The Bucs returned to the AdventHealth Coaching Heart Monday morning, with coaching camp actually ramping up in depth because the pads got here on for the primary time. With solely 12 extra days till its first preseason gameday – an Aug. 10 exhibition towards the Bengals in Cincinnati – Tampa Bay continued to see a number of backwards and forwards between offense and protection, making for a vigorous apply in sizzling and sunny situations.
The Bucs will probably be again at it with an evening apply on Tuesday within the indoor facility at One Buc Place earlier than an off day Wednesday.
“For us, the primary day in pads, you realize it’s going to be sizzling and so they’re going to be slightly drained,” head coach Todd Bowles mentioned after Monday’s apply. “So that you need to keep off their toes slightly bit extra and provides them slightly further relaxation. However you continue to come out and have a productive apply. The truth that it’s indoors and so they’ve acquired slightly extra time to relaxation, it helps out slightly bit with the physique.”
Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, Matt Matera, Bailey Adams, Adam Slivon and new intern Isaiah Delgado had been in attendance for Monday morning’s apply. Listed below are their observations:
Bucs Who Have been Not Practising
Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photograph by: Cliff Welch P/R
The identical trio of non-participants from the primary 4 days of camp – Randy Gregory (Reserve/Did Not Report checklist), Zack Annexstad (Energetic/Non-Soccer Harm checklist) and Tanner Taula (Energetic/Non-Soccer Harm checklist) – had been out as soon as once more. In the meantime, veteran operating again Chase Edmonds missed his fourth straight apply and was watching on from the facet once more. A brand new non-participant emerged as rookie exterior linebacker Shaun Peterson Jr., an undrafted free agent, was additionally sidelined.
Maybe the extra noteworthy “non-participant” was left deal with Tristan Wirfs, although he did take part within the particular person durations earlier than watching from the facet because the workforce moved into 11-on-11s. Wirfs and his camp are nonetheless engaged on a long-term contract with the Bucs, and the Professional Bowler mentioned after apply that he needs to strike the suitable steadiness between being on the market along with his teammates and taking the precautions he must take as he tries to realize some long-term safety with a brand new contract.
“I talked to Coach Bowles about it,” Wirfs mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘I’ve to be out right here. I gotta be out right here.’ It’s simply not in my DNA, it was onerous sufficient lacking OTAs. I used to be within the weight room window watching the blokes apply. I simply informed Coach Bowles I needed to be cautious. There’s loads at stake.
“I used to be on the market when [Ryan] Jensen went down a pair years in the past. So simply making an attempt to be as sensible as I can. I’ve acquired slightly one to take care of now. So simply making an attempt to be as sensible as I can whereas nonetheless being out right here and getting as many psychological reps as I can. It’s nonetheless a brand new offense and stuff, and to be in there and watch [Justin] Skule and coach Skule as a lot as I can – he does the identical factor for me on a regular basis. I talked to Coach Bowles and kinda labored it out.”
Bowles mentioned after apply that there’s “good religion” between either side, whereas Wirfs mentioned he believes issues are optimistic and progress is being made as they iron out “the little issues.”
“As for Tristan, we talked earlier than apply. I knew he was solely doing the person interval,” Bowles mentioned. “He’s right here in good religion whereas his contract is getting accomplished and we’re making an attempt in good religion to barter a contract, and hopefully one thing will get labored out quickly. The truth that he’s right here and never holding out, when he will get it accomplished or every time that will get accomplished, he can are available and step in and never lose any performs mentally by being right here.”
Competitors Heats Up As Bucs Transfer Into Some Contact Durations
With the pads approaching, there was clearly much more physicality and competitors between either side of the ball throughout Monday’s apply. That included some operating drills that gave the offensive line an opportunity to compete towards Tampa Bay’s defensive position. The cracking of pads was one other certain signal that soccer is again, with third-year tight finish Ko Kieft notably standing out for one rep towards second-year exterior linebacker Markees Watts.
Ko Kieft doing a little work right here on Markees Watts. Good end by the third-year tight finish. pic.twitter.com/omeudWxlQN
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) July 29, 2024
Elsewhere, there was some 1-on-1 work between the large receivers and defensive backs. Chris Godwin beat Antoine Winfield Jr. on one particular star-studded rep, whereas undrafted rookie Kameron Johnson showcased his spectacular velocity and skill to separate on a few reps. A kind of got here towards third-round choose Tykee Smith, who performed tight protection earlier than Johnson was in a position to get simply sufficient separation to make the catch.
