Buccaneers-Jaguars Thursday Practice Notes, Nuggets & Video
August 19th, 2016
Rough Thursday in Jacksonville for Lavonte David, while Kwon Alexander, Brent Grimes, Josh Robinson and Ryan Smith had impressive picks.
Yes, the Bucs wrapped up practicing with the Jaguars yesterday in Jacksonville. There was a lot to see, often on three fields at once. Joe’s primary focus yesterday was on the Bucs’ defense.
But Joe moved all over the place under the midday sun. Here’s your need-to-know, and a little bit more.
*Pretty thin crowds for the practices. Joe attended a Jags minicamp in June, and it was an overflow crowd, but not this week. Those who have attended Bucs training camp know the Tampa Bay crowd is pretty lively. It’s the exact opposite in Jacksonville, crickets and no hecklers like you get in Tampa. There were some oohs and ahhs at great plays, but that’s about it.
*Practice opens with punt work, and Bucs punter Jacob Schum, last year’s No. 1 guy, hits a 24-yarder. Joe is on the Jaguars sidelines and immediately hears one of their special teams coaches yell coaching points: “If it’s that bad of a kick we have to … “
*Bucs top gunners on punt unit or Hey Jude Adjei-Barimah and Russell Shepard. Jude was locked up pretty well. Shepard is a nasty handful.
*Onside kick work. Players are not in full pads today, just “shells.” Coaches of both teams screaming reminders not to bury anyone on a play that normally sees players get mauled.
*In receiver-QB drills, there are zero bad connections in the first round from America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, and all QBs and receivers. Well done, Bucs. Included is a leaping grab by Kenny Bell.
*Tight ends coach Jon Embree working with his men is heard screaming: “Get in the fu**ing end zone, not the goal line” over and over. On Wednesday, there were a couple of plays that saw Austin Seferian Jenkins make catches at the 2 yard line, and Cameron Brate was at the goal line.
*Back to receivers, receivers coach/offensive coordinator Todd Monken is freaking out on guys screaming, “Don’t give up your number.” Joe chatted with Monken privately after practice and that one-liner is all about maintaining pad level into the break on a route. If you run low, with proper pad level, almost with your chest parallel to the ground, then nobody can see the number on the front of your jersey. When you open and cut, that’s when your number should be seen. Props to Monken for answering all kinds of coaching/football questions for Joe this year. The man just oozes love of the game, and Joe has learned a lot from him.
*Now it’s getting sloppy. DROP! Donteea Dye. Drop! Russell Shepard.
*Jameis releases deep throw to Shepard and immediately calls out. “Oh, my fault.” Ball was over thrown about eight yards.
*Jags receivers versus Bucs corners. Alterraun Verner is beaten speed Marqise Lee and cornerbacks coach John Hoke gives him an earful.
*INTERCEPTION! Josh Robinson with perfect position on ex-Buccaneer Arrelious Benn. Robinson has a very physical game. Big body, especially when you compare him to Verner, Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves.
*Donteea Dye looks quick against Jags corners.
*Hargreaves struggles with stud receiver Allen Hurns. Hargreaves is right with him, but breaks slow on a comeback-out route on the left sideline. Complete! Hargreaves holds his helmet. Can’t believe he didn’t get a hand on the ball.
*Bucs rookie fourth-round pick, safety/cornerback Ryan Smith, with one-hand interception in the right corner of the end zone. Special stuff.
*Jags move in closer to goal line in these 1-on-1s and Brent Grimes allows a slant-pass completion. Hoke gets all over Grimes — “Cut it off, 24!” — and Grimes isn’t happy with his position coach’s assessment. It sure appeared to Joe like Grimes pulled up to not blow up the receiver, which is the rules of practice. Hoke doesn’t want to hear it. Joe has noticed that Hoke definitely gets under the skin of his players at times.
*11-on-11 work happening on two fields. Mike Evans kicks it off with a 20-yard-out to the right side. Smooth.
*INTERCEPTION! Kwon Alexander picks Blake Bortles on the left sideline. Joe’s not quite sure how Kwon got his mitts on that one. Strong break on the ball and Kwon was going hard after it.
