Archive for May, 2014

Mike Evans = “Godzilla”

Wednesday, May 21st, 2014
Bucs GM Jason Licht described WR Mike Evans as "a Godzilla."

Bucs GM Jason Licht described WR Mike Evans as “a Godzilla.”

Joe must give Bucs general manager props for being up on pop culture.

Either that, or he has impeccable timing and is a stickler for research.

There are all sorts of superlatives to use to describe rookie wide receiver Mike Evans. Big, physical, quick, strong, athletic. But leave it to Licht to tab the No. 1 movie at the box office last weekend. (more…)

Mike Glennon Passed Jason Licht Test

Wednesday, May 21st, 2014
mike glennon 0217

The Bucs GM weighed in last night

Mike Glennon is the “quarterback of the future” for the Bucs. Joe is going to guess you heard that somewhere before.

Now, when future becomes present, that’s anyone’s guess. But Glennon is the future. Bank on it. Write it down. Bookmark it. Don’t believe Joe? Just ask Jason Licht. (more…)

“A Linebacker-Mentality Coach”

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

Lovie Smith, Marc AnthonySo who taught manbeast Gerald McCoy how to tackle at a Pro Bowl level? Greg Schiano, of course.

Please don’t tell you Joe forgot that critical nugget of Bucs history. Ask Mason Foster and Johnthan Banks about their tackling skills, and they’ll talk about their Schiano transformation, too. (more…)

Pulling And Pushing

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

“Trust your team leaders, my son.”

One reason Bucs coach Lovie Smith has fallen in love with Josh McCown isn’t because he will confuse Bucs fans with Joe Montana. But Lovie believes what McCown does off the field is as important as what he does on it.

Lovie always gushes about McCown. And one of the reasons he brought McCown to Tampa Bay, aside from to be the starting quarterback, of course, was to be a big brother of sorts to backup quarterback Mike Glennon. Try to be Glennon’s unofficial coach. (more…)

Today’s On-Field Practice Observations

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

bucs cheerleader 1117Joe joined his fellow media types at Buccaneers practice today under the broiling late-morning sun at One Buc Palace (When will Team Glazer sell ice cold beer at these things?) Of course, Joe took all kinds of notes from drills and offense-vs-defense work.

Here you go: (more…)

Barron And Goldson “Perfect” Combo

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

Joe remembers last year when the Bucs signed “Hawk” Dashon Goldson, many Bucs fans and national football observers grumbled about how Goldson and Mark Barron were too much alike, therefore, it was a wasted acquisition. (more…)

Way Too Early To Talk Depth Chart

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

J

Bucs coach Lovie Smith was a little excited today, more than his usual calm, stoic self, because his team, his Bucs, were on the field practicing.

Lovie, however, cautioned reporters not to draw too many conclusions from what they are seeing. (more…)

Pre-Draft, Glennon Advised He Was The Future

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

The Bucs’ named “quarterback of the future” said today that Lovie Smith called him twice in the days before the draft to advise not to believe the rumors and hype of the Bucs drafting a quarterback.

Yes, the Mike Glennon Mob can take a break from printing “19 and 9” bumper stickers and celebrate the decision of the Lovie Smith regime. (more…)

The Chirping Of Gil Byrd

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

The Buccaneers’ cornerbacks coach really was getting after it today on the sunny practice fields of One Buc Palace.

Gil Byrd, a former Pro Bowl player with the Chargers, was all over his troops during man coverage drills against real receivers. (more…)

Mike Evans Pulls Up Lame

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

A scary sight occurred at Bucs practice this morning about five yards in front of Joe.

It was a roughly 15 yard out route during a 1-on-1 drill with Mike Jenkins covering. (more…)

Busy Day For Bucs Fans

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

joe_mug_shotThe Bucs are back on the practice field this morning, and Joe is here at One Buc Palace to bring you the sights, sounds and assorted fun.

It’s the full team today, rookies mingling with veterans, and then talking about it afterwards.

Stick with Joe through the day and night for all the need-to-know.

Bucs Wanted Sammy Watkins?

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014
Buffalo WR Sammy Watkins claims the Bucs were one of two teams that told him they would trade up to select him in the draft two weeks ago.

