Notes On OTA Practice No. 4
May 30th, 2023
Solid practice.
Yes, Joe was at OTA practice today at One Buc Palace. A bunch of vets decided to take the day after Memorial Day off from the voluntary workout. But the young guns appeared to all be there for underwear football practice.
* Rachaad White took a rare handoff (few runs in underwear football) outside the left tackle, Tristan Wirfs, for a short run.
* Baker Mayfield pumps right and then throws down the right seam hitting Cade Otton in a tight window.
* Mayfield rolls right, no one is open so he tucks it and runs.
* Kyle Trask throws to the left sideline where he connects with Ryan Miller (Furman) for a short gain.
* This may have been the best Trask that Joe has seen in practice. Nothing flashy or spectacular. Just solid ball. His demeanor after practice — he actually showed a personality! — suggested Trask was satisfied with his practice today.
* Trask checks to Patrick Laird to the left sideline.
* Maybe Joe is seeing things but it just seemed Trask’s release was quicker today than at any point before. Maybe this is why he appeared to have a solid practice?
* Whoops! This is underwear football and hitting is verboten. Still, when dudes fly around incidental contact is bound to happen sooner or later. Running back Ronnie Brown was running right and he got clocked by J.J. Russell.
* Mayfield connects with rookie receiver Trey Palmer over the middle. With Mike Evans not at practice today and Russell Gage hurt (again), Palmer is getting a lot of valuable snaps with the ones (first team).
* Yes sir! Same for rookie linebacker SirVocea Dennis. With Lavonte David, Devin White and K.J. Britt each not at practice, Dennis got valuable snaps with the ones on defense.
* Ke’Shawn Vaughn has a power run up the middle.
* Trask hits undrafted rookie receiver Rakim Jarrett along the left sideline for a short gain.
* Mayfield fires down the right seam and the ball is off the hands of tight end Ko Kieft.
* Mayfield rifles a pass to the right for receiver Taye Barber (TCU).
* Mayfield throws the same pass, this time for Chris Godwin.
* Good effort by Palmer on this play. Mayfield lofts a ball to the far left corner of the end zone for Palmer who was running down the left seam. A cornerback (Joe couldn’t tell who because Joe was screened on the play) had inside leverage on Palmer who simply ran around the corner to the outside. Then breaking in on the ball he nearly was able to make a play on the pass as he dove for it.
* Mayfield connects with rookie tight end Payne Durham along the left sideline. Dang that guy is a big target.
* Vaughn catches a pass from Mayfield along the left sideline.
* Tight end David Wells (San Diego State) came in a couple of steps from the left sideline and caught a short pass from Mayfield.
* Palmer caught a pass over the middle from Mayfield as he was inside from his left moving to the right side.
* Jarrett skies to haul in a rare high pass from Trask on the right side. Trask normally on short passes, especially over the middle, throws low to avoid tipped passes or worse: picks.
* Kieft pulls in a pass from Trask over the right seam.
* Kaylon Geiger catches a pass down the right seam from Mayfield.
* Mayfield unloads a pass in the general direction of Otton as a heavy blitz damn near got to Mayfield.
* Mayfield pumps a deep pass and then throws right to Vaughn.
* Mayfield is looking for a receiver over the middle and gets happy feet waiting for a receiver to get open. He then pulls the ball in and runs right.
* Mayfield lofts a pass to the left side for Jarrett.
* Mayfield goes deep for Miller to the left side who goes low to scoop the ball up and rolls over across the goal line and scores.
* Trask throws to Barber down the left sideline for a touchdown.
* Trask throws to the left for undrafted rookie receiver Kade Warner who shook his man, turned back, squared up and was waiting for the pass.
* Trask throws low to Kieft down the left side and Kieft can’t quite come up with the ball as the pass is off his hands.
* Mayfield overthrows Geiger in the far left corner of the end zone.
* Under pressure, Mayfield runs a boot to the right and scores.
* Warner hauls in a pass from Trask over the middle.
* Trask rolls right and hits Kieft on the right side.
* Trask looks right then throws over the middle for Palmer who goes low to dig up the ball for a completion.
