Today’s Bucs Practice Notes & Observations
May 27th, 2014
Your beloved Bucccaneers were back on the sunny practice fields of One Buc Palace today!
Spring workouts are in full swing. Joe, as always, brings you the sights and sounds, sans the sweat on Joe’s brow.
* Early in practice, quarterbacks appeared to be way off, either underthrowing or overthrowing receivers. Of course, Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans were spectators, so guys who would be playing on the second or third teams got a lot of work with the first team, including speedy rookie Robert Herron.
* Undrafted rookie wide receiver Solomon Patton seemed to have broken both of Rashaan Melvin’s ankles on a serious move. With Patton cruising down the left sideline on a down-and-out, Melvin had good coverage on him when Patton exploded to the inside, leaving Melvin eating dirt. Patton went from being blanketed, to running free as a rabbit.
* Louis Murphy goes low in traffic to dig out a Josh McCown pass along the right sideline.
* Skye Dawson hauls in a perfectly thrown pass from Mike Glennon on a down-and-out from the right sideline.
* Robert Herron seemed to be covered by a flock of defenders on a crossing pattern and then kick in the flux capacitor. He totally left the gaggle of defenders behind, catching a pass and then turning up-field for a touchdown. This guy has some serious, serious, explosive wheels. Think the Road Runner taking off from Wile E. Coyote. Beep… beep!
*Great, fun interaction during a kickoff cover team drill. Those on the return team were holding large blocking pads to engage the kickoff cover men, who were being schooled to “overexaggerate the hands” and then break free. That order was booming throughout the drill by assistant special teams coach Carlos Polk. Veteran cornerback D.J. Moore was being barked at to work harder with his blocking pad on the return team. Moore barked back, “You said don’t be physical. I’m just trying to follow the rules.” Polk talked to Moore, who was not about to lose what became a playful argument. It was a great illustration of the fine line teams have to walk during the “no-contact” spring practices.
* Mike Kafka leads Dawson nicely on a crossing pattern to the left as Dawson pulled away from defenders.
* McCown throws a ball behind a receiver in a crowd. Receiver jumped and reached back and the ball volleyballed in a crowd and should have been picked. To be fair, Joe is pretty confident the ball was intended for another receiver who was wide open, streaking from the left in the back of the end zone. Sorry, Joe didn’t get a chance to jot down the open receiver’s number.
* While Herron is getting a lot of work with the first team due to the absence of Jackson and Evans, Dawson getting a lot of work with the second team and a few snaps with the first team.
* Rookie running back Charles Sims waits for a hole to open up in the middle, and when there was daylight, squirted free, biting the football.
* Camp meat clash. WR Tommy Streeter and CB Keith Lewis battle for a well thrown Glennon pass. Streeter gave a weak effort on playing the ball, as did Lewis. Both heard it from coaches.
* Drop! By Solomon Patton.
* Want strength? During a pass blocking drill — two-hand punching and footwork — against a sled disguised as a defensive line, undrafted rookie free agent tackle Matt Patchan was the only guy Joe saw that physically moved the sled. Patchan stands 6-7, 300 pounds and played for Boston College.
* Fifth-round-pick rookie Kevin Pamphile getting work in drills at left guard. Getting a lot of coaching on his first step in pass blocking. Pamphile was a tackle in college.
* Coaches seemed a little upset with a bullet Mike Kafka pass thrown on a five-yard slant. Just a ball that appeared to be thrown too hard, though accurate. Joe heard a “know your tempo” among the shouts. Kafka followed that with a catchable high pass but then a great connection to Skye Dawson, which drew, “That’s it, Mike Kafka” from a coach.
* Glennon bounces a pass badly. Did he slip? Was it a throwaway? A bad route? Things Joe will never know.
* Lavonte David tips a McCown pass to Louis Murphy.
* Greg Schiano linebacker holdover Ka’Lial Glaud had a near interception with the second team defense and screams an obscenity allegedly not permitted on Lovie Smith practice fields. Jonathan Casillas followed that up soon after with the same word. Joe can tell it’s getting late in practice.
* Bad snap by third-team center Josh Allen.
* Your first team offensive line from left to right during late 11-on-11 work: Anthony Collins, Patrick Omameh, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Oneil Cousins, Demar Dotson. … (No, Joe didn’t head for the nearest liquor store to calm his nerves. It’s only May.)
