Former Stars Shine At Day 2 Of Bucs’ OTAs
May 27th, 2015
The Cowboys are using drones to film their OTA practices, and Joe is using similar tactics to gain intelligence from the Buccaneers’ sessions, which were closed to media yesterday and today.
Last night, Joe brought word of an “explosive” development at One Buc Palace, the standout work of former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Henry Melton.
Today’s spotlight shines on two former Pro Bowl cornerbacks signed last offseason, Alterraun Verner and Mike Jenkins. Both were razor sharp and left some wiping drool from their mouths.
Regular readers here know Joe is no Jenkins fan, but that doesn’t mean Joe is rooting against him. Hey, if Jenkins is going to resurrect himself and stay healthy at 30 years old, then kudos to Lovie Smith and Jason Licht for re-signing him this offseason after he was hurt all last year.
The Verner news, though, will have Joe sleeping soundly tonight.
The Bucs signed him last year fresh off a Pro Bowl with the Titans and they desperately need him to deliver.
Verner, 26, is super intelligent and very committed. His injuries last season were the first of his five-year career, and he openly talked about how the learning curve of Lovie’s defense was quite steep for him.
If Verner becomes the guy the Bucs envisioned when they signed him, then the Bucs defense might actually win a few games for the team this year.
(Tomorrow morning, Joe will bring word of another standout today in Bucs camp, and tomorrow’s session is open to media. So Joe will have all kinds of stuff in the afternoon.)
May 27th, 2015 at 3:53 pm
If the Cowboys are using drones to film their practices, that could just mean Jerry Jones’ children are operating the cameras.
Nice to see you come off Jenkins for a while.
May 27th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
I will be pretty upset if Jenkins starts over Banks again
May 27th, 2015 at 4:09 pm
so in other words jameis did not have a good day?
May 27th, 2015 at 4:11 pm
In today’s NFL, you start 3cbs more often than not.
I’m rooting for Jenkins and Sterling Moore!
If they both play well- we could have a great skill set at CB, with hight and depth.
Depth- something this team is lacking across the board( thanks Dom, Loser!)
Now Safety . . Need lots of health, and a Texan to change his attitude, for that bunch to stop worrying me
May 27th, 2015 at 4:22 pm
“and he openly talked about how the learning curve of Lovie’s defense was quite steep for him.”
And we are talking about one of the smartest guys on the team, right? So could it be that it really DOES take time for players to learn Lovie’s defense? Just because fans are not willing to be patient doesn’t mean that patience is not required. I expect this defense to be much better out the gate as opposed to last year, now that they have a full year of lovie’s defense under their belts.
May 27th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
I think that’s a nice way of saying Jameis sucked today. That ball he threw to Jackson was way to high and it was wobbling like he punted it to him, meanwhile the media has been drooling over Mariota all week, saying he’s even ” faster than they thought” and his ” throws have been spectacular”. for those wondering yes I am following Mariota closely, he and Jameis will always be connected. Lets pray we made the right choice.
May 27th, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Supersam
Was the pass complete or incomplete?
May 27th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
I really like the fact that Lovie had Conte and Wright back there in his system.
Me personally, I’m a big press corner kinda guy. But if it’s gonna be Lovies Tampa 2….then the guys need to be good at it.
Two seasons ago, Major Wright and Chris Conte were horrible on one of the worst defenses in the league for the bears.
Three and Four seasons ago, major wright and chris conte were on the back end of a top five defense.
We just need the pass rush to be there…
May 27th, 2015 at 4:55 pm
With that said I think Verner will perform much better knowing he can trust the guys behind him. Banks as well.
May 27th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Supersam
Get over it jackass and by the way the media did not say a damn thing one of his teammates did the media reported
May 27th, 2015 at 5:11 pm
Ty Eric.
May 27th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Verner & Jenkins “America’s Cornerbacks”
May 27th, 2015 at 5:45 pm
IT IS UNDERWEAR FOOTBALL!!!!
Do not get excited every time a pass seems to be perfectly thrown AND do not get grumpy if three, in a row, were to bounce all the way to the receiver. Same with ALL of the other positions. Right now, the players are getting used to each other and their assignments. Start getting excited/grumpy during preseason.
May 27th, 2015 at 5:46 pm
And, oh yea, who cares what Mariota is/isn’t doing?
May 27th, 2015 at 5:49 pm
Great to hear that Jenkins is doing well on the field. If he’s back to his old form we may be blessed with a solid tandem of starting corners. My only issue here is why not let J Banks continue to develop. He looked like he was coming strong at the end of the year and he has a knack for giving the defense timely intersections. Anyways having depth at CB is a great problem to have. GoBucs!
May 27th, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Hawk:
Be careful. Logic and reason dont go very far in the comments.
May 27th, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Hawk Says:
May 27th, 2015 at 5:46 pm
“And, oh yea, who cares what Mariota is/isn’t doing?”
Supersam does, that’s who.
May 27th, 2015 at 6:51 pm
I for one DO CARE how the quarterback were gonna face the first week on the season jackass!! any fan with common sense would keep track of your opponents, and you can make darn sure Lovie/Licht are watching him from afar as well. If he comes in here week one and kicks our A$$, you can be sure the ” I told you so” people are gonna be screaming at the top of there lungs to fire Lovie.
May 27th, 2015 at 6:51 pm
I really wish we could watch some of these practices. Pay per view sounds good to me!!
May 27th, 2015 at 6:57 pm
Verner and Banks will be better if Johnson and Smith can generate some outside pass rush. If the line plays well I can see them both with at least 5 int.