May 30th, 2023 at 4:34 pm
Sounds like the rookies and younger players received valuable reps.
May 30th, 2023 at 4:44 pm
If we are committed to the run game, it’s time to shift Wirfs to fullback permanently.
May 30th, 2023 at 4:56 pm
Well It looks to me that Trask is throwing too many low balls the receivers have to reach for them…Soo…🤔
May 30th, 2023 at 5:02 pm
Thanks again for the insight Joes! Living in Montana you Really have to dig deep to get Bucs’ news. You lighten my load. 😊
May 30th, 2023 at 5:04 pm
Hey Iamabuc……………Didn’t you read Joes article a few days back where he learned that technique from Tom Brady to avoid interceptions??
C’mon man.
May 30th, 2023 at 5:05 pm
Good stuff, Joe – thanks.
May 30th, 2023 at 5:06 pm
It all sounds good, to me! Seems like they got routes down. I”m happy to see Chris out there.
May 30th, 2023 at 5:06 pm
Nice to hear Trask is improving and playing well so far. I am very interested in watching him play a preseason game with the first string offense…
May 30th, 2023 at 5:10 pm
I am also pleased to see the Bucs have a true QB competition going down.
I believe that says something about what the Bucs GM and coaches truly feel about Kyle Trask…
He is worthy of at least competing for a starting QB job in the NFL – and that is a good thing for our team.
Go Bucs!
May 30th, 2023 at 5:15 pm
Palmer sounds legit. Hoping Kieft gets better with his hands.
May 30th, 2023 at 5:38 pm
“* Jarrett skies to haul in a rare high pass from Trask on the right side. Trask normally on short passes, especially over the middle, throws low to avoid tipped passes or worse: picks.”
The influence of the GOAT
May 30th, 2023 at 5:48 pm
I am shocked that KJ Britt thinks that his job is safe that he can afford to miss ANY practices….voluntary or not. And to HE!! with Devin White!
May 30th, 2023 at 5:48 pm
Thanx Joe
May 30th, 2023 at 5:58 pm
Trask looks right then throws over the middle for Palmer who goes low to dig up the ball for a completion”
That’s a good sign.
May 30th, 2023 at 6:21 pm
If they are going to keep lining Kieft up as a blocking fullback I would like to see how he actually runs with the ball, a 275 pound fullback following blockers the size of the guys we have would strike terror into the hearts of defenders all over the league!
May 30th, 2023 at 6:28 pm
Thanks for the info. Getting paid to watch football. What a life.
May 30th, 2023 at 6:30 pm
Thanks Joe.
Everyone in the media is talking about this being a defining season for Mayfly.
It is also a defining season for Trask, no longer behind Brady. Expect him to be on the top of his game a;; off season. Hope the Bucs make a good showing in preseason, though the Bowles cleaner is not known to put much effort into it.
May 30th, 2023 at 6:37 pm
Awesome recap Joe!
Question – I know it’s underware football, but are there any guys who stand out from a physical standpoint – that just look impressive for one reason or another? Like when I was a kid and saw Tyji Armstrong pregame without his shirt on and he looked like the most jacked professional wrestler you’ve ever seen – any moments like that? Also when did the NFL start drug testing?
May 30th, 2023 at 6:41 pm
JD Still Says:
May 30th, 2023 at 6:21 pm
If they are going to keep lining Kieft up as a blocking fullback I would like to see how he actually runs with the ball, a 275 pound fullback
———
I’m not sure anyone really uses fullbacks anymore, the closest would probably be the guy in San Fran, but even he is just more of a hybrid TE than anything. But generally when they try giving the ball to huge guys like that, they’re just not quick enough and get their legs taken out. What I’d rather see is someone who is like 5′ 8″ and 275lbs and let them be a fullback, that way they’re low to the ground, less likely to get tripped up, and at that size, in NFL shape would have incredible power. No idea why you don’t see short fat guys playing RB as they can often be quick with those huge leg muscles and short legs, and who cares if they’re slow if the idea is to just get you 3 or 4 yards.
