Buccaneers Mandatory Minicamp: Day 1 Notes & Observations
June 13th, 2017
Your need-to-know
Humid and more humid on the practice fields of One Buc Palace today for the start of mandatory minicamp, which ends Thursday. Joe was patrolling the sidelines to bring you all kinds of need-to-know nuggets, and more. Enjoy!
*Stretching and drills, of course, get the party started. But today isn’t a typical underwear football session. Invited fans, mainly V.I.P.’s and season pass holders, are lining one end zone and one sideline. And it’s also a little different with DeSean Jackson and Chris Baker in attendance.
*Drops! Camp meat running back Russell Hansbrough and Josh Huff. Both bad drops on throws from Ryan Griffin.
*Officials are in the house! Three zebras in all. That always gives practice a more serious feel. They were not seen by Joe during spring (OTA) sessions.
*Free agent Alabama running back Blake Sims is one big dude. The former Crimson Tide starting quarterback has to be bigger than the 5-11, 218 pounds on the Bucs’ media guide. Looks pretty good, too, although there is no hitting or pads allowed. Sims was undrafted and in the CFL before spending a little time on the Falcons practice squad last year.
*Nice elevation for a catch by Adam Humphries.
*America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, with a bad overthrow of Mike Evans on a deep ball to the right sideline.
*Smooooth! Jameis hits Jackson on a deep ball (40 yards) on the right sideline. Hard to describe, but Jackson appears to be in full control of his speed gears, literally turns it on and off.
*Donteea Dye continues to have a good spring.
*Maybe it is a figment of imagination but Doug Martin just looks quicker. Also, he looks bulkier than he did two or three weeks ago. Looks like a guy who’s been pounding it in the weight room.
*Sign of the future? Jameis pump fakes and hits OJ Howard on crossing pattern to the left.
*Just saw (for first time) Chris Godwin really turn on the jets running a pattern down left sideline. Dang.
*Joe likes receiver Derel Walker, the CFL star, big target, good hands, good body control, but he doesn’t appear to have NFL speed. Looks slow.
*Bunch of defensive players taking their turns at punt return: Lavonte David, cornerback Robert McClain, Vernon Hargreaves and camp meat corner Cody Riggs. McClain is clearly the best of that bunch when it comes to technique. Humphries looks far better than all of them.
*11-on-11 action: Nice footwork on the sideline by Chris Godwin on a pass from Ryan Griffin.
*It’s Keith Tandy and Chris Conte still with the first team defense.
*Jameis has a ball batted down. Possibly Gholston. (Joe really needs a film crew and a rewind button.)
*Nice catch behind him from Bernard Reedy on a pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick.
*Jameis to Mike Evans in the back of the end zone. Evans skies for a TD. Fans really like that. Not much defender could do except drill Evans, which is not allowed.
*Jameis rolls right and forces throw back across his body to Luke Stocker. Pass is broken up by Kwon Alexander and nearly picked off. Great example of “bad Jameis.” Needed to give up on that play.
*Fitzpatrick misses rookie receiver Bobo Wilson wide open in the end zone.
*Chris Conte with a breakup on O.J. Howard over the middle. Kwon really liked that and came over for a body bump.
*Ryan Smith gets the best of Howard on a breakup.
*And the Bucs are in their topless period (no helmets), two walk-through sessions like that this afternoon. There was a full walkthrough practice in the morning.
*Coverage breakdown in red zone work. Jameis with an easy TD toss to Howard. Walks into the end zone from 10 yards out.
*Good red zone coverage by the defense. Jameis holds the ball forever (remember, no pass rush) and then finally hits Mike Evans, who does a two-hand reverse dunk of the ball on the crossbar. The offense really isn’t thriving today. No real rhythm feel to the offense all day. Dirk Koetter agreed after practice.
*Ewww. Bad drop by Alan Cross in red zone work from Fitzpatrick.
*Deep ball is back and Vernon Hargreaves picks Jameis on a looping underthrown ball to DeSean Jackson on the left side. Nice play by Hargreaves, but Jackson probably gives a real effort to break up the pass if contact was allowed. He had plenty of time to do that.
*Back to 7-on-7, Jackson burns Grimes for a deep TD to the right corner of the end zone.
*Martin catches soft pass near left sideline but no good. Was bobbling ball.
*FUMBLE! Or was it incomplete? Not sure. Regardless, Cameron Brate had the slippery hands as Kwon was there to make the play on the ball.
*One hand catch by Luke Stocker. Yes, Luke Stocker, on the left sideline. Pass from Griffin.
*Sweet catch by Charles Sims in front of Devante Bond for about eight yards near the left sideline. Sims is one smooth pass catcher.
*Full story on the Roberto Aguayo/Nick Folk kicking battle on the JoeBucsFan.com home page. Today, it was advantage Aguayo.
June 13th, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Cheerleaders need a topless period. Thanks for the updates Joe(s).
June 13th, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Looks like our defense had quite a few good pass breakups..good for Conte! and extra good for VH3!!
And Chris Godwin..well he’s my sleeper hit..will be one of the best..
June 13th, 2017 at 3:48 pm
My comment is awaiting moderation..in the mean time..
