Bucs Training Camp Notes (Practice No. 8)
August 5th, 2022
It wasn’t a boring practice at Bucs training camp this morning. Chris Godwin returned, Mike Evans had his usual summer hamstring tweak (we think) and Tom Brady was not around. He’s been missing from One Buc Palace since Wednesday’s release of the NFL tampering investigation findings, of which Brady was a key figure.
Joe truly fears a late-Friday afternoon news dump.
So let’s get to the notes, shall we?
* Blaine Gabbert channels Michael Vick and runs a keeper up the middle. His next two passes are broken up, followed by a completed pass to Cam Brate on the left side.
* Playoff Lenny runs left in the three-hole (between left tackle and guard) taking advantage of a huge hole.
* Playoff Lenny has a play blown up as defenders got a lot of penetration up the middle and flushed him to the right. Loss of a couple.
* Rookie running back Rachaad White runs up the middle, hops over a defender just behind the line and has a nice gain. Seems like there is slightly more hitting from the defenders this morning.
* Joe isn’t sure if Kyle Trask botched the snap or if he had a bad snap. But he got drilled by Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (“Nacho”). Trask didn’t go down but Nacho’s hit basically blew up the play.
* Trask throws to Russell Gage on the left side and he skies high to haul in the pass.
* After that play, when the offense was getting back to the huddle, Joe heard someone holler at the offense “Let’s go” or “Let’s get it together” or something along those lines. Leftwich then had the entire offense — all players — gather in a large huddle and after about 30 seconds, the offensive-11 on the practice field then huddled up to call a play.
* Gabbert splits a pair of defenders to connect with Jaelon Darden. This was one of Gabbert’s better practices mainly because Joe didn’t notice any trademark Gabbert throws.
* Camp meat running back Kenjon Barner with a big gain running just where Playoff Lenny ran earlier, in the three-hole.
* Rookie tight end Cade Otton with a huge gain over the middle from Ryan Griffin. You can tell Otton is starting to get the hang of things after missing all offseason workouts and practices while he rehabbed a surgically-repaired ankle. Each day get he gets more snaps, more targets and seems to be improving as well. Starting to look like a real weapon.
* Julio alert: Like Otton, who seems to be grasping the offense more and, thus, getting more snaps, so too is Julio Jones. Gabbert had to step up in the pocket due to the pass rush and he threads the needle to Julio in double coverage.
* Gabbert escapes pressure and begins to run, then immediately locks up the brakes and stops dead in his tracks when he saw Devin White headed his way. Looked like a head-on-collision was about to happen. Smart move, Gabbert.
* It appeared Tyler Johnson dropped a Gabbert pass along the right sideline. Joe types “appears” because Carlton Davis dove for the ball and Joe was on the opposite side of the field. Couldn’t tell if Davis got a hand on the ball (Davis sort of screened Joe’s view) or tipped it or distracted Johnson but the result was all the same: An incompletion.
* Defense seems to more lively today, bouncing around and generally having fun.
* Good to see: Ryan Griffin throws to White in the left flat and he is immediately wrapped up by Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett. Now Barrett didn’t hit White (he could have) and instead wrapped him up. Todd Bowles doesn’t want defenders beating up their teammates and Joe understands this, but can’t they wrap guys up without blowing them up? Shaq wrapping up White with blasting him is what Joe wants to see from all the defenders.
* Gabbert again throws to the left flat for White and this time Zyon McCollum whiffs on White.
* Otton lines up on the left side tight to the tackle and catches a screen pass from Griffin for a nice gain.
* Gabbert throws short and low for Johnson to the right who races in, dives for the ball and gets it.
* Gabbert again with a short and low pass, this time to the left and Julio cannot quite get it as the ball goes off his hands. Good effort though.
* Gabbert connects with Mike Evans over the middle.
Red zone drills
* Gabbert hits Johnson to the right at the goal line and in traffic (tipped ball?) Johnson bobbles the ball but recovers for a touchdown.
* Finally some hitting: Trask throws to Jerreth Sterns in the back of the end zone toward the right corner. He was covered by McCollum and Keanu Neal was nearby. And Neal reminded Sterns he once was a Pro Bowler by clobbering Sterns.
* Trask throws to rookie tight end Ko Kieft in the right flat near the goal line. He was wide-arse open but K.J. Britt got a mitt on the ball. Kieft made a nice attempt coming back for the tipped ball and selling out for it but the ball hit the ground in front of Kieft.
