Mental Reps
August 21st, 2019
Scotty Miller explains.
Joe is a cynical creature by nature.
So when Bucs players are on floppy hat patrol watching practice, Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians has the players stand on the sidelines and go through what the coaches call “mental reps.” Former head coach Dirk Koetter did the same thing.
In short, pretend you are in the huddle and on the playing field.
Joe looked at this practice with a jaded eye. In theory, Joe supposes a guy on the sidelines could be locked in but unless a coach is constantly riding his tail, asking questions, what is to prevent a player from daydreaming of the skirt he chased on Clearwater Beach that led to his sprained ankle?
And honestly, nothing prepares a player for games like practice, not watching others practice.
So today after practice at One Buc Palace, Joe asked rookie wide receiver Scotty Miller what he thought of mental reps. Do they help?
Miller, who had been sidelined for roughly a week with a bad hamstring, replied there is no question he learned from mental reps.
“It is not just talk,” Miller said. “I don’t want to speak for other guys or other position groups but as a receiver, watching guys like Chris [Godwin] and Mike [Evans] and B.P. [Breshad Perriman] and all of these good veteran players who have been around.
“Watch them do what they do; watch them set up their routes;, watch them run their routes a certain way; watch their releases. You learn a lot. So you try to learn those little things and implement them into your own game.”
So those mental reps may help a green rookie. Joe gets that.
But for a veteran? Joe is suspicious. Again, there is no substitute for practicing — unless it is actually getting on the field for a game.
August 21st, 2019 at 3:37 pm
Really pulling for this kid.
August 21st, 2019 at 3:40 pm
this is kid is somewhere between scared dexter jackson and Kenny Bell waste of time talking about him.
August 21st, 2019 at 3:42 pm
That pic makes him look like Maziel’s long lost inbred cousin.
August 21st, 2019 at 3:43 pm
I’d like to see JPP do some mental reps. Any word Joe why JPP is not at OBP? I get the neck brace and need for stability, but if he’s mobile, shouldn’t he be there learning? Confused.
August 21st, 2019 at 3:44 pm
LOL Dewey!
August 21st, 2019 at 3:46 pm
Did you see the XFL finally released the team names for everyone? They’re awful…
Dallas Renegades
Houston Roughnecks
Los Angeles Wildcats
New York Guardians
St. Louis BattleHawks
Seattle Dragons
Tampa Bay Vipers
Washington Defenders
What’s with the Vipers? Is it meant to be named for old guys with Dodge Vipers? There’s quite a few of those around. But man, what a stupid name. I mean it could be worse, the Seattle Dragqueens is pretty bad, as are the Houston Rednecks. The Dallas team name and logo isn’t too bad however.
August 21st, 2019 at 3:53 pm
he’ll be on the practice squad….he’s entering kenny bell territory….
GO BUCS!!!!
August 21st, 2019 at 3:56 pm
So……what is the alternative for an injured rookie player……stay home and watch a soap opera…….play some slots at the Hard Rock……go fishing with Warren?
Of course if you can’t practice, this is the next best thing……
August 21st, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Brent Grimes was lauded for taking mental reps during training camp last year. How did that work out?
August 21st, 2019 at 4:02 pm
D-Rome Says:
grimes mental reps on the side line were about bedroom gymnastics with his wonderful wife not lame arse buccaneer football. your just jealous man.
joe,
i miss miko rather have quotes from her than dotson she has far more credibility
August 21st, 2019 at 4:05 pm
Pretty sure the Viper term is referring to a snake. Nah – it’s probably the Dodge. lol
August 21st, 2019 at 4:06 pm
74 Buc Fan…be carefully with JPP. He might turn his head getting metal reps…then where would we be?
August 21st, 2019 at 4:21 pm
Ah, Ron Goldman Manziel Miller.
August 21st, 2019 at 4:21 pm
Vipers…lol. Dark green, lime green and yellow team colors. Surprised they are not the Tampa Bay Citrus.
August 21st, 2019 at 4:29 pm
“what is to prevent a player from daydreaming of the skirt he chased on Clearwater Beach”
Joe’s you already know the answer to this, it is the same as why you don’t do that samething. It is all about them Benjamin’$! We could only hope that players being paid well to play a game, could stay focused if they weren’t actually on the practice field and had to watch while injured. These guys are paid professionals. Is it to much to ask for them to focus while they are “at work” even though there are lots and lots of distractions on Clearwater beach.