May 30th, 2023 at 6:42 pm
“Well It looks to me that Trask is throwing too many low balls the receivers have to reach for them…Soo…”
To protect the WR in traffic and reduce tipped pass from being picked
May 30th, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Rod,
My dream was to be a fullback in the NFL.
In my very limited goal of trying to get to the league, in JUCO, I was 5’9″, 240 and super strong, but super slow as a fullback. I could bench 350 and squat 600, but my 40 was like 4.9, and that’s after speed training for over a year. My coach was an ex-NFL lineman who played in the Ice Bowl for the Cowboys, and he sat me down one day, and said, “Son, you have SOME tools to make it to the league, but not enough. You’d be a balling ball if you ever made it to big college, but your body would get shredded. You’d be smarter to further your education and take care of your family – you will never make it in the NFL.”
And I hated to hear that advice when I was like 24 years old, fresh out of the military, but I took his advice, only played one year, and focused on my family and education (Microbiology). Best decision I ever made, and best advice I ever got. RIP Coach Donahue.
I love fullbacks.
May 30th, 2023 at 8:15 pm
Im hoping Izien gets that slot cb spot….hope he’s looking good out there.
May 30th, 2023 at 8:17 pm
@Statguy. Thank you! People don’t realize low passes protect the receiver and also prevents turnovers. I’m sick of people thinking those throws are somehow bad. Would people prefer he throw hospital balls in traffic and get the receiver blown. More QBs should throw lower passes in the middle.
May 30th, 2023 at 8:19 pm
K.J. Britt must think he’s a lock to make the roster but if anyone should be there it’s him. There are a lot of new backers in here.
May 30th, 2023 at 8:36 pm
Get this question often. Really can’t answer because it isn’t something Joe is looking for or paying attention to so it probably doesn’t register. Much more interested in what dudes do on the field than how they look on the sidelines. You know, like Joel Buchsbaum used to say, “Looks like Tarzen; plays like Jane.”
Guess you could say the defensive linemen? All these guys still wear T-shirts and practice jerseys so really don’t know if anyone has rocked up or not.
Have heard Logan Hall has bulked up but haven’t noticed it. Then again, Joe hasn’t stood next to him or been in the locker room.
So, long way of saying Joe hasn’t noticed anyone sticking out with reworked bodies, but haven’t looked for that either.
May 30th, 2023 at 9:40 pm
Wolford may be the best QB on the roster. Hopefully not
May 30th, 2023 at 10:11 pm
Ok….I’m just hoping that whatever Trask picked up from Brady, doesn’t look like Brady last year. How that worked out for us?… please tell me..😜
May 30th, 2023 at 11:46 pm
I seriously doubt Britt thinks he is a lock to make the 53. He is the definition of bubble player. If he does make it that’s some bad news. It either means there were a bunch of MLB injuries or the UFA weren’t nearly as good as we thought. Britt is good but he has a fairly low ceiling due to his lack of speed. You can’t teach it.
May 31st, 2023 at 2:28 am
Thanks Joe
Love the factual information.
May 31st, 2023 at 5:15 am
Is it to early to start talking draft?
May 31st, 2023 at 6:03 am
Rachaad White took a rare handoff (few runs in underwear football) outside the left tackle, Tristan Wirfs, for a short run.
Is Leftnut back?
May 31st, 2023 at 7:34 am
Sounds like Palmer can actually catch the ball.
May 31st, 2023 at 9:33 am
Why waste a roster spot with a fullback? A few teams still use them but as Munch said, they are TE hybrids. Gone are the days of a short stocky guy with limited athleticism and hands that can open holes. It makes offenses way too predictable. 90% of them were terrible with the ball in their hands and the other 10% weren’t good blockers. Instead of having a 6′ 240 lb fullback that is good at blocking in backfield but not good at running or catching a ball, why not have an extra 6’4 250 lb guy that can block in the backfield or on the line that also can’t run but can catch and run decent routes? For those that don’t remember, Mike Alstott rarely ran the ball when he was in as the fullback, the huge majority of the plays he carried the ball he was either the tailback in the I or the only running back in the backfield. Fullback runs aren’t usually a good option (dive plays only).