* Trask throws over the middle for the back of the end zone and no one is home. Trask has had a really rough past couple of days. Forget second string, Joe isn’t sure Trask is third string based on his past two practices. Let’s just say Trask has not improved since training camp has opened. Instead, he’s headed in the opposite direction.
* Griffin tries for Sterns in about the same spot as Trask did earlier and Griffin is picked by Don Gardner.
7-on-7 drills
* Three straight completions for Gabbert: twice to Playoff Lenny on the right side and then to Russell Gage on the right sideline.
* Trask connects with Darden on the right sideline and then Trask targets Gage on the left sideline but the pass was dropped. To be fair to Trask, the camp meat he is throwing to have not helped him at all the past couple of practices (no, Gage is not camp meat). Perhaps Gage heard footsteps as there were three defenders nearby?
* Trask throws to White over the middle but the ball is off his hands and bounces forward. Lucky it is not picked. This is not on Trask.
* Trask to Cam Brate on the left side.
* Gabbert hits Mike Evans deep down the right sideline and Evans gets both feet down. But what about Evans’ hips?
* Trask complete to J.J. Howland along the right sideline and follows that with a hookup with Barner, right side.
* Trask tries to get the ball to Darden to the left side and it appears Ross Cockrell tips it. The ball bounces to Jamel Dean for the pick as Cockrell excitedly hollers, “Pick, pick!” And Cockrell points toward the end zone to rally his teammates for a return.
* Trask again tries for Darden on the left side and Lavonte David sells out by diving for the pass and tips it away.
* Gabbert with a beautiful pass to the right sideline for Evans deep. The ball drops right in the basket and Evans scores a touchdown and spikes the ball. Joe found out Evans spiked the ball out of frustration. Alas, it would be Evans’ final play of practice as he tweaked a hamstring (per Todd Bowles) on the play and Evans walks off the field limping.
* A fan nearby groans as if he’s about to puke, “Good thing we got Julio.”
* Gabbert to Playoff Lenny along the right sideline for about 15 yards.
11-on-11
* Gabbert likely would have had a coverage sack as he bounces in the pocket. He finds Otton open deep down the right sideline for a huge gain. Not only is this Gabbert’s best practice, but so too is Otton having his best practice of camp. Unless Gabbert gets hurt or Trask really blows coaches’ minds the rest of the way, Gabbert is your second-string quarterback folks.
* Gabbert throws to Playoff Lenny on a screen play to the left and Playoff Lenny has a wall of defenders leading a convoy for a big gain.
* It’s not all bad for Trask this morning. He rolls right and keeps the ball for a big gain.
* Loud and proud! Playoff Lenny is stuffed at the line and Nacho hollers and stomps his feet while goose-stepping in satisfaction. Again, the defense is playing with emotion this morning.
* Trask throws low to Johnson on the left side and Johnson comes back for the ball and slides and hauls it in. Receivers are hustling today too. Bowles must have had some choice words for his squad prior to practice.
* Despite this, Joe hears a fan moan out loud, “Trask has had a terrible day.”
* Cockrell breaks up a Griffin pass for Sterns who hits the deck over the middle. Cockrell stands over Sterns and screams, “Get that sh!t outta here!” Sure looks cool and gets Joe fired up and the crowd of some 500 fans loves it (Joe thought practice was closed today?) but that stunt likely gets flagged in a game. Passion is great and it is encouraging to see but you have to have some self-control, man.
* Gabbert to Gage over the middle. He bobbles the pass but is able to haul it in.
* Gabbert to Scotty Miller on a deep crossing pattern from the right. The crowd yells its approval.
* Gabbert to Julio on a short pass.
* Sterns dives for a Gabbert pass down the right seam for about a 35-yard gain. Defenders fail to touch Sterns to kill the play and Sterns perhaps doesn’t realize right away that NFL rules allow him to get up and run. But Sterns does, after a pause, get up and he does run for a touchdown. Fun play. This is also Stern’s best practice of camp. A practice in the air-conditioned Glazer Shed followed by a day off really seems to have energized a lot of players.
* Trask to Otton on the left sideline as Otton finished a down-and-out pattern. If Cam Gill wanted to he could have tattooed Otton.
* Trask to the immortal Cyril Grayson on the right side.
* Griffin throws deep down the right sideline for Deven Thompkins and the pass is just a hair too long.