A very good outing for Kameron Johnson, who’s impressed in coaching camp. His velocity is legit. #Bucs pic.twitter.com/IlcelyCYVZ
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) July 29, 2024
The defensive standout within the 1-on-1 interval was second-year cornerback Keenan Isaac, who had one interception and practically got here up with one other.
#Bucs CB Keenan Isaac practically had 2 picks. He ended the 1-on-1s with an interception and celebrated after pic.twitter.com/CX2jsjUE0p
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) July 29, 2024
Wins On Each Sides As Bucs’ Fifth Apply Comes To A Shut
As apply drew to a detailed, each the Bucs offense and protection traded off wins within the workforce’s situational drills.
First, it was the offense coming by means of within the clutch because it labored by means of a scenario the place it was needing a landing with below a minute left on the clock. After Lavonte David made an ideal play and broke up a go meant for Cade Otton, the first-team offense acquired its win on a 4th & 1 with six seconds left. With rookie exterior linebacker Chris Braswell beating Luke Goedeke on the play, Baker Mayfield rolled to his proper and threw on the run, discovering Chris Godwin in the long run zone for a landing.
The second-team offense then acquired a win of its personal, too, due to some miscommunication by the Buccaneer protection. For starters, the protection left Bucky Irving uncovered out large. However there was additionally miscommunication elsewhere, which allowed Kyle Trask to hit rookie tight finish Devin Culp for a landing with 18 seconds left on the clock.
Todd Bowles’ protection acquired its revenge, although, because the workforce completed apply with a scenario the place the offense was down two with no timeouts. Needing to get in place for a area aim, the offense’s alternative was over earlier than it acquired began. Yaya Diaby and Antoine Winfield Jr. teamed up for a sack of Mayfield, which meant the offense failed. Kyle Trask accomplished a few passes with the second-team offense in the identical scenario, however apply got here to an finish with the protection getting the final blow of the day.
Observations And Highlights From Day 5 Of Bucs Camp
Listed below are some quick-hitting observations from Tampa Bay’s fifth coaching camp apply:
• Graham Barton and Ben Bredeson acquired the primary snaps with the beginning offensive line (at middle and left guard, respectively) when the workforce acquired into its 11-on-11 interval. Bredeson and Sua Opeta have continued to separate time as they battle for the beginning left guard job.
• Along with his spectacular work in 1-on-1s, undrafted rookie receiver Kameron Johnson additionally regarded electrical when he acquired an opportunity to return kicks early in apply. Not solely was his velocity on full show, however he regarded shifty and explosive as he wove his manner by means of the kick workforce.
• Kaevon Merriweather had a robust day, with the second-year security protecting a Johnson end-around completely and laying in a little bit of a pop for the primary stable contact of the day. Merriweather additionally had two close to interceptions in apply and he had a pleasant, legit deal with on large receiver Jalen McMillan, taking the rookie to the bottom.
• It was additionally a great day for large receiver Raleigh Webb, an undrafted rookie out of The Citadel. He flashed in 1-on-1s, caught a landing go from John Wolford in 11-on-11s and later had a sliding catch close to the sideline on a go from Kyle Trask.
Bucs LT Lorenz Metz and OLB Jose Ramirez – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
• Though Tristan Wirfs wasn’t on the sphere for 11-on-11 work, the left deal with place was fairly dominant in his absence. Silas Dzansi had a pleasant knockdown block on exterior linebacker Markees Watts. This got here one play after Watts was pancaked by tight finish Ko Kieft. Then rookie exterior linebacker Chris Braswell was knocked down by third-string left deal with Lorenz Metz. On the following play, Metz took out defensive lineman Earnest Brown IV on one play after which drove Jose Ramirez backwards on the following.
When Justin Skule got here again in he engulfed Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and locked him down on his first rep on a run play, however then was lastly crushed inside when exterior linebacker Anthony Nelson sniffed out an inside run and stopped Rachaad White for no achieve.
• Operating again Sean Tucker had a great day in full pads. He was quick and decisive hitting the outlet, which the workforce was happy to see, and did a great job of catching the ball comparatively talking. Tucker would have had an ideal day if he didn’t drop a swing go from Kyle Trask in direction of the top of apply, however he took his eyes off the ball earlier than securing it.
• Talking of Trask, offensive coordinator Liam Coen was visibly upset with Trask when the Bucs didn’t line up accurately on back-to-back performs. A annoyed Coen demanded that the offense re-huddle to get it proper after the primary mistake.
