Training Camp Day 1 Practice Notes
July 26th, 2023
Bucs quarterbacks (from left) Baker Mayfield, John Wolford and Kyle Trask going through drills Wednesday morning to begin Bucs Training Camp 2023.
So the first practice of training camp is in the books. It is still underwear football. Pads are expected to come on next week.
Joe’s overall takeaway from the abbreviated session? Guys had more spring in their step than Joe noticed in offseason workouts. And finally, a butterfly may be developing.
Bucs quarterback Kyle Trask had his best practice since he was drafted by the Bucs. Not probably. Definitely. He looked like a legit NFL quarterback. He’ll need to string many more of those together to secure the starting job, but hey, you gotta start somewhere.
* Rachaad White tries to run past center to the left but finds nothing, quickly reverses field to run right and gains a few yards. Again, not pads or hitting, so not a real “run.”
* Baker Mayfield fakes to White, rolls right a few steps and fires to a widearse open Cade Otton on the left side. No one is behind him and Otton scores an easy touchdown.
* Sneak Vaughn runs left, cuts right and finds a massive hole just to the right of center.
*It’s freakin’ great to see warrior center Ryan Jensen on the field. Yeah, he’s wearing a protective knee brace, but he still looks rather smooth.
* Trask must not have expected a snap. The ball was snapped and the entire line moved as one but Trask was flat-footed. Coaches blew the play dead.
* Whoa! Trask takes a snap, steps to the right, rifles a ball down the right seam threading the ball between two defenders and hitting Chris Godwin on the money for a big gain. This pass was the best throw Joe has ever seen Trask make. As practice went on, Trask looked like a different quarterback. More nimble. Displayed a fastball. This pass reminded Joe of Jameis in terms of the risk-taking and velocity.
* Trask dumps the ball off to Kaylon Geiger on the right side.
* Chase Edmonds tries to run up the middle and nothing doing.
* White runs left and meets a wall, cuts right and is run down for a loss.
* Mayfield throws right and his pass is broken up. Joe was screened on the play and couldn’t catch the defender’s number.
* Dang, who is that running behind the line to the left? He’s awfully quick. Oh, it’s Chris Godwin.
* Mayfield throws to the right near the five-yard line and doesn’t make the connection with Geiger. It looked to Joe as if Geiger was late getting out of his break. Had he cut early, the ball would have been on the money. Also, Geiger was wide open even with the late break.
* Early in practice, receivers are regularly getting widearse open. Joe wasn’t paying close attention to the defenders (too busy taking notes on the plays) so Joe isn’t positive it was always the first team defense or if Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales is scheming guys open. Joe wants to believe the latter.
* Sweet play: Mayfield connects with Deven Thompkins who came across the field from the left side and Thompkins takes it to the house along the right sideline.
* Mayfield had Payne Durham open in the end zone for a touchdown and Mayfield put the ball right where Durha could grab it. But the big tight end from Purdue couldn’t hang on.
* Mayfield fakes left and throws right for Godwin.
* Joe will type again that for some odd reason, Trask appears more nimble.
* Rakim Jarrett grabs a pass from Mayfield along the right sideline.
* Trask throws down the right seam and safety Kaevon Merriweather (Iowa) got his hands on the ball with no receiver nearby.
* Trask to Ryan Miller down the right sideline.
* Yes, Mike Evans was at practice, but Joe didn’t notice him making an impact play.
*Chris Godwin, about 15 minutes after practice, heads to the media interview tent outside and before sitting down takes off his headband and wrings it out like a drenched washcloth. Nasty. After the interview, Godwin makes the trek over to put in 10 minutes on the JUGS machine in the searing sun alongside rookie hopeful receiver Cade Warner. What a pro.
QB drills. pic.twitter.com/1uF4cmefei
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) July 26, 2023
July 26th, 2023 at 11:39 am
Exciting stuff!! Thank you, Joe!
July 26th, 2023 at 11:42 am
Huge year incoming for Godwin
July 26th, 2023 at 11:46 am
Good stuff Joe! Being able to monitor practice from up here in the Chicago area is outstanding!!! Please keep up the good work throughout camp! Be well!
July 26th, 2023 at 11:50 am
Thank you Joe !!! I know you spend endless hours getting this coverage for us.
July 26th, 2023 at 11:52 am
Another year, another Training Camp Day 1 Practice Notes. Thanks Joe!
July 26th, 2023 at 11:52 am
One of the reasons why you’re the best.
Thanks Joe.
July 26th, 2023 at 11:56 am
JOE: “Trask rifles a ball down the right seam threading the ball between two defenders and hitting Chris Godwin on the money for a big gain. Displayed a fastball. This pass reminded Joe of Jameis in terms of the risk-taking and velocity.”
No, no, no, Joe. Rod Munch says Trask throws only “rainbows”. Rod, call up Joe and set him straight!
