Bucs Rookie Minicamp Day 1 Happenings
May 12th, 2023
Bucs OL coach Harold Goodwin helps guard Cody Mauch (69) with his footwork in the first practice of rookie minicamp Friday.
Joe isn’t going to go crazy here with a play-by-play, blow-by-blow account of the Bucs’ first rookie minicamp practice this afternoon. Most of these guys won’t be with the Bucs when training camp kicks off in a little over two months (damn, time flies).
But, nonetheless, here are some highlights:
* OMG! Joe actually saw an RPO! Or was it a spread-option play? You know, where the quarterback sticks the ball in the gut of a running back, takes a step or two with the running back while reading the defense before deciding whether to give the ball up or pull the ball out? Now that’s different!
* To give you an idea of what underwear football is like (no pads, no tackling, no hitting of any sort), immortal running back Ikechukwu Irabor of Union College (N.Y.) ran inside the right tackle and the defense literally peeled off and ran away from Irabor. Like the guy had the Ebola virus or something.
* Early on, practice was noisy and had a lot of energy. That didn’t last a long time as so many players weren’t used to the Florida “spring” in early May. Bucs coach Todd Bowles noted he instructed the team to have more water breaks than usual as a result.
* Taye Barber of TCU comes back for a pass from Lindsey Scott and hauls it in for a nice catch just over the middle.
* This was beautiful: JoeBucsFan.com draft guru and the general manager of Bill Currie Ford, Sean Sullivan, tipped Joe off about running back Ronnie Brown of Shepherd who was a Division-II star. This Brown is sssmmmooottthhh. Brown came across the middle from the right side, caught a perfect pass from Kaylan Wiggins, continued across the field before turning upfield near the left sideline for a score. That play could not have been executed any better.
* Yes Sir! Fifth-round draft pick linebacker SirVocea Dennis got an interception on the defense’s left side of the field and housed it as he was guided by a pair of teammates all the way to the end zone. Faux photos were taken of the Pitt product as he posed near the goal line.
* Talk about quick hands: Barber, running sort of a look-in pass, had the ball come in a little above shoulder level. His hands darted out, snatched the ball and whipped it into his body cat-like fast.
* Nebraska receiver and Bucs’ sixth-round pick Trey Palmer is replacing Scotty Miller for all intents and purposes. Don’t think so? Well, he’s wearing Miller’s No. 10. And Joe saw him do something Joe never saw Miller do. Palmer, 6-1, 190, was near the left sideline when he was targeted. Palmer boxed out a defensive back, skied and came down with the ball. So Palmer isn’t shy about using his body to get a pass.
* On a pass intended for David Moore of East-Central Oklahoma, Derek Pitts of NC State was on him like stink on crap and batted the pass away.
* Barber races to the left sideline to haul in a pass and gets two feet down.
* This was kind of neat: While Wiggins was on the sidelines, he occasionally would mimic the footwork and handoff maneuver of whatever quarterback was on the field, sort of like a batter does in the on-deck circle when he swings at pitches. It was as if Wiggins was taking snaps and handing the ball off in his mind.
* Mix-up: Jerreth Sterns (remember him?) and fifth-round pick tight end Payne Durham both ran patterns that ended where the ball was thrown, near the right sideline. Sterns took a tumble. Neither came down with the ball.
* Man, Durham is a big target.
* Running back Sean Tucker of Syracuse was not involved in practice today. Afterward, when Bowles was asked if he could explain his absence, Bowles declined to offer any specifics.
May 12th, 2023 at 4:13 pm
The rumor is that Sean Tucker will probably not be cleared until training camp.
May 12th, 2023 at 4:14 pm
Thanks Joe I really like to read these kine reports.
May 12th, 2023 at 4:15 pm
Thanks, Joe! Love these practice notes as it contains content this fan cannot obtain from any other source. Please keep up the good work!!
May 12th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
Can’t sky over people when you are small and catch the ball with your body instead of your hands. Miller was a one trick pony and once DBs understood how to defend him by being physical, he was done.
May 12th, 2023 at 4:29 pm
Good stuff, Joe……any Mylew sightings?
May 12th, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Gee, I wonder what’s wrong with HIS heart. I pray for him and everyone else, including my own kid. Glad I chose not to participate. Anyway, GO BUCS!!!
May 12th, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Joe! Thanks for the report. It helps during this football drought. My first beer is for you tonight! Be well brother!
May 12th, 2023 at 4:34 pm
^^^ obviously speculation, but…..