August 21st, 2019 at 4:31 pm
“what is to prevent a player from daydreaming of the skirt he chased on Clearwater Beach”
#MeTOOO
August 21st, 2019 at 4:36 pm
I really happy this kicker made one kick but so dumb taking a kicker again. You have adam humphries leaving and adam humphries2.0 sitting right there in renfrow andy ou take a kicker … damn you jason.
August 21st, 2019 at 4:51 pm
I said on the day he was drafted he’d be stashed in 2019 and go on a NFL diet and weight training regime
August 21st, 2019 at 4:53 pm
What do you think he would say??? He knows that the coach assigned to read blogs and media ( I would not be shocked if there actually is one hell we have almost as many coaches as player) is watching and he doesn’t want to say the wrong thing.
August 21st, 2019 at 4:57 pm
74BucFan
I’d like to see JPP do some mental reps. Any word Joe why JPP is not at OBP? I get the neck brace and need for stability, but if he’s mobile, shouldn’t he be there learning?
like Joe said–out chasing skirt
actually JPP probably don’t chase skirt
Skirt chases JPP
August 21st, 2019 at 5:02 pm
firethecannons
like Joe said–out chasing skirt
actually JPP probably don’t chase skirt
Skirt chases JPP
and that is why jpp will be broke in 10 years playing the victim card….
August 21st, 2019 at 5:24 pm
Love his speed but I don’t think he’s an all around better football player than Spencer Schnell.
August 21st, 2019 at 5:37 pm
“Glorified Nick Carter with a headband”
Kobe Faker
August 21st, 2019 at 6:46 pm
“Joe is a cynical creature by nature.”
Shocker.
Imagine watching other players better than you doing something on your own team that you are being paid to improve at. You’re right there live and in-person hearing and seeing it but from a close distance — so if you’re in it with the right mindset and you’re absorbing it like that… That’s got to have some value.
Other professions send people around to watch role models for what they do all the time. It is not an uncommon thing in the business world.
August 21st, 2019 at 7:57 pm
TMax
JPP is a great baller but dude don’t always have alot common sense. Out and about at odark thirty in south florida asking for trouble even when you aren’t looking. Fireworks bombs happens to mostly people not thinking enough.
with that said hoping he loads up on the goats blood and shows in September
August 21st, 2019 at 9:35 pm
Cynical: negative or pessimistic, as from world-weariness
Cynical: contemptuously distrustful of human nature
August 21st, 2019 at 9:42 pm
74 Bucs Fan, firethecannons,
Isn’t there another one of those strange NFL rules that prohibit a guy with JPP’s injury status from appearing at the practices? Can someone, anyone, help us out here?
August 21st, 2019 at 9:51 pm
Good for scottie. Thing about him is if you send him back to high school he makes all state team but only averages a TD per game and barely gets any looks from D1. Again. Not a game changer. But what do I know. I like the kid and hope he succeeds
August 21st, 2019 at 10:02 pm
“But for a veteran? Joe is suspicious. Again, there is no substitute for practicing — unless it is actually getting on the field for a game.”
Perhaps Joe should pass this insight along to veteran players who spend hours iron hours watching film. I am sure they will enjoy hearing firsthand how much of a waste of time it is.
Maybe someone will politely suggest enroll in a sports psychology course at the local community college. The intro course will undoubtedly have a chapter on the many studies and the results that test mental reps vs actual reps.
I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise but let’s just say that. .you’re woefully uneducated on the subject. Quite surprising considering your chosen profession.
August 21st, 2019 at 10:05 pm
Rayjay1122 – I like the Tampa Bay Citrus better than the Vipers – mainly because it just makes me think of the orange with the Bucs. I had always hoped that someone Vince McMahon had ponied up a little cash to get USFL names and we’d have the Bandits back. Additionally with the Bandits red color, and assuming the XFL lasts more than a season, that perhaps that tiny thing might encourage the Glazers to hurry up and dump these current God awful Bucs uniforms – hopefully to go back to Bucs orange.
August 22nd, 2019 at 1:24 am
Mental reps might be good for a vet learning a new play book.
August 22nd, 2019 at 2:32 am
Competition…he needs to put it on tape or he will not be here …can you say Emanuel Hall, why yes I can they both have 4.39 speed but different body types…two weeks to put it on tape!!!
August 22nd, 2019 at 9:02 am
The legend of Scotty Miller. Amazing how Buc fans fall in love with marginal talent that have done NOTHING on the field of play! I read on PR where one fan said he’s a lock to make the team! Based on what? So many are rooting for this guy, why, because he’s a little white guy with no talent that they can identify with? Only in the minds of low standard Buc fans is this guy anything.