Two-minute drill
* Brate catches a pass from Gabbert on the left side.
* Joe Tryon-Shoyinka races in from the right side and “sacks” Gabbert.
* Trask connects with Thompkins down the right sideline for about 20 yards. Trask had a rotten practice (again) but he’s finishing nicely.
* Joe is not sure what to make of this but Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was in the huddle with Trask and following him to the line of scrimmage. Leftwich said something to Trask as he shifts from under center into a shotgun.
August 5th, 2022 at 3:15 pm
The lack of progress is concerning regarding Trask. Or am I interpreting the notes incorrectly?
Glad to see the D fired up and sounds like the team had more urgency this practice. Good stuff.
August 5th, 2022 at 3:20 pm
Gabbert’s career record is 25-41, so he’s shown he can win you some games. He has a pretty good arm, and can make most of the necessary throws. The problem is his football IQ isn’t the best. I think the team and coaches have confidence in Gabbert. He’s been pretty good in practice. He might be the starter this season. Who knows? People said Gabbert’s record is a result of him not having weapons. He has plenty of weapons now.
Bowles is good with being vague in his answers. I think he knows if or when Brady will available. Maybe something will leak. Who knows. Jeff Darlington is probably working his sources.
August 5th, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Bucs grooming trask to become the next ryan griffin
August 5th, 2022 at 3:27 pm
Joe….how’s the writers bump…..must be aching a bit….
Sounds like Tyler Johnson is performing well….as is Otten.
Maybe….just maybe….Gabbert is better than we think…….nope.
August 5th, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Is that a Manssiere?
August 5th, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Or is it a Bro?
August 5th, 2022 at 3:50 pm
“Bucs grooming trask to become the next ryan griffin”
Big shoes to fill!!
August 5th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Gabbert is the steady hand. Sure sounds like he’s the clear front runner to retain the backup job.
August 5th, 2022 at 3:59 pm
Joe says that BL never developed Josh Rosen, but Trask has had BA, Tom Moore, Todd Christensen, Brady, Gabbert and the immortal Ryan Griffin, not looking good but he will have time in the preseason to prove us wrong
August 5th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
The QB from Stanford taken right after Trask had a decent year as a rookie for a very bad Texan team. Forgot his name, but saw him on NFL net last week, and seems to have his act together. His role models were Brady, Rodgers, and Luck also being the reason he went to Stanford. He’s getting rave reviews from the Texans, and is their undisputed starter. He’s smart, went to Stanford where he started, accurate, and already an NFL starter. I remember a lot of fans on this site saying we should’ve picked him instead of Trask. It’s looking like they may be right.
August 5th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
Bright side with trask is that hes a slow learner maybe he will click for him one day
August 5th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
I honestly can’t take comments on this site. “Gaebbert might be the starter” how in the name of God is that going to happen. You folks think that Brady is suddenly going to quit and ruin his legacy? Come on he’s dealing with personal issues most likely his mom’s health. The guy’s been in the league 22 years he’s not entitled to some time off. I really can’t take the absolute myopia and groundlessness of some of these posts. Yeah Brady’s jumping ship and joining the Dolphins before joint practices.
August 5th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
Irish Tony… I know. That’s why I go weeks where I don’t look at the site. I love the site and the articles but for some reason they are the most pessimistic negative know it all fans I’ve ever come across. I’ve lived in markets for New York Denver Dallas Buffalo LA … Some are trolls who don’t even like the team I believe. And then there are others who are so unbelievably negative about every little thing. They actually take star players and rip them apart, like Evans. It’s insane.
August 5th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Irish, time for a Guinness my friend.
Comments are like spam…you no likey, you no readey. Certainly, you no commenty, if you can’t takey.
Suh.
ps–not the food. I actually like the food.
August 5th, 2022 at 4:34 pm
Training Camp is an indicator, but far from an end all.
When I was a youngin’ I remember the Bucs had somehow acquired Jack Thompson, The Throwin Samoan, from Cincinnati.
During training camp he became the darling of the NFL as the Bucs, whose starters played much more in those days, went undefeated as Thompson went wild. Many predicted a deep playoff run for the Bucs that year (1983).
Then the regular season rolled around and the Bucs, well … became the Bucs.
Thompson soon became the worst QB in the NFL and the Bucs went 2-14.
