“[Flock] You!”
August 8th, 2017
Bucs linebacker Riley Bullough highlighted Tuesday night. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Now this is the great thing about “Hard Knocks.”
Joe pays little to no attention to camp meat, dudes that are the threes — or lower. That’s because that vast majority of fans don’t care about ancillary football players they never heard of who very likely will be spraying pesticide on people’s lawns come October.
Given the access “Hard Knocks” has at training camps, they find interesting guys few ever heard of. This year, “Hard Knocks” found a bubble player who is interesting. That would be Riley Bullough.
The linebacker from Michigan State was introduced by “Hard Knocks” hitting blocking sleds. Each time he hit the sled, he screamed, “[Flock] you!”
(Yes, you can substitute the word “flock” for the f-word you think it is.)
An intense chatter box on the practice field, Bullough caught the eye of winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter. As a quarterbacks meeting was about to start, Koetter said of Bullough, “He is always talking” and remarked how Bullough seemed to know where everyone should be lined up on defense in various formations.
Then, in a team meeting, Koetter was talking about leaders and how they don’t have to be stars. After saying he didn’t want to “embarrass” anyone, he showed on an overhead projector a slide of Bullough’s Bucs headshot.
The “Hard Knocks” cameras showed Bullough’s reaction. His eyebrows raised and he quickly perked up in his seat and had a small smile. Proud. Bullough clearly had no idea Koetter was going to single him out for praise.
“I think that is what Coach Koetter saw, I’m a guy that wants to go out there with energy every single day,” Bullough said. “I love the game of football. And I’m passionate about it.”
As if he needed to be reminded where he is on the depth chart, after a practice Bullough was signing autographs and a fan asked if he could snap Bullough’s picture. Bullough agreed. After the picture was taken, the same fan asked, “What’s your name?”
Bullough was then shown walking off the field with his hands full of helmets, a Bucs tradition where rookies carry the pads of vets off the field.
“Next year,” Bullough said, “Rookies will be doing this for me.”
August 8th, 2017 at 11:59 pm
I really liked him on HK..thanks for HK we get to see a side of these guys we wouldn’t normally unless your a Michigan guy..
I really hope he’s at least kept on the practice squad..he wants to be there and wants to win a job..
He is a TRUE STICK CARRIER !
August 9th, 2017 at 12:13 am
I loved his brother and hoped the Bucs would take him yrears ago but Houston got him.
August 9th, 2017 at 12:26 am
The best of all was his nickname ” Joe Dirt”
August 9th, 2017 at 12:36 am
Really had no idea about this guy. And now I want to root for him to pull off the impossible and win a spot on the roster.
Bullough will have to be one dynamic special teams player to have any chance.
August 9th, 2017 at 1:02 am
Nothing wrong with putting him on the Practice Squad and let him grow.
So this is what depth feels like…..not having enough roster spots for good players
August 9th, 2017 at 1:04 am
Loved his personality. He’d be a awesome fit on special teams. Has a real chance to make it with players like Glanton and Lynch in front of him. Nothing against them, but they’re not world beaters by any stretch.
August 9th, 2017 at 5:23 am
Hell yeah….best of luck to you bro!
August 9th, 2017 at 6:24 am
Petal to the metal!!!
Keep bringing them Licht!!!
Potential Badass member of the team!!!
August 9th, 2017 at 8:13 am
Need some one with a bad ass attitude and he can bring that to special teams hope he makes it and grows into the position .
August 9th, 2017 at 9:33 am
The guy works his tail off in every practice and you can tell hes a natural born leader.. We will see how he does in game situation in a couple days
August 9th, 2017 at 11:08 am
DK’s observation…not all leaders are stars…I think goes both ways…not all stars are leaders…GMC and LVD come to mind. Doesn’t mean however they are not stars!
August 9th, 2017 at 11:52 am
Bullough signed a three year 1.65 million dollar rookie free agent contract. Not exactly camp meat money. Someone must have believed he has a shot to make the team.
August 9th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
He obviously is learning the playbook well. If he can play special teams with enough skill, he should be able to make the roster. At the very least- the practice squad.
FYI to people who haven’t seen the show before, every season ther are 3-4 undrafted / unknowns who get featured quite a bit on HK. Usually only 1 or 2 will actually make the team or PS. Seeing guys get cut is part of the drama!
August 9th, 2017 at 2:50 pm
I had forgotten about this dude. He was a total beast in college. the kind of player that jumps off the screen at you. Always around the ball. I hope he makes the team. Give it hell Joe Dirt…..make them learn your real name.