*And here’ comes the Gerald McCoy ankle injury that made big headlines. Man, was that overblown. McCoy tweaks his ankle and limps off the field. Trainer or doctor talks to him as McCoy walks it off and takes a wincing moment or two by a water cooler on the bench. Everything is good. No ice. No intense medical check. McCoy is simply ordered to drop his helmet and take off his jersey because he’s done for the day. Ten minutes later, McCoy puts his jersey back on (no helmet) as he walks around the fields with his fellow D-linemen.
*Bucs D-linemen working 1-on-1 against Jags O-linemen. Jags are having a little more success today after losing out to the Bucs’ D-line in a big way on Wednesday. Akeem Spence gets stuffed, and Clinton McDonald is owned by A.J. Cann. But then it’s Jacquies Smith’s turn. He beats Jags starting right tackle Jermey Parnell with speed, and then comes back and bull rushes him for a win. You win if you get to the tackling-dummy QB in the allotted time. Bucs D-line coach Jay Hayes yells, “Good job, Jack Smith.”
*The fun continues with Howard Jones (five sacks last year) and his motor. Hayes praises Jones’ “feel,” likes how he adjusts on the fly with quickness. Jones might be very hard to keep off the roster, based on his training camp and success last year.
*Camp meat alert! Rookie defensive tackle Travis Britz bull rushes ex-Bucs guard Patrick Omameh for a win.
*When you’re coached by Jay Hayes, you always seem to know where you stand. Hayes rails on Kourtney Brown to “finish.” Second-rate effort makes Hayes crazy. As seen yesterday in this JoeBucsFan.com video. Noah Spence has his way with left tackle Luke Joeckel. Stunning.
*Win for defensive tackle A.J. Francis, who is very likely to make the roster. But he comes right back with an offsides. Bucs D-line coaches look like they want to vomit.
*11-on-11 starts up again with the Bucs doing their up-tempo thing. Back-to-back short strikes to Mike Evans from Jameis, followed by 20 yards in the seam to Brate. Next play the Bucs go four wide with Kenny Bell, Brandon Myers, Evan Spencer and Adam Humphries. It’s a 15-yard completion to Humphries in the slot. The Bucs celebrated a touchdown run after the catch, but clearly the Jags safety pulled up to not hit Humphries after the catch. Regardless, it was an impressive 4-for-4 for the Bucs offense. There was a delayed celebration on the Bucs sidelines led by Jameis. It was as if he was saying to most of his teammates, “Why aren’t you jacked up? I know it’s practice, but we just kicked ass.”
*Jags offense hits some short stuff on two passes, followed by a diving Grimes breakup on Julius Thomas on a short ball to the right side.
*Two more short completions by the Jags offense. Lots of precision by Jacksonville. Joe’s gut ached thinking of the 70 percent completion rate allowed by Tampa Bay last year. But then came the big play. Noah Spence, from right defensive end, beats his man and flushes Bortles to the left. There’s no outlet for Bortles and Spence chases him down. SACK! Mass, spontaneous celebration on the Bucs sidelines.
*Second-team in and there’s a gorgeous completion from Glennon to Russell Shepard for 20 yards. A lot like Shepard’s catch in Philly for a TD last week. But holdup! Penalty flag by the Bucs’ O-line. Play is called back with a 10-yard penalty. Joe has no idea who is the culprit.
*Glennon then throws incomplete and Jameis erupts at Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Read that full story on the JoeBucsFan.com home page.
*7-on-7 Jags vs. Bucs defense. Rough day for Lavonte David. Burned by tight end Julius Thomas for 20 yards. Bortles to running back Joe Banyard for eight yards and a touchdown. David was covering, or trying to. Later, David was beaten again, and then in red zone, David was beaten for a TD by Rashad Lawrence. “C’mon,” yells linebacker coach Mark Duffner after that one.
*Words can’t describe this Brent Grimes interception.
*Top-tap touchdown in the back of the end zone for Russell Shepard from Glennon. Shepard is doing everything with so much confidence.
