“The Studying Is Commencing”
August 5th, 2015
Joe absolutely loves the start of training camp. But it gets old fast. And it’s not just because Joe must deal with standing in downpours, broiling in the sun and absorbing sneers from hateful media types.
After a few practices, Joe is ready for opening day. Real football.
Enter former Pro Bowl cornerback Alterruan Verner, who is hoping to earn his gigantic paycheck this season and reward Bucs fans with stellar play. Verner is a classy, super smart dude and calls it straight.
So Joe asked Verner yesterday when he starts diving in to all things Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans, the Bucs’ opening day opponent and Verner’s team from 2010 through 2013.
“The study is commencing,” Verner said. “I won’t say film study, but I’ve definitely got my mind on them already.”
Verner explained that he’s still close with Titans big-money cornerback Jason McCourty and he’s fishing for information on Mariota, in addition to reading practice reports on the Titans to see what crumbs can glean.
Verner said he’ll be focused mostly on his own practice film, and game film from the Bucs’ preseason opener. But as long as that looks good, he said, he’ll be dialed in to Mariota’s preseason activities.
Just 40 more days, folks. And Joe will bring you Titans Watch daily. This is going to be one historic opening day at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway. Siege the beer!
August 5th, 2015 at 3:19 pm
Lavonte David will need to Spy on Mariota
the way the Brooks Spied on Vick
Keeping him in the backfield and making him try to win by throwing.
Otherwise Mariota is going to run all over the BUCS on opening day
August 5th, 2015 at 3:24 pm
“hateful media types.”
Jealous writers still tethered to the newspaper dinosaur teet?
August 5th, 2015 at 3:32 pm
The Bucs got Alterraun Verner for the low, they got rid of the player with the gigantic paycheck( Darrelle Revis). Verner will return to Pro Bowl form this season, he’s healthy and he’s flying all over the field. And he will be the leader of the defensive backfield this season. He had 5 INTS and 23 PD in 2013 with the Titans, this season may be better. I see a top 10 defense this season, GO BUCS
August 5th, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Verner makes $4.25M in 2015 Joe. You call that a “gigantic paycheck” – yet would seemingly prefer that the Bucs were still paying Darrelle Revis $16M every year. LOL
I say Verner is a solid corner and a bargain at $6M per year average with no future guarantees. He dealt with an early injury that hampered his learning curve last year – but I believe we are going to see a very good cornerback opposite Banks this year.
August 5th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Agreed BucNeckid, put LVD on him as a spy, and Mariota won’t be running anywhere. Make him beat us with his arm.
August 5th, 2015 at 4:33 pm
I’m just ready for pre-season. That will do me just fine for now? How many more days until we play the Viqueens?
August 5th, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Ah, the dog days of summer camps, don’t miss covering that short of thing at all, after a week, it becomes Groundhog Day.
August 5th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
@87
I am right there with you on being ready for the preseason to begin. So football hungry after the grueling off season!
August 5th, 2015 at 5:59 pm
I have to say that I am extremely encouraged by what is going on at Bucs camp and the way Lovie and Dirk are treating Jameis tells you everything you need to know about the type of guy he is. He is the Alpha Dog. You can throw the kitchen sink at him and his confidence will not waver. Meh will continue to sling it.
Conversely, do you really think that Mariota could handle a fully functioning Dick LeBeau defense? Really?? No interceptions in practice against one of the best defensive minds the NFL has ever seen? What this tells me is that they are spoon feeding this kid and taking it slowly which means they are concerned about his confidence.
People need to read between the lines.
August 5th, 2015 at 6:25 pm
I want all 40 days!!! I want these guys to KNOW each other! How they think! What that twitch means! I want Jameis, Evans, Jackson, Bell, ASJ, Humphries, Dye and every other offensive player who can score, inside each-other’s heads!
You all think you want real football now but if you got it now you’d be crying. We need an O line. We need rookies to learn new positions. We need everyone to get comfortable with a new playbook. We need time for this team to learn to trust the guy next to him and the one who’ll come in for him.
Breathe everyone. 4 days in is NOT the time to want real football!
August 5th, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Historic day?
Yes, I’m sure the surrender of the traitorous Confederacy by Lee at the Appomattox court house and the Japanese aboard the US Missouri will pals in comparison to this game.
I’m sure in the future school children will be quizzed about the outcome and the QB’s stats of this “historic” contest.
LOL.
What ridiculously silly hyperbole.
Give it a rest, Joe.
August 5th, 2015 at 7:36 pm
@ Buc1987, 10 days until Minnesota. Let’s go Bucs
August 5th, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Does anyone else see the irony of those pics?
Mariota, who is a running QB is shown about to pass.
