Joe’s live from the fields of rookie minicamp

It’s Joe’s always popular practice notes and observations, this time from opening day of Bucs rookie minicamp/tryout camp at One Buc Palace.

Fifty young hopefuls, from draft picks to second-year players like former Florida State defensive tackle Everett Dawkins, a seventh-round pick of the Cowboys last year, took to the sunny, breezy fields. (more…)

Bucs players are under strict orders not to remove the tarp that shrouds the Jeff Tedford offense. Don’t reveal state secrets, lest the NKVD will visit you.

This didn’t stop Joe from prying. (more…)

For wide receivers, especially now with rookie stud Mike Evans on board, the offense of the Bucs will be all about the YAC.

Unfortunately today for Evans, it began with the yack. As in tossing his lunch. Loosing it. Ralphing. (more…)

Yes, the Bucs need more depth on their offensive line. It’s thin. It’s got question marks. But it’s also only May 16.

There’s time to find a gem or two. Joe asked Lovie about prospective lineman at rookie minicamp today. (more…)

The Bucs’ gargantuan tight end, second-round pick Austin Seferian-Jenkins, won’t get much of a chance to flash his talent for a while.

And how long that will last is a mystery. (more…)

The Joes just happened to be sitting at a table on the backyard patio at One Buc Palace that faces the practices fields today. One Joe just happened to have his binoculars focused on first round draft pick wide receiver Mike Evans, fortunately.

The other Joe was watching with the naked eye.

So Evans runs a seam route from the right to the left and rookie quarterback Brett Smith of Wyoming and his linguini arm tossed a terribly overthrown pass to Evans. (more…)

In a somewhat odd move, the Bucs only had one quarterback in their rookie/tryout minicamp today.

Wyoming star Brett Smith was a busy man, but his arm was one of the weakest Joe’s seen on the professional level in years. (more…)

Joe’s words can’t do this justice, but Mike Evans simply dropped every jaw at Bucs rookie minicamp this afternoon with a catch that made Joe understand why legendary talent evaluator Gil Brandt said Evans has the best hands he’s seen since Calvin Johnson. (more…)

A glance at the list of tryout players the Bucs have in rookie minicamp today through Sunday reveals Chris Burnette is the only undrafted player labeled “guard” in the mix.

That seems like quite an opportunity for the young man. (more…)

Joe was reminded today of one of the lighter periods in Bucs history, when Raheem Morris often distracted fans from the losing with news conferences that rolled out silly nicknames, stories of his granny looking like a bulldog, historic ramblings “and things of that nature.”

One classic came before the implosion of 2011, when Raheem explained how his starting safeties, oft-injured Cody Grimm and serial loafer Sean Jones, were “The Wolfs.” (more…)

Buccaneers rookies take the practice field today for the opening of Tampa Bay’s three-day rookie minicamp.

And you thought this was some sleepy Friday in May, when Bucs fans typically would drink adult beverages and count down the 70 or so days until training camp kicks off!

Nope, Joe will be buzzing around practice and One Buc Palace delivering you all kinds of news, notes, nuggets and words from your newest Bucs.

Stick with Joe through the day, and the weekend.

Former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik discusses his biggest mistake with the Bucs.

Yesterday, former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik appeared with Tom Krasniqi on WDAE-AM 620 for chatter about the NFL and the Bucs. Dominik now covers the NFL for the four-letter.

Towards the end of the interview, Krasniqi asked Dominik, after five months to meditate on his 18 years with the Bucs, was the biggest mistake he made running the Pewter Pirates.

Dominik didn’t hesitate (more…)

Former Bucs DE Steve White would rather watch a test pattern than the Bucs offense if G Oniel Cousins plays.

Five months into the Lovie Smith administration, the roster has had a thorough makeover. Beefed up defensive line. Revolving door at cornerback. Stud wide receiver. New quarterback. Spiced up running attack.

The offensive line? Well, it’s gotten a near complete overhaul, with the exception of incumbent right tackle Demar Dotson and maybe Carl Nicks at left guard. If there is one major hole on the roster, it would be right guard, where veteran Oniel Cousins could start. (more…)

Mark Dominik weighs in on the Bucs’ picks and more

Former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik is a big fan of the draft-day work of his successors.

Sadly, Joe knows legions of Bucs fans will now lose sleep tonight, fearful none of these new Buccaneers will have a Tampa Bay zip code in five years. (more…)

The Bucs have won another springtime division title!

As 2014 NFL Draft grades pour in from various NFL analysts, the Bucs continue to get high marks — this time from an NFL Network draft guru. (more…)

It was a much anticipated JoeBucsFan Hour on the top-rated Steve Duemig show on WDAE-AM 620 Tuesday. The full podcast is below.

The dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, “The Big Dog,” wanted Joe’s full take on the Mike Glennon love from the Bucs organization, the pass on Johnny Football, and so much more. Enjoy!

Former Bucs DE Steve White says the Bucs offense now looks a whole lot like the Bears’ when QB Josh McCown played in the Second City.

Yes, Joe is just like his readers. He’s trying to figure out what the Bucs offense will look like.

And, no, Joe’s not willing to sit on his hands and watch “Bugs Bunny” and play video games to pass the months to wait until the real offense is unveiled in September.

Recently, former Bucs defensive end Steve White dropped in with his former teammate, Booger McFarland, to talk about the Bucs’ offense and more.

(more…)