*Back to 11-on-11, and based on player reaction and yellow flags, there appears to be two consecutive penalties on the Bucs defense. Mr. Grimes likes to talk to officials. Joe wishes there was audio.
*Another Shepard connection, this time from Jameis. Shepard his hit over the middle but hangs on for 20 yards.
*Blitz! Jags bring the house from their left side and Jameis throws quick to his left to Mike Evans complete. Another quick throw left, Jameis to Shepard.
*Jameis fail on a deep ball, which just hasn’t been a strength this summer. No blame, just reality on Aug. 19.
*Adam Humphries continues to impress and be a model of consistency. Joe asked him about that after practice. Video below.
August 19th, 2016 at 6:59 am
It would be great to see the deep passing game come along a lot better. Although, I do feel like we’ll def improve upon last year’s attack. I sure am jacked for the season to get started. I’m on a greyhound bus heading to Tampa via Livingston parish, La, where I have lost everything for a third time in ten years to either a flood of a hurricane it sucks but at the same time, Kick off is 22 days away and I will have something positive to focus on instead of all the worry and wondering why me.I have a feeling this year’s team will be special and bring us real bucs fans all much joy and pride.
August 19th, 2016 at 7:15 am
@ Reel
Keep your head up brother
August 19th, 2016 at 7:28 am
It is sounding like we won’t miss Murphy that much because Shepard has developed into a reliable receiver….
August 19th, 2016 at 7:46 am
Great notes. Really appreciate this. Looks like 2 winners here: Bucs and JBF.
August 19th, 2016 at 8:29 am
That Bent Griems pick was so nice!!!!
August 19th, 2016 at 8:30 am
Good stuff Joe, almost feels like your there watching it. Love to hear the D line reaming havoc. Specifically Spence and Jones. Wich I think HoJo is gonna have a decent year and improve on his impressive 5 sack debut. Love his speed of the edge, not to mention he’s a perfect fit for a blitzing 3-4 LB. And Grimes showing off his hands once again. Sick catch, I have a feeling that is t the last one hander we see from him. Can’t wait for 2mrw’s game in Jax. -GO BUCS!!!
August 19th, 2016 at 8:46 am
Hopefully the run game and short passes/screen game open up some lay-up deep balls for Winston so he can just let it fly without worrying about the corner.
He seems to naturally underthrow deep balls and then occasionally overthrows trying to compensate. He does it with the deeper crosses and in/out routes too, usually ending up behind his receiver a little bit.
That’s mainly a timing/chemisty issue though as you don’t see it happen as much with Brate/Hump/Sims/Vjax but Evans/ASJ/Dye/Martin he seems to underthrow/throw behind. Route running might play a part as well if receivers are breaking earlier or later than expected or getting off the line and behind their corner faster or slower than expected.
August 19th, 2016 at 9:10 am
Seems like Shep hears alot of this mis guided WR dept concern noise and is determined show some folks other wise. Keep causing ripple in the water homie.
August 19th, 2016 at 9:17 am
Noah Noah Noah Noah.
Noah.
August 19th, 2016 at 9:26 am
Spawn: You filthy little piece of vermin. What makes you think I would join your army? You can take that army of yours and shove it.
Clown: Sounds like a country song.
August 19th, 2016 at 9:39 am
☺87 been doing some research.
August 19th, 2016 at 9:58 am
Reelbuc
Best wishes in your recovery.
August 19th, 2016 at 10:10 am
Enjoyed the front row seat watching the recap.
August 19th, 2016 at 10:21 am
Two defensive penalties in a row is pretty bad. Hopefully we’re on the right track in the penalty department. It’ll take some time.
August 19th, 2016 at 10:26 am
Spawn!
August 19th, 2016 at 10:34 am
Who did Ryan Smith and Josh Robinson pick? Was it bortles or their #2 or 3 qb? Either way, looks like the 1’s picked bortles off twice. That makes me happy.
August 19th, 2016 at 11:08 am
Ok so we just forgetting about yesterdays practice??
