donald Penn a battle. So much so that Penn raved about Means to Joe and others this morning after practice.
“That dude is coming along real well,” Penn said. “I think he can be a great pass rusher. Me and him are going back and forth; we have been going at it since Clayborn has been down. [Means] has stepped in and we have been battling. He is real good. I feel like he is getting better and better every day. He is hitting me with new moves each day.
“I sit down and talk to him in-between practices to critique him on some stuff and tell him what I saw and the good thing about that is he wants to listen. He wants to learn. There are a lot of guys you have to force them to [listen]. He wants to listen, he wants to learn. I have been on him and [William] Gholston. I have been talking to them. Gholston is coming. He just has to get his head a little more focused. But Means, I am really liking what I am seeing.
“When you stop the first move, you have to be ready for the second. that is all I tell my man. He’s working and to tell you the truth, I really like what he is doing.”
Schiano, when asked about means, was a bit more guarded and a tad less effusive than Penn. But he believes Means is making quality headway in learning the NFL ropes.
“He’s getting better,” Schiano said. “He needs to go out there and play Thursday night at a high energy level and let it go. I can still see a guy who’s thinking too much. I’m sure he’s gaining information. Usually there’s that spike you see right away, just pure ability when they come in in rookie mini-camp, and then, as they learn, it kind of slows them down. Now I hope he’s coming out of it, and I can see that, but just how far out will he come and how fast? That’s usually the rookie struggle. That d-line game is such a right now, bam bam, in your face [thing], at this level, you learn a lot of tricks as you go, especially when you’ve got a guy like [tackle] Donald Penn, who has been doing it for a long time. I’m sure Donald has taught him a few things.”
Joe knows pass rush is a major area of concentration for the Bucs. If Means is as good as advertised, and with William Gholston coming along and when Clayborn gets healthy, along with the secret rushing skills of rookie tackle Akeem Spence, and of course, Gerald McCoy, perhaps the Bucs could dirty a quarterback’s jersey say, oh, at least twice a game?
August 5th, 2013 at 5:49 pm
One thing that is a clear difference to me between this regime and Rah’s regime is this team just feels like a team. Maybe it’s just me but I never got that feeling when Rah was coach.
August 5th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
@Couch Fan….
I agree entirely…..this is truly a team….vets helping rookies. I don’t recall many stories before this…not even last year. I think this is a sign of picking the right players and very good coaching.
I am certain this will show up on the field!!!
August 5th, 2013 at 6:12 pm
If he makes the team a suitable name would be “Steven the Mean D Means”.
August 5th, 2013 at 6:19 pm
I never would have thought that the guys battling against each other everyday would also take the time to help each other out simply because as a player you never want to be one upped by anyone, but you guys are right they are acting like a true teammates. Penn is definitely going above and beyond what is expected of him.
August 5th, 2013 at 6:40 pm
good article, but def not Donald Penn in that picture
August 5th, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Steven Means Business
August 5th, 2013 at 7:50 pm
It’s a fraternity man. A fraternity of Buccaneer Men. That’s Schiano schtick and he’s sticking to it. One guy looks out for the other. I know what the f is going on people. Big things are about to take place for MY Bucs. Big mofo things.
August 5th, 2013 at 7:53 pm
JOE,can u tell me what channell the game is on thursday?
August 5th, 2013 at 7:55 pm
HA HA, Clearly that was a joke, right Grif4foozball? ha, a Bucs Preseason game on TV? haha, that’s really funny man, Blacked out like every other game brother.. No one gives a crap here about the Buccaneers
August 5th, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Couch Fan Says
“One thing that is a clear difference to me between this regime and Rah’s regime is this team just feels like a team. Maybe it’s just me but I never got that feeling when Rah was coach.”
You make a valid point. There is no selfishness either.
I still wish Dallas Clark were around though. He had a good attitude and solid hands. I understand with his lack of blocking ability though.
August 5th, 2013 at 8:33 pm
grif,
Live broadcast, Thursday 7:30pm, Channel 8. Per Roy Cummings the game is definitely blacked out! See the link below for re-broadcasts.
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=93004
August 5th, 2013 at 8:58 pm
This kid gets it, and it is very refreshing to see! For some reason when he was drafted, I was like their is something special about him. I think it was his interview post draft that let me know this. I hope he does well because people with his type of attitude and work ethic are what I envision being a Buccaneer Man. I really like the way this team is looking and feeling. GO BUCS…
August 5th, 2013 at 9:05 pm
Thanks Macabee.
August 5th, 2013 at 9:14 pm
Bonzai,
Dallas Clark’s blocking was in severe decline… if that was even possible. The Bucs emphasize blocking skills and believe TE receptions are more the result of good play design. My .02 anyway.
August 5th, 2013 at 9:33 pm
Bucs suck, they cant sell out a wet paper bag, Joe shut the site down, No one cares about the YUCS,,,, WOW BUCS AND RAYS LAST OR 2ND TO LAST IN ATTENDANCE WHAT A SPORTS TOWN TAMPA IS, HAHAHAHAHAHA
August 5th, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Not sure what station in Baltimore is televising the game live.
August 5th, 2013 at 10:09 pm
I’ll tell you this Jeff…I think MY Bucs are looking at about 5 televised home games this year.
August 5th, 2013 at 10:16 pm
grif/et al,
There is a way you can watch all preseason games including blacked out games if you live outside of the local market area of the game you want to see. If you live in the market area you can watch the blacked out game immediately following it’s conclusion. It is a legal NFL product offering!
https://preseason.nfl.com/nflpl/secure/packages?ttv=4
August 6th, 2013 at 5:44 am
Here’s a way to go to the game instead of sitting on your couch and complaining. Buy a ticket from a Season Ticket Holder (yes, there are a few) who doesn’t want to go to the game or is vacationing. It should be a good and cheap seat. Maybe even a Club Seat.