Bucs Practice Notes: Minicamp Day 1
April 22nd, 2014
All kinds of stuff happening on the practice fields of One Buc Palace today
Here’s a pile of nuggets to quench your thirst for Bucs happenings, and Joe’s got much more to share later.
Your Bucs took to the practice fields at One Buc Palace for the first time under Lovie Smith this afternoon. The sun was shining, and it was clear that one Pro Bowler is getting an education.
New Bucs cornerbacks coach Gil Byrd, the former Chargers Pro Bowl player, is an intense guy. And he was clearly doing a lot of passionate teaching to new Bucs Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner.
Byrd was getting after Verner to “be patient” and keep his “head up.” It appeared that Byrd was dialed into stressing the nuances of the Tampa-2 defense to Verner. At one point, Verner appeared out of position and not swarming to the receiver after a short catch, but that play drew loud raves from Byrd: “A.V., very nice. Good vision.” Byrd liked how Verner understood where he was supposed to be and was aware of his teammates and the sidelines.
There was a lot of chatter from Byrd to Verner about classroom lessons playing out on the field.
*Lovie Smith is a quiet observer of practice, bouncing around and letting his coaches work. Joe did hear Lovie at one point step in to the cornerbacks during coverage/pass catching drills. “Don’t guess,” Lovie barked.
*The 1-on-1 receiver/cornerback drills started off on a high note. Vincent Jackson caught a sharp ball from Josh McCown. “First one, there we go,” yelled new receivers coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker.
*Mike Glennon with a nice timing throw to Skye Dawson.
*Eric Page got the most praise among receivers, for his hands and overall.
*Lavelle Hawkins recorded the first drop of the new era, a high but catchable throw from Glennon.
*Major Wright stripped Tim Wright after a catch.
*Glennon tossed a bad ball to V-Jax on a short out. Incomplete. Followed up with a good, crisp short ball to Dawson.
*First big “TD” of the day tossed by McCown to WR prospect Tommy Streeter. He beat Deveron Carr.
*Dawson beat Rashaan Melvin for the next big play of the afternoon.
*Yes, details aren’t just for Greg Schiano. Special teams coach Kevin O’Dea was demonstratively coaching up tight end Steve Maneri to “Move your feet up six inches” during punt team work.
*Offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford was rather quiet. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t coaching, only that he’s not a screamer. However, Joe saw Tedford get animated after another Hawkins drop over the middle of the field. “Hawk, run through that ball. You don’t need to jump,” Tedford barked.
*Chris Owusu and Page got a lot of first-team reps, meaning they lined up in a lot of drills with McCown and plenty of balls thrown their way.
*Owusu records an ugly drop with the first team.
*A Luke Stocker sighting! He had a one-hand grab from Mike Glennon. Impressive catch in stride.
*Eric Page took all the punt return reps.
*Jeff Demps on punt coverage team really got a chance to show his speed, as in how much faster he is than everyone else.
Of course, stick with Joe all day and night and week for much more.
April 22nd, 2014 at 3:58 pm
Who was starting at guard… It doesn’t actually matter I guess but just curious if it was Cousins and Meredith
April 22nd, 2014 at 3:59 pm
This is when I love Joebucsfan!
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:01 pm
Well, I am excited. Sept. seems sooo far away but just knowing the team is practicing is exciting.
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:02 pm
Did Dougie Fresh get out there today too?! Joe this was like a tease… Give us more!
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:03 pm
“Lovie Smith is a quiet observer of practice, bouncing around and letting his coaches work.”
Dungy was the same way.
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:06 pm
more please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks Joe
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Wow! reading this just got me pumped!!! I can read this all day long 🙂 keep em coming joe!
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:08 pm
“Eric Page got the most praise among receivers, for his hands and overall.”
“Eric Page took all the punt return reps.”
“…and Page got a lot of first-team reps…”
I’m really rooting for this guy.
Owusu drops are not surprising.
Demps being fast is expected. It will take more than speed though.
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:08 pm
A nice little shot in the arm. I appreciate the report.
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Great start…..great job Joe!!!
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:32 pm
Great stuff, Joe.
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:35 pm
Forgot we picked up Streeter. I hope he can develop.
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:43 pm
If your balcony doesn’t have a railing or a floor, it’s a window.
Details! Details! Details!
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:44 pm
Seriously, keep up the great work Joe!
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:56 pm
I would’ve liked to see more of Paige last season but the offense sucked anyway so it would not have mattered. Could prove to be great depth. Maybe earn some play time.
Het Joe can you give us an idea on how accurate Mccown is looking on the majority of his throws. Sounds like Glennon is working out the jitterbugs.
April 22nd, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Joe, this was f-king incredible. This is why I read joebucsfan.com 18 times a day.
April 22nd, 2014 at 5:18 pm
I wouldn’t make a big deal out of qb performances this week. True, Glennon should be trying to impress, but competition isn’t really there to motivate yet.
April 22nd, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Thanks Joe. Nice writeup. I’m curious how Louis Murphy looked out there.
April 22nd, 2014 at 5:31 pm
I am a crack head…I want more, more, more…
April 22nd, 2014 at 6:37 pm
That felt like play by play. Great coverage JOE!
April 22nd, 2014 at 7:27 pm
Joe, feed me more!
April 22nd, 2014 at 8:50 pm
Thanks Joe!
April 22nd, 2014 at 9:10 pm
“Your Bucs took to the practice fields at One Buc Palace for the first time under Lovie Smith this afternoon.”
–Reading this little statement means everything to me as a Bucs fan. Gone are the days of being consistently out-coached, whether it was because of ego (Schiano), or simply not being ready to be an NFL HC (Morris).
Coach Smith has shown himself to be a productive HC, yet he was surely humbled by his firing in Chicago. IMO, this scenario is perfect for the Bucs: A talented, proven HC (with ties to the Bucs) who clearly understands how his former shortcomings led to his dismissal, and how to remedy those shortcomings.
I’m no homer, but I truly believe that very soon Sundays will again be as enjoyable as they once were. I’ll never abandon ship, but the last 5 years (overall) have been tough sailing.
Get ready for the horde of bandwagon fans, y’all.
April 23rd, 2014 at 12:03 am
Good work, Joe