August 19th, 2016 at 11:09 am
Jk I cant read. We square Joe 👌
August 19th, 2016 at 11:15 am
I got Spawns in Atlanta
August 19th, 2016 at 11:38 am
If #3 struggles with the deep ball. Or just overall accuracy issues. 56% leading this team to 5-11. He’ll have only next seasonto get it together. After Freeman this franchise won’t waste 5 years on an inaccurate Qb. Not an issue if we drafted Mariota. I’d rather ride the horse that if he’s healthy. Could win the Kentucky derby. Than a horse that can finish no better than eighth……everyday.
August 19th, 2016 at 11:47 am
The Bucs are not cutting Jameis if he struggles this season. Freeman got cut because he and his agent ran himself out of town.
Joe knows of no team that is going to give up on a No. 1 overall pick of a quarterback who guided offense to franchise records after one bad season.
August 19th, 2016 at 11:59 am
ReelBuc
I really respect your postive out look on things – after being knocked down so many times. It’s a true testament of your moral character, and strong will to survive.
Keep Grinding Brotha.
August 19th, 2016 at 12:09 pm
Great notes as always..wow..excited for the defense..Grimes catch is all over the internet..
And Reel..I really feel for you..I feel for the people in Louisiana..hope you can just settle into Tampa permanently..
August 19th, 2016 at 12:16 pm
Reeelbuc…sorry to hear that man.
Stay away from places that constantly flood. Stay here in the Tampa area.
That sucks man. My wife burnt me out of my house for 3 months one time so I can kind of relate. Good luck man.
Go Bucs!
August 19th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
“Jones might be very hard to keep off the roster, based on his training camp and success last year.”
Howard Jones has been a complete surprise to me. He sort of snuck up on us, and he might end up being an elite DE within a year or two.
August 19th, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Poor Glennon Says
“If #3 struggles with the deep ball. Or just overall accuracy issues. 56% leading this team to 5-11. He’ll have only next seasonto get it together. After Freeman this franchise won’t waste 5 years on an inaccurate Qb. Not an issue if we drafted Mariota. I’d rather ride the horse that if he’s healthy. Could win the Kentucky derby. Than a horse that can finish no better than eighth……everyday.?
…nevermind…if you are dumb enough to post this, then you likely would not catch on to reality when it’s pointed out either.
August 19th, 2016 at 12:30 pm
@Reelbuc
Maybe you can help me understand something?
If history shows such things to happen frequently, then why do people even bother living in a state that is mostly below sea level?
To me, it’s sort of like living in Kansas, even though its the tornado capital, or living along the San Andreas Fault.
August 19th, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Is rather have a qb throw it deep and take chances than have a guy who just checks down and throws short passes. If jw bumps his pct to 60% I’d say that’s good.
August 19th, 2016 at 12:37 pm
Not many QBs consistently hit on deep balls. It’s not Madden. I’ve seen every elite QB miss on deep passes (Luck/Rogders/etc). Winston missed more often than he should but still – I’m not concerned. He’s 22 years old lol.
August 19th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
Is it too late now to say Spawny?
August 19th, 2016 at 1:36 pm
Thanks for the well wishes.
August 19th, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Nice recap Joe – Thanks.
Glad to hear Ryan Smith made a nice play – and it sounds like Robinson is having a decent camp too. Perhaps our secondary will be OK moving forward. Grimes alone will make a huge difference this year I believe.
August 19th, 2016 at 5:08 pm
Thanks Joe.
1. Koetter has been talking about the deep ball all offseason but it still doesn’t seem like he’s got it down yet. Im sure he’ll get better in time.
2. The Spawn is looking like a monster!!! GMC sit you ass down!!! Dont want to see him in the game. I dont know how many D lineman they keep on the roster but they better F-ing keep H. Jones on the roster. I like A.J. francis too.
3. Love to hear about my boy Ryan Smith’s one handed pick. I’m really excited about him and hope he can be a boss safety for us
August 19th, 2016 at 10:45 pm
Deep passing hasn’t been a strength yet