Winston, who is a passing QB is shown running.
Irony. lol
August 5th, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Buc Neckid Says
“Lavonte David will need to Spy on Mariota
the way the Brooks Spied on Vick”
A very sound strategy.
Mariota is better at passing than anyone here believes though. Our cornerbacks are pretty good. The safeties? We’ll see. We’re gonna need a good 3rd CB too.
Assuming Mariota plays in that game, and it looks like he will.
August 5th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
We also have to keep in mind that the starters will hardly be in the first couple preseason games, so a lot of backups will get spotlighting leading up to those games.
August 5th, 2015 at 8:05 pm
@drdneast
Why do you even bother coming here if you feel that way?
August 5th, 2015 at 9:18 pm
“Real football doesn’t really start until November.”
August 5th, 2015 at 11:24 pm
JenaW is right. Our dudes gotta get so familiar they are always on the same page, second nature. That takes time, no need to rush, let us enjoy the process. Jaboo should have a sit down with GMC and LVD. Those two have all the answers for him. They have so many tricks–they would know what to show him. Honestly–MM is being shielded, that or Titans has a really weak defense. I am so proud of Bucs–not afraid to let JW get tested–he is so ready to learn–all good stuff! Let the cannons loose!!
August 6th, 2015 at 12:04 am
Jaboobuc you couldn’t have stated it any better. I’m at work thinking that very thing earlier today. They are trying not to kill that kids confidence mean while Lovie throwing blitz packages(you know those things some of the Amigos accused him of not doing last season as if the man didn’t have that type of thing in his scheme) at Jamies well earlier than most of us would have expected. Why? Because he’s well beyond the ordinary rookie QB and needs to be challenged in order to get pro level ready. To be honest I’m not discouraged by any camp pics from Jamies. It tells me my defense is in ready to feed mode one and two can only acclimate Jamies faster giving him the opportunity to learn on the left field fly.
August 6th, 2015 at 3:45 am
Mariota is whip-smart and has a lightning-quick release. If he sees anything that remotely resembles a receiver running the right route, that ball is gone and delivered.
Even though he’s a rookie and it will be his first NFL game, our interior line pressure will not be enough to throw Mariota off his game.
And we have no pressure from the edge.
Our DBs have to be aggressive, yet patient. The Titans’ receivers cannot beat us on their own. Mariota has a live arm, but not a cannon arm, so we have to take away the deep threat without drawing a bunch of DPI calls.
Our linebackers must rule the day, because Mariota will pick us apart in the middle of the field otherwise. LVD and Bruce Carter need to own this game.
August 6th, 2015 at 3:49 am
HA!
I’m already talking about a game that is over a month away as if it were “this game.”
I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about Buc ball. Get excited, people, this is about to get real.
August 6th, 2015 at 10:21 am
All I keep reading is we have no edge rush. What about some exotic blitzes? Like a Ronde Barber type off the slot. There is a reason he’s going to the HOF 20 Ints. 20 sacks. It’s all in the coaching!!!
August 6th, 2015 at 10:33 am
You’ll see that this season Ga. Buc fan. You didn’t see much of it last season one because we were tanking and why blitz an opposing teams QB when your not trying to win the game. Two we were installing a new scheme one in which not many on the roster had any previous experience in. I think it was more important for guys to learn the basics of the scheme before they start doing exotic measures within that scheme.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:50 am
It’s not hyperbole to say this will be one of the major national games. How we play the rest of the year will determine if we get any other “national” games.
It of course will be played up as Heisman against Heisman…#1 versus #2 and that will be a HUGE subtext to the game. And so we do we suspect these two young men are under a TON of pressure to perform. Fameis loves the lights and Mariota has remained calm under pressure…I do not see a giant advantage there.
I’ve seen enough of Fameis and Koetter’s work to feel confident. The defense finally seems hungry again with fast talented athletes. I like our chances!
But I respect Mariota and so I hope our D is ready.
August 6th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
Hey St.petebucfan. Yes, it will be a major national game that “day.”
The adjective used to describe the game however was “historic.”
I consider that hyperbole and don’t like the media in their part of it.
As for BucBonzai, I do respect Joe’s opinions, I just don’t agree with every single one.
I also like to come out here to post corrections to some posts by others that are either blatantly wrong full of misconceptions or prejudice and hate.
Finally, although I like to read Joe’s opinion, I have found the way he fawns over Winston and overhypes him to be nauseating and I am sure he is aware of this from my many posts on the matter.
BTW, I support both QB’S and don”t care which one starts as long as they win.
When others were calling Winston names during his problems, I defended him as I would anyone who hasn’t been convicted of a crime but is accused of being a criminal.
Does that explanation help you.