Glad to hear Doug is looking healthy..I cannot remember who had posted that he looked sickly, was thin..etc..that was a crock of kak..
June 13th, 2017 at 3:48 pm
Thanks Joes great stuff as usual.
June 13th, 2017 at 3:49 pm
lol Dewey!
Thanks for the daily fix Joe(s)!
June 13th, 2017 at 3:49 pm
Dewey… Bro I couldn’t agree more!
June 13th, 2017 at 3:56 pm
So this speed thing with Desean shows its self everytime he’s out there huh.. Yea that ish bring swagg alright. What they gone??? A Ferrari over there,Godzilla over there.. C’mon man,a lot y’all gone eat ya words in reference to my QB. Just wait and see.
June 13th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Great update, Joe. Feel like I was there– without driving to Tampa and sweating…
June 13th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
This team is lookin reeeeeeaaallllll nice Clark
June 13th, 2017 at 4:17 pm
@Joe … “bad Jameis”. Two words none of us want to hear this year Joe.
June 13th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
lol I am ready for bad jameis when it happens. Gotta take the lows with the highs
I wouldn’t expect any ryhtym for an offense in OTAs when they’re trying a bunch of sh1t out and using a ton of guys that will later be cut. If all of the 1s are out of rythym throughout preseason I’ll be a little concerned but even then that may not mean much in vanilla packages.
Happy to see Ryan Smith’s name popping up again and again and it isn’t with him playing against scrubs
June 13th, 2017 at 4:37 pm
thanks joe! i like walker too but if he’s slow, i doubt licht goes backwards on his quest for speed and will keep dye who’s also having a good camp so far… 4.65 new guy vs 4.45 vet with years in the system is a tough battle to win
June 13th, 2017 at 4:54 pm
GREAT STUFF JOE….love the little nuggets regarding “camp meat ” players like blake sims and cody riggs….both players have some skill….cody may be a little too small but he has heart….I remember him playing cb/slot/safety at UF….blake sims just needs more time to work on his technique and actual knowledge of the position….good to see the bucs trying out guys that could actually make an NFL team….GO BUCS!!!!
June 13th, 2017 at 5:01 pm
Are these practices open to the fans? If so is there one tomorrow? And what time?
June 13th, 2017 at 5:13 pm
Birdman:
No and yes.
The practices are closed to the general public. They are open to fans with a special invite from the Bucs, by and large select season ticket holders.
June 13th, 2017 at 5:20 pm
Awww š I would have loved to have gone tomorrow.. Oh well, I’ll have to wait for training camp with the rest of the normies who can’t afford season tickets..
June 13th, 2017 at 6:23 pm
Joey B (joe Buc)
Who wins the 5th WR spot? Wilson, Martino or sperbeck?
I’m pushing for bobo but I like Martino too. Don’t want to cut any WR except for walker he can go.
June 13th, 2017 at 6:24 pm
Was at the practice today.. it was Gholston who batted down that pass.. also, Jameis looks like he could still develop his quick decision making skills.. other than that it was quite a treat to attend and the team looks very comfortable together.
Can’t wait to see what this season has in store for us!
June 13th, 2017 at 6:27 pm
Derel Walker Will speed up a little as he settles in, but he’s not known to be a speed guy. More like a possession WR along the lines of Keshawn. He’ll be mister reliable.
June 13th, 2017 at 6:51 pm
Excellent work, Joe! Something not mentioned but might be in a later post is the ongoing saga over who will win the kicking competition. Jenna Laine from ESPN is reporting: “Bucs kicker Roberto Aguayo went a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals just now, including a 50-yarder. Nick Folk went 4-of-5, missing on his 50-yard attempt, which bounced off the right upright. Lots of applause from fans.” Just when you think he is a goner, Aguayo steps up. Aguayo no esta acabado todavia. Still, this will be something to build on, and it will be a long pre-season. May the best kicker win!
June 13th, 2017 at 6:52 pm
^^^Sorry, Joe! My bad: I didn’t scroll down on the main page. Once again, great job!
June 13th, 2017 at 7:51 pm
Joe(s) I don’t kill to be your volunteer videographer this, or any season.
June 13th, 2017 at 10:15 pm
Joe(s) I would love to be your film crew/personal assistant. But full disclosure-I’m a brunette. Would that disqualify me?
June 13th, 2017 at 10:51 pm
Gotta hunch this is a loaded question.
June 14th, 2017 at 1:08 am
Lol @ Joe above me..
June 14th, 2017 at 6:44 am
Thanks for the update Joe!!!!!, means alot to us fans needing our fix. Great to hear Defense looks sharp, worries me a little on offence. I think a few more weeks to get the offence to gel and we should be good to go come preseason. Love the depth we have now!!!
June 14th, 2017 at 9:39 am
Looks like Rotoworld cited the Doug Martin nugget in this story. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t believe Roto has ever cited JBF before. Congrats! Finally getting more recognition as THE source for Bucs info! Well done, Steve and Lee.
http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/358903/doug-martin-looks-quicker-bulkier-in-2017?ls=roto:NFL:topheadlines