July 26th, 2023 at 11:57 am
The past is the past and one must move on… but damn, it stinks that we’ll no longer see the name Brady in these reports. What a stroke of luck that was and fun while it lasted…
July 26th, 2023 at 11:59 am
[Sorry, they were standing 15 feet from Joe. He saw them quite clearly. — Joe]
July 26th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
I need to see Trask with the 1s he always has needed time to get it but once he did he lit it up
July 26th, 2023 at 12:05 pm
Now THIS is exciting, even if it is underwear football. Would love for our QB competition to be a nail-biter, with both of them performing to perfection in Canales’ offense.
July 26th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Great notes as always, Joe! Thanks and keep ’em comin’!!
July 26th, 2023 at 12:09 pm
Sounds like it was a good first day of whole team practice, working the kinks out and no one getting hurt!
July 26th, 2023 at 12:12 pm
good stuff joe. great to hear trask playing well
July 26th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Take this with a grain of Gator-flavored salt… but Trask gives us the best upside. Size, arm, and potential. Baker is Baker. We know what he does and who he is. If this is a “reloading year” I’d much rather roll out potential and see if Trask can be the guy. Go Bucs!
July 26th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Awesome reporting!
July 26th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
We’ve been waiting soooo long for real football to begin and finally, its here!!! Thank you Joe for the notes and thank you for your honesty concerning Trask. I hat to say “I told you so” but, Baker was brought in to be a back up quarterback. They just couldn’t tell him that.
I just don’t understand why so many people are sleeping on Trask. Didn’t they see him play at Florida. I think he’s the best QB in the Division
July 26th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
Love the notes Joe, keep ’em coming. Feels like I was there, at least in spirit. Too bad the Bucs are limiting fan access. Open practices, especially for non- ticket holders, is always a fun fan experience. WTF Glazers?
July 26th, 2023 at 12:40 pm
Love these bullet point breakdowns!
The season has finally started!
July 26th, 2023 at 12:45 pm
Any news from RB Ronnie Brown out of Shepherd?
July 26th, 2023 at 12:48 pm
Sounds like the “Cannales effect” might already be evident? Improvements in technical performance are usually the product of good coaching.
Good coaching definitely makes an impact on younger players. With the GOAT under center, that really wasn’t much of a factor or need the last several years.
Two weeks from Friday we get to see the plain vanilla version of the new Bucs offense! Looking forward to it!
July 26th, 2023 at 12:49 pm
Sounds like there will be a QB competition, whether they wanted one or not. LOL
July 26th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
From the pic, Mayfield looks to be is much better shape than at spring practice. Am I seeing things or does that seem to be the case to you Joe?
July 26th, 2023 at 12:54 pm
So awesome to see these write ups again.
Glad to see Trask looking sharp and no injuries.
Nice work Joe…
July 26th, 2023 at 1:00 pm
OK, the first day of training camp is in the books and it sounds like Baker won the day. Sorry, but if you haven’t shown your “fastball” to Joe for two years, you don’t really have one. Also, if “Baker is Baker” he’ll be the guy for the Bucs. And that’s no disrespect to KT. Go Bucs.
July 26th, 2023 at 1:06 pm
Great job Joe, I felt like I was almost there.
July 26th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
WyomingJoe Says: “OK, the first day of training camp is in the books and it sounds like Baker won the day.”
LMAO. Hitting the bong?
July 26th, 2023 at 1:26 pm
Christmas in July, brought to you by the hardest working Buccophiles on the planet……JoeBucsFan!
Gracias.
July 26th, 2023 at 1:33 pm
Why is Mini Mayfield – #6 far right in the photo – wearing pajamas?
July 26th, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Wyoming, did we read the same notes? If so, your reading context might need improvement.
July 26th, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Tony, stop acting like a baby. C’mon “hitting the bong?” You’re better than that, or perhaps not…
July 26th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
Steven007… doesn’t take much to get you Baker haters started. Loosen up …I’m kidding.
July 26th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Great notes Joe! Any D. White sightings? Was Shaq out there and if so, how did he look?
July 26th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
The first game will be here in no time. Yah!
July 26th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
YAY! Great read, Joe, thanks.
July 26th, 2023 at 2:11 pm
Yep love hearing about what is going on Joe thanks. Can’t wait until the first pre season game.
July 26th, 2023 at 2:12 pm
There’s a lot of players that I’m interested in seeing how they are looking early in camp. Thanks for the Day 1 notes, keep em’ coming!
July 26th, 2023 at 2:24 pm
I’m cautiously optimistic about this team.
I still despise the human porcelain doll Russell Gage.
He’s been a bum since the moment he walked into the building. F him.
July 26th, 2023 at 2:34 pm
I got a feeling that Canales will make Godwin the next Deebo as far as the type of plays he will run with him
July 26th, 2023 at 3:11 pm
We’ve been trying to tell you Joe.