* Chris Owusu shows excellent hands on a catch from McCown. Lots of first-team work today for Owusu.
* Last off the practice field? Mark Barron. He was putting in so much extra work that reporters were told it would be a long time before he would be available.
May 27th, 2014 at 2:21 pm
Thank The Lord they are working with Barron!!
I don’t think he can be saved, but at least they are trying to salvage him.
May 27th, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Thanks for the recap, the sweat must be flowing out there.
May 27th, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Love hearing Barron is putting in extra work. I think he a breakout season this year.
May 27th, 2014 at 2:42 pm
Barron can’t be saved???? We’re you not able to watch him play last year? He had a good season. Not good enough to warrant being a #7, but by no means is he a bad player.
May 27th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
Back, from Davie Jones Locker Says:
May 27th, 2014 at 2:21 pm
Warped sense of reality. “Salvage”?
May 27th, 2014 at 3:27 pm
Joe is Leonard Johnson still on the team?
May 27th, 2014 at 3:31 pm
Be careful Joe, stray cannon fire can be dangerous.
May 27th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Joe: any word on what specifically Barron is working on?
May 27th, 2014 at 3:46 pm
Barron is a Beast! Glad we picked’em over Morris Claiborne.
May 27th, 2014 at 3:57 pm
You don’t think Barron can be saved?? I am sorry, that statement is a huge reach. His skills still need to be honed a bit, but he is far from a bust.
May 27th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
No mention of Demps today see any of him?
May 27th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
Great Update Joe’s.
@Joe’s
Question have either of you ever asked Lovie- to draw a comparison (If any) to Mark Barron & Darren Woodson. I know Woodson was an (All World) linebacker when Lovie coached him at ASU. I just wonder if he see’s any of the same attributes. Lovie has always referenced Darren like a son-So I know he’ll give an honest answer.
May 27th, 2014 at 4:03 pm
“* Undrafted rookie wide receiver Solomon Patton seemed to have broken both of Rashaan Melvin’s ankles on a serious move. With Patton cruising down the left sideline on a down-and-out, Melvin had good coverage on him when Patton exploded to the inside, leaving Melvin eating dirt. Patton went from being blanketed, to running free as a rabbit.”
I would have loved to see that one one film.
May 27th, 2014 at 4:10 pm
The crack on Barron is a joke! Kid plays at a high level! You obviously don’t watch football to come up with something so stupid
May 27th, 2014 at 4:11 pm
Sounds like Herron is catching the ball better today. Any report on punt returners?
May 27th, 2014 at 4:11 pm
* Your first team offensive line from left to right during late 11-on-11 work: Anthony Collins, Patrick Omameh, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Oneil Cousins, Demar Dotson.
Maybe it is just me, but is it strange hearing totally different names along the line? Not saying it didn’t need to be done, just that I hot so used to the old names.
May 27th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Back, from Davie Jones Locker Says
Thank The Lord they are working with Barron!!
I don’t think he can be saved, but at least they are trying to salvage him.
WTH????
You are an idiot. Sorry about your @#$@# luck.
May 27th, 2014 at 4:18 pm
Scotty in Fat Antonio Says
“Sounds like Herron is catching the ball better today.”
That occurred to me as well. I think it was an ongoing concern for him in college. I think it can be corrected, but I doubt it has been done this quickly.
We all know when he has to do it on the field he’ll feel and react differently. Hopefully he’ll get some chances in TC.
May 27th, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Joe, I have TC opening date circled. In your opinion, do you think we’ll be seeing a cohesive offense and defense or do you think that won’t happen until 3rd or 4th game?
May 27th, 2014 at 5:05 pm
We cannot have Oniel Cousins start, he’s just awful.
Hopefully that changes.
As far as Baron I think he’s a great SS, but we need either he or The Hawk to learn how to play true FS for our defense to have success in the back. Maybe they are trying to work on getting him there.
May 27th, 2014 at 7:34 pm
In this defense Barron will be in line for a pro bowl visit. Should be fun to watch.
May 27th, 2014 at 7:57 pm
Yes.
Appears to be footwork.
Didn’t see him at all. Then again, Joe wasn’t looking for him, either.
No.
Gonna guess the defense will be ahead of the offense. The defense wasn’t that far from being strong last year.