Notes From Training Camp Day 16
August 23rd, 2017
Cam Brate works on catching passes from the JUGS gun some 20 minutes after practice Wednesday.
Joe was out there sweating to watch the second-to-last training camp practice. Not many fans this morning. Even the fans are pining for a (real) game.
* Robert McClain jumps the route with a pick and had it not been drills, would have been gone for a housecall.
* O J. Howard often working with the twos and he may be best player in Bucs history to technically be a “two.”
* First time in a while Joe has seen CFL legend Derel Walker make a play. Nice catch of an over-the-shoulder pass along right sideline.
* Jacquizz Rodgers with some stutter-step moves around left end.
* Very likely nothing, but GMC was slow to get up after a play and gingerly walks off practice field.
* Walker again, from Jameis in traffic. Who woke him up?
* Cam Brate with a TD near the back line down the middle from Jameis.
* Jameis rifles a pass past good coverage for O.J. at the goal line.
* Rare drop by Brate. Pass may have been a bit behind him on a crossing pattern. Joe will give credit to fan favorite Chris Conte who had good coverage.
* Joe has noticed the defensive backs to be a bit more feisty today, always trying to punch the ball out of receivers hands. No, Walker was not a victim today.
* Jameis fires a pass over middle about 15 yards downfield and Chris Godwin skies and plucks ball out of the air. Pretty catch. Pretty damn good.
* O.J. Howard with big catch for big gain and a TD along the right sideline.
* Jameis misses on the left for Josh Huff but Ryan Smith had a whole lot of jersey in his right mitt. Don’t celebrate Mr. Smith, if there were zebras were around, that would have been a flag.
* Jameis just missed Antony Auclair over middle. He had his hands on the ball.
* Ryan Fitzpatrick is loose! Fitz with the wheels, runs to the right for a first down.
* Tight end Anthony Auclair had pass over middle from Jameis but stripped by Cody Riggs.
* As Joe guessed earlier, McCoy hung out on the practice field for a long time after practice, and he was dinged up, he would have been getting treated.
* No Kwon Alexander again. Jenna Laine of ESPN reported he has a hamstring issue. No update given by the team on any timetable for a return for Kwon. Also, Mike Evans was on floppy hat patrol. No information from the team what the issue is specifically. Status for Saturday’s game unknown. Joe also spoke with Ryan Griffin who said he wasn’t sure when he would be back. When Joe offered “A month?” Griffin again said he wasn’t sure.
August 23rd, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Might that have been the play Buc.com is saying Stocker leveled #93 leaving him on his backside. They decribed it as him having been blocked by three different players on that in particular. Seems like coach K might have been saying I’m a little tired of him messing up the flow of my offense.
August 23rd, 2017 at 12:10 pm
I’ll be looking for those feisty hands from our DBs this weekend. And man does Godwin have some sticky hands. Seems to be fearless in traffic going across the middle.
August 23rd, 2017 at 1:28 pm
It’s too bad Walker won’t be around for the opener. I always thought he’d be the #5WR after ME13, DJax, Hump, and Godwin. Great hands and pro routes should factor in. But, the QB’s have their favorites…so….there’s that..!!
August 23rd, 2017 at 1:41 pm
@Mo_Downs
The #5 receiver needs to play special teams, and Walker doesn’t seem to be the guy for that. Huff will be on the team because he’s the better guy for special teams. Whether or not 6 receivers are kept will depend on a lot, but with the TEs being this good, I can’t imagine the Bucs want to carry 6 receivers (unless the guy is a special teams ace).
August 23rd, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Thanks Joe!
August 23rd, 2017 at 3:42 pm
@ Jack
Agreed..!!
But, Walker is a stud WR. I speak with the authority (?) of watching the YouTube file videos from his time in Canada. Compared to the collage vids of the back of the pack WR’s we have in camp, Walker is Elite.
And, to be sure, QB’s have their favorites….and a RB/DB can sub for a WR on ST if the WR (Walker?) has ELITE skills on offense.
August 23rd, 2017 at 3:53 pm
Walker has shown anything but “elite” skills. If he did, you’d hear all kinds of chatter about Walker.
August 23rd, 2017 at 3:55 pm
Mo
The problem is walker has yet to show any of those so called “Elite” traits.
August 23rd, 2017 at 3:55 pm
lol jinx
August 23rd, 2017 at 4:01 pm
The man, The Myth, The Legend “Fan Favorite” Chris Conte
August 23rd, 2017 at 4:57 pm
I hate to say this, but I would be completely fine just watching the backups playing the next two games. Why risk injuries.
In fact, instead of reducing the number of preseason games, why not just pass a rule that projected starters only play in two PS games? That way the meat still gets to try to impress.
Because I don’t feel we’ve seen enough of these guys at all (the backups). We know our starters and what they have to offer…but these backups? We need the best of them to make the team, and that won’t happen unless they can be properly evaluated in games.
August 24th, 2017 at 7:09 am
Cameron Brate 70.4% catch %. Time with the JUGGS does work.
August 24th, 2017 at 8:50 am
Mo_Downs Says:
August 23rd, 2017 at 3:42 pm
@ Jack
Agreed..!!
But, Walker is a stud WR. I speak with the authority (?) of watching the YouTube file videos from his time in Canada. Compared to the collage vids of the back of the pack WR’s we have in camp, Walker is Elite.
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Insanity! He played well against CFL players…so what? Is it the NFL? I told all the Walker-lovers that he had absolutely no chance of making the roster and went as far to say I guaranteed he wouldn’t make the team. He has done nothing to warrant otherwise. And yes, QBs have their favorites. Their favorites are the ones that get open, run great routes, and catch and hold onto almost everything thrown their way. Walker HAS NOT done that nor was he expected to, he was expected to be CAMP MEAT by most and he has met those expectations only.