Camp Cupcake Day 16 Practice Notes
August 12th, 2021
A very different practice today during Day 16 of Camp Cupcake.
Media types were allowed to sit in the bleachers for a change because the practice was closed today to season ticket holders and special interest groups. We’ve known since earlier this summer that Bucs fans who don’t belong to select team-favored special interest groups or who cannot afford season tickets have been deemed by the Bucs as unworthy and undeserving of stepping foot on One Buc Palace soil now that the team is finally a winner.
So with a game coming up on Saturday, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians decided to take it easy on his team in the broiling morning sun. No hitting today and at times, the team was going maybe 75 percent. It was a step above a walk-through.
A certain Bucs backup quarterback got a lot of snaps today. More to come. So let’s dive in.
* Tom Brady early in the practice speaks to the running back group. It is clearly a teacher-student moment. All the running backs were listening and staring at Brady. Mr. Seven Rings was doing all the talking. It didn’t appear to be confrontational or combative at all. Running backs coach Todd McNair stood next to Brady facing the players. He periodically nodded his head up and down as Brady spoke.
* 11-on-11: Ronald Jones gets massive yards up the middle and on the next play, so too does C.J. Prosise. But since the Bucs aren’t hitting today, Joe likely could get five yards a crack.
* It sure seems like the defensive linemen are not even going 3/4 speed. Offensive linemen aren’t going full-bore either.
* Ryan Griffin connects with Jaydon Mickens along the right sideline for a nice catch.
* Brady hits Chris Godwin over the middle. Next play, it’s O.J. Howard’s turn over the middle for a nice chunk of yards.
* Interesting: Griffin connects with Jaelon Darden on a slant pass from the left side. Imagine what this guy could do if he makes a linebacker miss on a slant? Do the Bucs play the Texans this year?
* Kyle Trask waits, waits, waits, pump-fakes… and pulls the ball down and bolts up the middle.
* Trask is getting a lot of snaps this morning.
* Darden runs about 12 yards down the left hash and then comes back and is open but Griffin cannot hit him.
* Griffin with a high throw but a big gain to Cam Brate down the left seam.
* Under center, Griffin bobbles the snap and puts the ball on the ground. He recovers to get rid of the pass but had there been hitting he very likely would have been sacked.
* Red zone! Brady hits Mike Evans along the left side. Smooth.
* Brady aims for Scotty Miller in the far right corner of the end zone and it is a touchdown.
* Blaine Gabbert throws to the end zone on the left side and connects with Codey McElroy.
* While the backups are getting some snaps in red zone drills, Brady can be seen near midfield taking snaps from Robert Hainsey, who is on floppy hat patrol. The two work on snaps both from center and in shotgun. Joe was told after practice that Brady was helping Hainsey learn Brady’s cadence. Hainsey has been out with a mysterious injury which is likely why the Bucs re-signed the Earl of Watford.
* Griffin with a perfect throw over the middle to Tanner Hudson.
* Trask connects with Josh Pearson along the backline for a score.
* Trask is now working with the big boys. He hits Evans for a score and connects with Godwin on a crossing pattern from left to right, just inside the goal line.
* Trask to Miller in the corner… but Miller couldn’t pull the ball in.
* Brate catches another pass from Griffin, this time on the right side.
* Brady throws deep to Evans along the left sideline and it is another of those biscuit-in-a-basket throws. Sean Murphy-Bunting was helpless even though he had decent coverage.
* Brady throws deep to the right for Darden and it is complete.
* Gabbert lofts a rainbow to Hudson for a touchdown.
* Jerell Adams catches a ball over the middle from Gabbert. Sitting up in the bleachers, Adams seems to be much bigger of a target than he appears when watching from the sidelines.
* Gabbert throws to Miller along the right sideline and then hits T.J. Simmons in traffic over the middle.
* Trask threads the needle over the middle to Travis Jonsen and then connects with De’Quan Hampton over the middle while being double-covered.
* Brady to Evans along the left sideline for a toe-tap catch. Jamel Dean had no shot.
* Don’t see this too often: Brady tries to throw over the middle to Hudson but the ball ends up in the dirt just in front of Hudson’s feet.
* On the next snap, it’s the same play but this time it is Miller who is the target and he brings the ball in. A little more accurate of a throw, too.
* Giovani Bernard catches a Brady pass on the right side, turns upfield, and is gone.
* Brady to foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski down the left seam. These guys probably complete this pass in their sleep.
* Brady hooks up with Jonsen down the left hashmark and the ball is just over Chris Wilcox’s head.
* Brady tries to get a pass to Miller but Nate Brooks knocks the ball away.
* Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians is not happy about that last play. Joe cannot make out what he’s hollering or who is getting their arse chewed but Joe did make out the word “m@therf@cking” used.
* Gabbert hooks up with Darden down the right hashmark.
* Brady again can be seen on the side working on snaps with Hainsey.
* Trask connects with Tyler Johnson deep down the right side.
* Griffin misfires on a pass to Godwin down the left sideline.
* Darden runs left to right and takes a handoff on a jet sweep.
August 12th, 2021 at 3:51 pm
Did they finally give up on trying to teach Mike Evans an easy slant route
August 12th, 2021 at 4:04 pm
Maybe it’s just me, but seems like Gabbert bobbles more than his share of snaps. Other than actually having played in real games, I just can’t see the advantage Gabbert has over Griffin. Oh yeah, I do know why. BA loves the guy!
August 12th, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Im looking forward to watching kj britt and wilcox in action…
GO BUCS!!!!