May 27th, 2015 at 6:59 pm
Wow, an entire article without mentioning Jameis Winston once! Joe, I know how hard that is for a guy like you, you deserve a round of applause.
May 27th, 2015 at 7:00 pm
What’s Up my Bucs’ Brethren???
May 27th, 2015 at 7:01 pm
If Winston wasn’t there to be drafted Mariota would more than likely have been the pick, some consolation.
May 27th, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Jameis shines in a closet!
May 27th, 2015 at 7:26 pm
@RustyRhino — Joe really can’t help you. This is an extremely isolated issue, Joe can verify it several different ways. Sorry you’re having a rough go.
May 27th, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Banks, 2016 Pro Bowl CB!!
May 27th, 2015 at 7:59 pm
God reading these negative people’s comments is depressing.. It’s like a train wreck but you just cant look away lol I didn’t like James before the draft but the more I read and see the happier I am about that decision. He will be a better qb that Mm from start to finish. That’s just common sense.. And the people wanting lovie fired!? Are you guys smoking crack!? He’s the first legit coach we’ve had in some time, same with the new OC.
May 27th, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Throwing 3 balls in the dirt in a row definitely should cause concern.
If Winston starts halves like Josh Freeman then the Bucs are going to be tough to watch.
May 27th, 2015 at 8:03 pm
Yes what Sam doesn’t mention is that it was a completed pass. Trying to make it sound like winner sucks. Come on man.
What up buc
May 27th, 2015 at 8:10 pm
I have always had a soft spot for Jenkins since he is a USF alumni. But, you have to play the game to earn your place.
May 27th, 2015 at 8:45 pm
Yo whats happnin Buc…
May 27th, 2015 at 8:53 pm
This guy duper Sam talking bout we should be paying attention to opposing teams QBs as if any of us are apart of the coaching staff. Really guy C’mon man. Coaches get paid for that we get paid for whatever our chosen professions are. The only QB in the entire league I give a $@!# about is America’s QB one Jamies WINSton pal.
May 27th, 2015 at 8:57 pm
its just practice hopefully they do it on the field because i heard last year the same thing about guys looking good in practice and on the field they were pitiful
May 27th, 2015 at 9:08 pm
Silly Sam tricks are for kids…
May 27th, 2015 at 9:41 pm
It is going Great Nole and DB! I hope all is well with you and yours as well. I Seriously HOPE we are at .500 at the halfway point this season so I can fly down there for a game and meet you two and others. At this point all I can say is GO BUCS!!!!
May 27th, 2015 at 9:44 pm
Super Sam,
I bet we put a whooping on the Titans and Mariota in week one. Mariota is going to get clobbered by Lavonte David and GMC. Mariota didn’t throw a lot of picks, but he did fumble a lot when pressured. I hope we can cause a few turnovers.
Jameis is so much better as a pro style QB. Mariota could be Steve Young 2.0?
May 27th, 2015 at 10:04 pm
SUPERSAM
REALLY? You’re grading reactions to passes in practice. LOL
Both players were great in college. I hope they both do well. I do know that everyone to ever be around Winston and said the same thing- he has “it”. He is football smart. He works hard. He leads. People and teammates like him. He is energetic and fun yet calm in the heat of battle.
Plus I have seen this kid, along with millions of others, lead FSU to a national championship and make every single pro throw and most the reads in the process.
SO sit back and have a beer. It’s going to be a decade +of the greatest QB the Bucs have ever had.
May 27th, 2015 at 10:36 pm
Hell yea Dave,best we’ve ever seen. Yea Buc man that would alright wit me man. As it gets closer we’ll work out some details.
May 27th, 2015 at 10:55 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
May 27th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Verner & Jenkins “America’s Cornerbacks”
Bwahahaha. Well done sir.
Reality is talent has never been the issue with Jenkins. Health has. When Jenkins was getting burned, he wasn’t healthy and ended up missing much of the year(s). Injury plagued players usually end up injured. I’m pulling for him. The guy is from my alma mater and was a big part of us becoming ranked #2 and relevant. All of which has since faded but I digress. I’m rooting for the guy but reality is what it is.
P.S. Lightning pull off a stunner and take it to Rags in Game 7 in MSG. You heard it here first.
May 27th, 2015 at 11:34 pm
Hey Erik……give 87 his jersey please…..87 “America’s Jersey-less Buc Fan”
May 28th, 2015 at 12:25 am
I Will open a PayPal account and make Sure 87 gets his jersey.
May 28th, 2015 at 12:26 am
Go Bolts!!!
May 28th, 2015 at 6:10 am
Banks needs to be a set starter along with Verner in the nickel position. The nickel is also another alignment we should run heavy this season with Carter and David as the only two experienced starters and develop the rest of the guys like Greene and Alexander for depth behind Danny Lann once they move on from him after this season. The depth looks good and promising across this defense even at defensive end because of the options we have coming from defensive tackle depth. I mean we can start McDonald and Melton at the ends and let them rotate with Smith and Johnson on third downs but Spence should be worthy of starting as well if we get some sense and go with a revived and fresh Melton who also looks to have gained speed and muscled up as well and the boom of tampa 2 McDonald at defensive ends in a down to down rotation with Johnson/Smith
May 28th, 2015 at 11:58 am
I’ll buy what you’re selling Jason McLaurin…
May 28th, 2015 at 9:56 pm
“Silly Sam tricks are for kids…”
just ask warren sapp #99.
June 1st, 2015 at 12:15 am
[…] Early word out of OTAs, however, suggests Verner is looking like the former Pro Bowler Tampa Bay fans expected last season, per JoeBucsFan.com: […]