Benenoch: Hunger + Talent = Tougher Camp
August 28th, 2018
Inside job
Many fans and media want to know if Dirk Koetter ran a tougher training camp this season.
Players have chimed with takes that shed little light, but Caleb Benenoch is an exception.
First, Joe can’t claim to see anything that made August practices look significantly tougher than their 2017 counterparts. Heck, the Bucs spent maybe 15 or 20 percent of practice time inside their comfortable indoor facility and out of the elements, whereas that wasn’t an option last year. Walk-through sessions were air-conditioned, too.
What that means, Joe isn’t sure. And frankly, training camp ended last week and Koetter has had post-camp practices that were largely closed off to media, so maybe Koetter ramped it up big-time this week. Doubtful, but maybe.
Regardless, third-year Bucs guard/tackle Caleb Benenoch was telling Joe and media on Monday that camp was more physical and tougher this year.
After the media crowd left Benenoch, Joe asked for more detail, “Was there one thing that was most ‘more physical,’ as far as adding physicality. Was there one thing?” Joe asked.
Benenoch said it was about effort and talent, not more reps or tougher duty from the head coach.
“Just the general mindset. Like I won’t say it was [Coach Koetter] added any more reps or anything like that,” Benenoch said. “It was just the general mindset of our team. Everybody’s out. We’re hungry and we’re just trying to win games, man. So it shows on the practice field and the game field.
“I told Gerald and stuff like, you go against those guys every single day, like it makes the game so much more simpler and slower because JPP, Gerald McCoy, Vinny Curry, these are top players in this league and you get to play against them every day; it helps a lot.”
Perhaps this is the best answer that a Bucs fan could hear. Players worked harder, Benenoch said, and combined with better in-house talent, they all made each other better.
Joe’s going to go with that. It feels and good and, if accurate, shows the team is self-motivated, which is exactly what Jameis Winston told Joe and Ira Kaufman is the key to the season during their June sit-down.
August 28th, 2018 at 6:00 pm
That’s great to hear instead of all the damn excuses we’ve been getting. With this Mickey Mouse coach #KluelessKoetter
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!
August 28th, 2018 at 6:03 pm
It’s fun to criticize the coaches and GM…hey the cheerleaders had BO last year…but the reality is that its up to the players.
So yeah Joe I agree with your conclusion. Self motivation is the key…these are grown men…professionals…coaches can only do so much to motivate.
August 28th, 2018 at 6:10 pm
Sounds good to me.
In the end this team has needed trench overhaul for a long time – for both talent & attitude.
Here’s to hoping Vea can be 100% by week 1 and start wrecking sh1t.
I know Kobe is obsessed with Derwin James; but I’m mostly going to be comparing the Vea pick to Marcus Davenport & Daron Payne. I wanted DL all day over secondary and have wanted that philosophical emphasis for years. But you gotta hit on the right guys.
August 28th, 2018 at 6:22 pm
LC : Have to agree with you 100%. I see it as a good pick , so let’s get him back to playing!
August 28th, 2018 at 6:27 pm
So some else is using 2 names now. I wounder who it could be?
August 28th, 2018 at 6:27 pm
^someone
August 28th, 2018 at 6:28 pm
I’m so excited about this season. Stay healthy and we go all the way to the promise land.
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHETROLLS!!!!
August 28th, 2018 at 6:29 pm
DBS Says:
“So someone else is using 2 names now. I wounder who it could be?”
lol
August 28th, 2018 at 6:33 pm
Learning HOW to win is just as important as having a DESIRE to win IMO. Some of the guys we brought in this year clearly know HOW to win, and that’s rubbing off on the rest of the team I think. Guys like JPP & Beau Allen & Vinny Curry & Ryan Jensen are not only talented, but they know how to do what it takes to win. That’s clearly rubbing off IMO & hopefully this Bucs team … defense AND offense … is now getting a good sense of HOW to win. No more of this falling behind early BS & then playing catch-up. No more not being able to close out games in the waning minutes. Get ahead early then stand on your opponent’s throat so he begs for the end of the game to hurry up & get here. No more excuses. Time to kick some ass.
August 28th, 2018 at 7:08 pm
I’m trying not to get high expectations like last year but it is difficult…..it simply feels like a different team with all of the new players……they have a winning mindset….I also think we had a very good draft……younger players like Justin Evans, Benenoch, Beckwith, Godwin, Howard, Barber…….all should be contributors.
Feelin’ really good….but we will see!!!
August 28th, 2018 at 8:41 pm
no one is talking about the bucs and I think its a good thing bucs will be better than everybody thinks its our year guys bucs are on the rise ,this will be a no excuse season just go get it
August 28th, 2018 at 10:02 pm
Well DB, I doubt you are referring me but just incase I have recently changed my name from “Buddy” with a capital B because I didn’t realize that there was another “buddy” with a small b.
He and I are polar opposites. I guess I’m on the South Pole and he’s on the North so I chose to change my name to something more fitting my style.
He’s got his opinions and I have mine but we are opposite sides of the magnet.
Again, I doubt you were referring to me because I don’t comment that often but just in case ✌
GO BUCS!!!!!!
August 28th, 2018 at 10:13 pm
Now that’s a good old football story right there. An elevating story, adding a subtle
sense of excitement and cohesiveness. One single “mindset”. That’s good.
August 28th, 2018 at 10:14 pm
However I’m not so sure buddy is wrong on this one…
I do believe that it’s on the coaches heads! The talent is definitely here… Will Dirk and the gang KNOW what to do with it REMAINS a mystery…
I sure hope that Dirk and the gang don’t screw this up. If so… OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!!!! Except Licht. I sure do feel in my gut that he’s taking us the right direction 👍👍👍👍👍 He gets 5 thumbs up on this draft.
10 and 6 with a playoff berth…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 28th, 2018 at 10:26 pm
Anyone else see that Robert Ayers was signed by the Lions yesterday and 28 hours later cut today?
Now that is a scoop I would like someone to get to the bottom of!
August 29th, 2018 at 8:52 am
Heard the same baloney last August…
August 29th, 2018 at 9:03 am
joel
I agree!!!!
heard the same thing last year!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
August 29th, 2018 at 9:33 am
DBS
I aint using 2 names…..buddy jumped on the “NOEXCUSE” train a while back
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!