After the next year Thompson certified himself as one of the top NFL busts and he never played again, which circumnavigates me back to my first sentence.
August 5th, 2022 at 4:46 pm
Since when did Joe become a coach?
His “Notes” only highlights what he sees. The majority of practice is obstructed views and only allows you to see a few plays here and there.
Joe also might have an axe to grind. How can he possibly coin a nick name for a guy that is not of the JW ilk.
August 5th, 2022 at 5:06 pm
Thanks for the observations, Joe, and all your narratives to keep us somewhat in the loop and entertained. I sure look forward to reading these. Did you get to see any center playing?
August 5th, 2022 at 5:23 pm
Hey Joe. How is Ko Kieft looking as a blocker?
August 5th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Joe I’m retired. I’ll be your proof reader and editor for free if you want.
August 5th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
A Twitter user noted that Gisele posted a happy birthday post of Brady in his Bucs uniform, and called him focused and disciplined and said she was cheering for him. It was an interesting choice of picture and words. The poster also noted that Brady liked a picture of Tristian Wirfs posted today of him at training camp.
It seems like everyone is just trying to read the tea leaves. Only Brady knows. It just sure sounds like Brady won’t be returning to the team. How could Bowles not know when Brady would return to the team? Also, it would be a bad look if Brady continued with his outside business ventures while missing practice.
August 5th, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Seems like goedeke is getting abused so far. Now i know he is making transition from tackle to guard but was hoping he would win the gig being taken so highly. Stinnie is serviceable. But that was more when a rock like jensen was next to him on the assist
Is leverett really getting the reps as guard 1A? Ouchy
August 5th, 2022 at 6:07 pm
Curious to what Joe fears with the Friday afternoon news dump…I too have a very strange feeling as it relates to Brady. I wouldn’t be surprised a bit if he re-retired. It’s been a bad offseason in many respects.
August 5th, 2022 at 6:22 pm
@Bird. Stinnie hasn’t been serviceable. He’s a below average player and a huge downgrade from Marpet. I re-watched the Rams game and he was getting worked. Stinnie was a FA and had no offers. That should tell you something. He was also pretty bad when he was with the Titans.
August 5th, 2022 at 6:22 pm
Julio’s practice with Gabbert is nice but not really important. He knows by now how to play. Much more important is for Julio and Brady to practice together so they can sort out what each will be expecting the other to do in various situations. Afraid Julio will be invisible early in the season unless he and Brady get more time together.
August 5th, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Otton a young Brate that is better at blocking! Bucs better have a plan for a QB in the future that isn’t Trask or Gabbert if they want to be a contender team after Brady.
August 5th, 2022 at 6:43 pm
Trask was an absolute wasted draft pick with them being in win now mode.
August 5th, 2022 at 7:08 pm
You people are nuts. Julio literally just came to the Bucs because of Tom. Rudolph literally just came to the Bucs because of Tom. Lenny, Mason, Jensen, Davis and several others only came back because of Tom. Tom walking after that would be the biggest jerk move in sports. Dude has personal issues he’s dealing with, plain and simple. You guys are more nutty than Alex Jones with your conspiracy theories…
August 5th, 2022 at 7:29 pm
Maniac should change to intelligentiac.
August 5th, 2022 at 7:46 pm
Hopefully Trask starts for the first two preseason games. He need the rep more than Brady and Gabbert.
August 5th, 2022 at 9:19 pm
Trashk will be lucky to get a Canadian offer.
August 5th, 2022 at 11:27 pm
Trask seems like a nice guy.
But he didnt have the arm when we drafted him.
Still doesnt.
As I said the day we drafted him- it was a wasted pick.
Its ok. I dont have the arm to play NFL QB either.
August 6th, 2022 at 12:23 am
Why are you so many reading into Brady taking a day or 2 for personal reasons?
It’s very normal and has happened with plenty of players before. It’s really not a big deal. Just hope everything‘s OK with his family and friends
August 6th, 2022 at 12:30 am
What year is Trask in and he still looks like trash?
August 6th, 2022 at 7:46 am
@maniac
“You guys are more nutty than Alex Jones with your conspiracy theories…”
That’s being too kind. Maybe, “You guys are more nutty than those still wearing face Trasks outside in Florida…in August.”
August 6th, 2022 at 7:47 am
Was really looking for Trask to take a big step and possibly unseat Gabbert. Starting to understand why Ryan Griffen is still on the team.