Part Tom Brady part Josh Allen.
The Kyle Trask era has officially begun.
July 26th, 2023 at 3:12 pm
Tampamac Says: “From the pic, Mayfield looks to be is much better shape than at spring practice.”
You may be looking at the wrong QB.
Mayfield is the QB on the right in the photo, not on the left as the photo caption says. Look at the #6 on his jersey.
Trask is the QB on the left in the photo, not on the right as the photo caption says. You can see part of the #2 on the front of his jersey. He’s also noticeably bigger than the other two shortcakes.
July 26th, 2023 at 3:26 pm
good job joes! thanks as always for the camp notes…
way to stoke the trask mob 😉
July 26th, 2023 at 3:39 pm
sounds like Kyle challenged the defense, a necessary skill in today’s NFL..
sounds like a legit competition.
July 26th, 2023 at 3:46 pm
I hope Trask can keep it up!
July 26th, 2023 at 4:13 pm
I’ll echo what has been said: Thanks Joe!
July 26th, 2023 at 4:56 pm
Thank you, Joe for the recap. The first one is like the first ice cold beer.
Some of you guys must have really good screens; I couldn’t read any of the QB numbers. The moment in time that handoff drill was captured reminded me of Marine recruits who accidently called their rifle their gun.
I’m actually glad to hear of Kyle’s vast improvement. If he can beat out Baker we save $4.5 million towards next year and have a cheap rookie year to reap as a bonus. I like Baker, but he’s fragile.
July 26th, 2023 at 5:09 pm
You don’t break passing records at a top SEC program unless you’re a good QB.
Trask has a solid chance to shine if he can do well with the 1s.
July 26th, 2023 at 5:14 pm
Amazing how much better trask looks throwing to starters instead of best buy employee
July 26th, 2023 at 5:55 pm
Let’s settle down on settle down in the Trask smooch fest in the comments before I barf….
You know who else looks good on day 1 of underwear training camp? Every QB currently employed in the NFL
“You don’t break passing records at a top SEC program unless you’re a good QB” – Trash to the future…..Johnny Manziel and Jamarcus Russel would like a word.
July 26th, 2023 at 5:58 pm
A hiden nugget in all this.
TK and BM are practicing against one of the best defenses in the NFL; the BUCS defense.
If they can hang with our defense, they can hang with any other team in this NFL.
We’ll be alright, I’m telling you. We have two good ones guys. Think about it.
So…bring on the season!! We’ll be ready!!
July 26th, 2023 at 6:41 pm
“Whoa! Trask takes a snap, steps to the right, rifles a ball down the right seam threading the ball between two defenders and hitting Chris Godwin on the money for a big gain.”
Finally throwing to a starting WR!!!
Bowles: “What the heck is he doing passing to Godwin?! I told yu, no starting pass catchers or he will make Mayfield look bad!”
Rest of practice: Trask throwing to camp meat.
July 26th, 2023 at 6:55 pm
The offense seems to be more dynamic and unpredictable. That is promising.
July 26th, 2023 at 7:01 pm
Can’t wait for the first preseason game! Really want to see Trask with 1’s. Baker is decent insurance but I am pulling for the kid!
July 26th, 2023 at 7:06 pm
It seems Brady has awoken something in some of these guys in his short stay. It would be nice to have the Brady work ethic last a while. That’s how winning culture is made.
July 26th, 2023 at 7:21 pm
To all the Trask homies actually doing victory laps after one day pajamas practice – where was the report that trask did better than Baker? What I read in Joe’s comments is Trask sucked in years past and he was surprised on this one day h didn’t
July 26th, 2023 at 7:37 pm
mike anthony it was a good first day
July 26th, 2023 at 7:52 pm
@ mike anthony: A lot of folks would like to see Trask get a fair shot this season. He has been kept under wraps since day one but he got to watch and learn from the Goat. Kept his mouth shut, never complained and now we should get to see what he can do in preseason. I am guessing he will be a good surprise after watching and learning from the GOAT.
July 26th, 2023 at 7:55 pm
Ha! You are welcome!
Thanks for all the comments. Glad to type these up. Won’t be long and games will (finally) be here. 🙂
July 26th, 2023 at 7:56 pm
Yes, he was out there. So too was Shaq. Joe was laser-focused on the offense but the other Joe saw Shaq and was impressed (relieved?) watching Shaq.
July 27th, 2023 at 2:02 am
All I can say is …Yummy
Go Bucs!
July 27th, 2023 at 7:51 am
We will see who if anybody will show the ability to tuck the ball and get the
first down when the offense has opened up and if there is a wide open lane. Steve
Young was saying he would have loved to play in the current offenses that spread out the defenders and offer up opportunities for a QB. Now that would require some moxie, but I would like to see that wrinkle.