August 12th, 2021 at 4:18 pm
“He periodically nodded his head up and down as Brady spoke.” LMAO
August 12th, 2021 at 4:18 pm
I’m extremely intrigued to see Darden on the jet sweet. 5 years from now he could be considered the steal of the draft. Just a feeling.
August 12th, 2021 at 4:19 pm
Why teach evans a quick slant? You have godwin and ab for those routes. Mike is an intermediate and deep master, use him for that, leave the short mid stuff for the guys that do that well
August 12th, 2021 at 4:33 pm
Anything of substance as to why Trask looked better practicing with the 1s versus practicing with a lot of teammates that probably wont make the final 53?
August 12th, 2021 at 4:35 pm
@Godlovesbucs are u old enuff to remember big body Keyshawn Johnson doing it to perfection? It’s an easy 1st Down. Use big body to box out the small CB
August 12th, 2021 at 4:50 pm
Joe any thoughts on Travis Jonsen? You know, the guy that I origionally thought was a typo for Tyler Johnson.
Well, I seem to see his name a lot in your notes so Im pretty sure hes a real person. But it sounds like he makes a lot of plays. Darkhosre canidate to make the roster?
August 12th, 2021 at 4:52 pm
RIP to Mark Cook, he was as big a Bucs fan as anyone here or on that other site. 50 is too young.
August 12th, 2021 at 4:58 pm
Joes
Davis, SMB, Dean And Cockrell
Who is #5 DB at this point?
August 12th, 2021 at 4:59 pm
Dewey.. hadn’t heard that.. Wow… Just saw him on a PR youtube video a week or two ago. Shocking. RIP.
August 12th, 2021 at 5:02 pm
Brady is likely working with Hainsey so he can teach him how to powder his ass ! Last thing we want is Jensen getting injured and Hainsey coming off the bench with a sweaty ass, then brady cant grip the ball !
August 12th, 2021 at 5:02 pm
Pete: ya I remember him well. And yes, it is an easy first down for a big target. And yes, evans is not great at it and could get better. All I’m saying is that he is phenomenal at so many other things, and we have 2 other wide recievers (not to mention t e.s) that are better than he will ever be. So why fret over the few imperfections he has in his game? He is on pace to wear a gold jacket someday for a reason.
August 12th, 2021 at 5:11 pm
Devastating. Just awful.
August 12th, 2021 at 5:12 pm
@Godlovesbucs just realized i am too hard on him. You’re right. I just thought he could be a lot better
August 12th, 2021 at 5:25 pm
Joe’s one thing about you guys say what needs to be said when it comes to the Tampa bay buccaneers organization. And it’s ridiculous that fans have to be seasoned ticket holders in order to even watch some practice during training camp. As much money as some of us fans have spent over the years and not got our money’s worth. It’s a true shame that this is how they treat us.
August 12th, 2021 at 5:39 pm
Pete, I agree with you, for a big man I sure wish he was better at short possession based routes. I think if he improved there and with yac he could be the best in the league. If we didn’t have other guys I would be banging the drum for him to be better at those too. But we have imo 2 of the best recievers at yac and catching in traffic with godwin and ab. So I’m happy with what our recievers all bring to the table cause it is different for all of them and we have a coach, coordinator and qb that knows how to maximize all 3.
August 12th, 2021 at 5:45 pm
Depth chart was released yesterday. Gotta be honest, No. 5 at any position is not something that Joe has given much thought to.
August 12th, 2021 at 5:48 pm
Camp meat unless he is a special teams stud.
August 12th, 2021 at 6:39 pm
“Imagine what this guy could do if he makes a linebacker miss on a slant? Do the Bucs play the Texans this year?” A little jab at Lovie Smith there, i like that. To be fair Lovie was all about his system and never did want to adjust, albeit to his own detriment. Completed slant passes were given.
August 12th, 2021 at 6:57 pm
Brady to foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski down the left seam. These guys probably complete this pass in their sleep.
I’d wager on that.
August 12th, 2021 at 7:19 pm
Whatever the scenario, 50 is too young. RIP Mark Cook.
August 12th, 2021 at 7:33 pm
These play by play detailed reports of camp practices are invaluable to us fans not worthy of entering One Buc Palace.
August 12th, 2021 at 7:59 pm
Thank you. Joe tries to be the eyes for folks who can’t make it to practices, whether they are not a member of the preferred class or they have to work to put food on the table for their families.
Joe writes these things hoping people can picture in their minds what the play may look like.
August 12th, 2021 at 8:49 pm
Hey Joe,
Have you guys thought about doing a remembrance on piece on Mark Cook? He was really an exceptional person. I know tonight is sad night for us all.
Love to all Bucs nation.
August 12th, 2021 at 8:58 pm
Check out Ira’s next pod.
August 12th, 2021 at 9:41 pm
Mike is gonna go off. Him and Tom are making big plays on a daily basis and I believe what I see with these two. If he’s covered well means somewhere there is a good WR or TE is open. A lot of pump fakes. Bet on him for 1,000+ yards.
August 12th, 2021 at 9:56 pm
He was throwing to better receivers?
August 12th, 2021 at 11:01 pm
I just hope this time they give our young quarterback a running game !! And let him learn the Brady offense not the no risk it no biscuit offense it’s to risky. Go bucs !!
August 12th, 2021 at 11:01 pm
Who’s seen Zach Wilson’s chick, wowie, that, while living in NYC after Utah, that boy is going to suck at football !
August 13th, 2021 at 12:30 pm
PSL…Ryan Griffin really isn’t very good. The guys seem to like him, but watching him throw, it sometimes looks like he just learned how to throw a football five minutes earlier. NOT a natural thrower.