Buffalo WR Sammy Watkins claims the Bucs were one of two teams that told him they would trade up to select him in the draft two weeks ago.

Hordes of Bucs fans are still cracking open bottles of beer to celebrate the drafting of Mike Evans at No. 7 overall. While there was little if anything to judge Evans during rookie camp, his making the two plays of the day, spectacular plays, each time the Tampa Bay pen and mic club was allowed to watch, certainly didn’t damper any hopes.

But, if Joe is to believe the words from wide receiver Sammy Watkins own mouth, the No. 4 overall draft pick, the Bucs wanted him more than Evans.

(more…)

Yacking Mike Evans

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014
Mike Evans has the same graphic habit of two Hall of Fame athletes.

Mike Evans has the same graphic habit of two Hall of Fame athletes.

In his first week as a Buccaneer, first round draft pick Mike Evans confessed he lost his lunch at practice. Evans waved it off as not being in peak condition.

That may not exactly be the case.

Andrew Astleford of FoxSportsFlorida.com did some digging in a cool feature about how Evans went from budding young high school basketball star to the No. 7 pick in the draft. (more…)

Kadeem Edwards Learning A Lot

Monday, May 19th, 2014

kedeem edwards

If coaches can get the most out of players, then the Bucs may have hit on something with offensive tackle Kadeem Edwards from Tennessee State. And, yes, Joe thinks coaches do get the most out of players.

And bad coaches get the worst out of players, too. (more…)

Charles Sims: Kick Returner?

Monday, May 19th, 2014

charles sims

One good thing about rookie minicamp for draft picks is coaches can try them out at different tasks without taking practice snaps away from veterans.

That seems to be the case already with running back Charles Sims.

Joe already brought word that Sims was involved in punt returns this weekend, the first time he has ever done that. (more…)

Becht: Glennon Could Start Opening Day

Monday, May 19th, 2014
"Follow Josh McCown, my son."

“Follow Josh McCown, my son.”

The Josh McCown Deniers, aka veteran members of the Mike Glennon Mob who spend their nights knitting “19 and 9” banners, may have a new leader, former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht.

Nowadays seen and heard on the Buccaneers Radio Network, BSPN and NBC Sports Network, Becht says Glennon could become the opening day starter. (more…)

Josh McCown = Rich Gannon

Monday, May 19th, 2014
Robert Klemko of theMMQB.com believes Bucs QB Josh McCown is the next Rich Gannon.

Robert Klemko believes Bucs QB Josh McCown is the next Rich Gannon.

Anytime the name of Josh McCown, erstwhile franchise quarterback for the Bucs at 35 years old (before training camp), is evoked around Lovie Smith, the usually-reserved head coach gets giddy. Well, as giddy as one could picture Lovie being.

As recently as when the Bucs finished their 2014 draft selections, Lovie said when discussing McCown, “and I love Josh.” (more…)

Is Lovie Feeling The Loss?

Monday, May 19th, 2014

Hester named the Bucs among his final choices

The big news of the weekend was Bucs head coach Lovie Smith identifying an “area of concern.”

That was relatively harsh Lovie language in what has been a honeymoon-like overhaul period for the Bucs roster. (more…)

Hawk Shared His Soles

Monday, May 19th, 2014

hawkPoor high school kid with a rough life tried to reach his dreams training on a football field, but he didn’t have a pair of cleats for proper training.

Bucs safety Dashon “Hawk” Goldson ran into that kid years ago and, with a little help from Hawk, now they’re teammates. (more…)

Jeff Tedford’s Offense: “Pro Style”

Monday, May 19th, 2014
Bucs rookie RB Brendan Bigelow, who played for offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford at Cal, talked about the strong connection the two have.

Bucs rookie RB Brendan Bigelow, who played for offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford at Cal, talked about the strong connection the two have.

Later today, we likely will learn which undrafted rookie free agents and tryout players will stick around for OTAs beginning this week, and likely return for training camp in July. Sadly, the odds are against a lot of the tryouts.

The Bucs have 90 on their roster now, the training camp maximum. So maybe a few tryout guys return to replace undrafted free agents and become camp meat. Yeah, it sounds crude, but that’s about the extent of it. (more…)