It’s under-center time for Marcus Mariota

Joe’s already called opening day against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 13 in Tampa a “must-win.”

It’s not a must-win for the standings. Duh. But it is necessary for the psyche of a fanbase that’s hasn’t seen a home victory since 2013, and compares Jameis Winston to Marcus Mariota. (more…)

Rookie returner Kaelin Clay. Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Once upon a time, legendary Redskins return man Brian Mitchell took the opening kickoff of his rookie career — yes, preseason — and finished the play celebrating a touchdown.

And Mitchell’s impact is still being felt — at Buccaneers training camp. (more…)

“America’s Quarterback” will not see his career implode if he does not have Louis Murphy as a slot man.

It pays to talk to folks and actually watch training camp practices, even though, like players, scribes like Joe are starting to get worn out.

Now through at least the next three weeks, you will see many prognostications about who will be where on depth charts, even though a depth chart before the first preseason game is about as useful as a snowblower in the Florida Keys. (more…)

It appears the Buccaneers have quashed promotion of players’ new t-shirts.

As a Buccaneers fan, sometimes it’s healing to embrace the comedy and misfortune surrounding the past 100 games, in which the team has lost 70.

It’s been a bizarre, maddening and hair-losing ride. (more…)

Healthiest since his rookie season.

Yes, Joe gets the dreaded question a lot this year. “Who is looking good?”

It’s the kind of question Joe avoids because unless a player is flat out balling, the answer is unsure. (more…)

Gerald McCoy wants Jameis to just be Jameis.

Joe thinks the term “leaders” may be the most misused and perhaps the most overblown word in sports, particularly football and specifically when talking about a 2-14 team. So you led your team to the worst record in the league? Cute. (more…)

Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter speaks

It’s often tough to judge training camp running plays.

Buccaneers defensive players don’t tackle running backs to the ground, and there’s not always real hitting on every play. (more…)

Bucs WR Robert Herron has been catching the ball for a change this summer.

Last year, why Robert Herron was at the bottom of the wide receiver depth chart wasn’t exactly a tough puzzle to solve. And it sure looked like he was on the wrong side of the bubble entering training camp this August. (more…)

Yes, the feet were down. It was a touchdown for Mike Evans, from Jameis Winston.

The steamy grind continues at Buccaneers training camp, as the Bucs keep wearing pads in practice and pounding each other in advance of the preseason opener on Saturday night in Minnesota.

Joe’s got all kinds of notes & nuggets. Enjoy. (more…)

George “Flash” Johnson

There’s plenty of speed on this young Buccaneers defense, and it’s evidenced in this video from today’s training camp practice at One Buc Palace.

Man, Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, would have been creamed here. (more…)

Backup… for now.

Not quite a full day after NFL Network’s Mike Mayock crowed that rookie Bucs guard Ali Marpet has “Pro Bowl potential,” you could have fooled Marpet with that statement. (more…)

Pro Bowl in his future?

It isn’t often that Joe sees Mike Mayock go all wobbly at the knees over an NFL player — like Joe does when he remembers his now trashed poster of Rachel Watson.

But that is exactly what Mayock did when for Bucs rookie guard Ali Marpet. (more…)

Joe may not be a fan of Evan (Dietrich) Smith, but that doesn’t mean Joe won’t share love for the Bucs’ starting center. (more…)

Endangered species?

Seems like the Bucs are running a lot of punters in and out of One Buc Palace of late.

Joe knows NFL teams love competition, but the revolving door of trying punters out sure smells like this punter roulette is more than just pushing Michael Koenen. (more…)

How good is Gerald McCoy?

However you choose to answer that — and it is debatable — it doesn’t take away from the extreme expectations on McCoy’s back. (more…)

New Bucs manbeast DT Tony McDaniel is talking big

There’s nothing like having a good player with supreme expectations and confidence, combined with a winning resumé.

It doesn’t always work out (see Evan Smith’s Super Bowl ring), but that attitude can be infectious. (more…)

Leslie Frazier talked about yesterdays’ fight at One Buc Palace

The Buccaneers had their first skirmish of training camp yesterday, with George Johnson and Demar Dotson at the bottom of the pile and teammates darting into the scrum.

Lovie Smith completely shrugged it off after practice, but Leslie Frazier had a lot to say. (more…)

Yes, “Hard Knocks” debuted last night. No, Joe didn’t see it. Joe cancelled HBO the instant “The Sopranos” went dark. It would have to be some kind of spectacular TV event to get Joe to pick HBO back up.

Besides, NFL Network will show reruns next summer. Joe can wait. (more…)

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock defended “America’s Quarterback” yesterday.

There isn’t a guy around talking football that Joe enjoys listening to more than Mike Mayock. Doesn’t mean Joe agrees with him all the time, but Joe could just sit for hours and listen to the guy.

As Chucky would say, “Love him, man!” (more…)

Sometimes, as many coaches will say often, the little things add up to big things.

And Joe has noticed that on more than one occasion, that applies specifically to defensive backs. (more…)