One thing Joe got to do in Jacksonville after Saturday night’s game was to chat briefly with defensive coordinator Jim Bates.

The grizzled old coach turned into a softie when he began talking about Bucs rookie defensive tackle Roy Miller.

“He has been steady ever since he got to camp,” Bates said. “Roy is very mature for a rookie. He’s a serious young man. He comes to work every day and tries to get better. He’s been real steady and that’s very encouraging.

“He has set high goals for himself and it’s fun just to see him progress. He’s in our three-man rotation right now. We want a three-man rotation. Keeping those guys fresh for a 16-game season is so important. We have some other players who are pushing for time. Dre Moore is pushing and pushing and we are very encouraged right now.”