May 12th, 2023 at 4:37 pm
I’ve been touting Ronnie Brown since the night they signed him and I checked out his bio
Practicality a PS guy but who knows…. Soft hands
May 12th, 2023 at 4:44 pm
It is hot. Get acclimated, men. July is but 60 days away.
May 12th, 2023 at 4:46 pm
Appreciate the insight on the rookies first practice!
May 12th, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Joe bringing the news to the average man !
May 12th, 2023 at 6:11 pm
As a Charleston, WV native I have watched Pitts since he was in Midde School…. the guy is a player. Given the lack of depth at Safety, don’t be surprised if he makes the initial 53 so they can protect him from be stolen by another team
May 12th, 2023 at 6:21 pm
Thanks, Joe.
May 12th, 2023 at 6:39 pm
I concur Joe…….Thank you.
Without your style of journalism we would barely know what is going on in camp.
May 12th, 2023 at 7:22 pm
Thanks for posting this Joe, love this stuff.
Also, everyone should do themselves a favor and go watch the highlight reel for Ronnie Brown – just make sure it’s the right guy, not the old Auburn RB. That kids highlight reel is one of the best I’ve ever seen – he looks like a mix of Barry Sanders with the hands of Christian McCaffrey. Now, to be clear, he’s doing it against guys that look like they got cut from the middle school JV team – but my goodness is it fun to watch.
May 12th, 2023 at 7:24 pm
Great report Joe. I am excited to see our team grow from tryout player UDFA draft trade wire pick up. I am excited to see if we do get to watch Sean Tucker in Red&Pewter and Orange&Red&White. Ronnie Brown’s tape is an eye-opener. Say it ain’t so Joe, Durham is a big target, with good hands.
Glad I did participate. At 57 6’4 220lbs BP 109/68 78 hr. {I’ve been working on my 6-pack StPete, planks, and my Tonal I can now see and feel them.} Wish a few of my family & friends had, they could still be here to go with me to the Dec 10th game in ATL. Supremely sad that they chose not to. I will and did take my children’s advice, both D.O. Thanks though.
May 12th, 2023 at 8:15 pm
Great job Rhino!! Keep up the good work. I’m trying to have this baby!!!!
May 12th, 2023 at 8:17 pm
Ronnie Brown is…interesting. I hope we get to see more of him.
May 12th, 2023 at 9:15 pm
Good info here Joe. Enjoyed reading it.
May 12th, 2023 at 9:45 pm
Sterns is back?
May 12th, 2023 at 11:15 pm
Did any clowns get removed from the field?
May 12th, 2023 at 11:35 pm
The lack of energy is classic Todd Bowles
Practice flat, play flat – like about 15 of 17 games last year where we had zero energy or emotion and got steamrolled by lesser talented teams
Yeah, that’s Todd as a HC
May 13th, 2023 at 7:16 am
Watched the take on Brown. He runs a lot like Philip Lindsay.
He doesn’t seem to have a fluid lower body but has good balance and vision. Not sure his game will translate against bigger and better competition.
Tucker however once medically cleared to play will be and likely will earn the split reps with White.
May 13th, 2023 at 8:04 am
As a proud Shepherd University Alum, pumped to hear about Brown doing ok.
Reminds me of when the Bucs signed Howard Jones and he had a couple sacks I a game. So cool.
May 13th, 2023 at 8:08 am
Thanks for the compliments guys.
May 13th, 2023 at 8:11 am
Had everything to do with guys getting worn by not being used to Florida spring and not being in football shape, nothing to do with Bowles. C’mon man.
May 13th, 2023 at 11:42 am
Seems like there is a mystery around Sean Tucker as he is left off the official roster and the UDFA announcement?
May 13th, 2023 at 11:48 am
Love reading camp notes. thanks Joe. Keep it up.
May 13th, 2023 at 1:04 pm
These are always awesome.
Underwear or full pads.
Thanks Joe!
May 13th, 2023 at 1:15 pm
Sean Tucker had a heart defect determined at The combine. So he has to wait till that clears up before he can be medically cleared for him to resume football activities.
May 13th, 2023 at 2:21 pm
Some of the numbnuts on here don’t know what climate chaos means. You think it’s hot and humid now, snort, just wait two months. Plus, storm season aka hurricane starts June 1st. Thanks for the scoop, joes. I know zilch about draft picks cos I don’t do college FB. Appreciate the info.
May 13th, 2023 at 2:57 pm
I always enjoy reading these stories. Thank you.