Notes From Day 2 Of Rookie Minicamp
May 6th, 2017
Running backs coach Tim Spencer monitors a rookie during footwork drills Saturday.
Slow day for the Bucs rookies, undrafted free agents and tryout players at Day 2 of the Bucs rookie minicamp. Much of the work was special teams, and when the Bucs did go offense vs. defense, it was on the far sides of the field with players lined up to shield anyone from seeing.
But here are a few nuggets because Joe knows Bucs fans are ravenous for morsels of information.
* There really aren’t many players jumping out and being noticed a lot. Of course, O.J. Howard is, and on occasion, so is Canadian college star tight end Antony Auclair. But one such player is Riley Cooper. The former star receiver at Clearwater Central Catholic and the University of Florida, Cooper should stand out against future UPS clerks. The guy is a six-year NFL vet. Cooper just looks so smooth on the field, and Joe has yet to see him drop a catchable pass. Joe would take him over misplaced Calgary Stampeder Donteea Dye right now.
* Howard made a helluva catch early in practice. He was heading toward the right sideline and the pass headed his way was errant and behind him. Howard nearly bent over backwards to catch the pass. But he caught it. This guy sticks out like a sore thumb.
* Late in practice during an offense vs. defense session — remember, this is underwear football — one guy getting a lot of touches was tryout running back JoJo Kemp of Kentucky. Now, a tryout getting an invite back to training camp means the Bucs would have to make a roster move. A tryout coming back for training camp is sort of a steep step up. Just by the fact Kemp got so many touches (both in catching the ball out of the backfield and runs up the middle) tells Joe the coaches must have seen something to get their attention to keep feeding him the ball. Could be nothing; could be something.
* Richie Brown, undrafted free agent linebacker from Mississippi State, hauled in a pick off of a tipped pass.
* Roughly the first half-hour (maybe longer) of the 90-minute practice was fundamental drills. If nothing else, this second round pick safety Justin Evans has quick feet. He definetly has a big-time burst of a first-step.
* As Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com pointed out, CB Johnathan Moxey, WR Jordan Westerkamp, WR Tyquwan Glass and WR Bobo Wilson all got work in returning punts.
* No media availability Sunday for the final day of rookie minicamp, but that doesn’t mean Joe won’t have any posts!
May 6th, 2017 at 4:19 pm
LOVE IT!
Excellent work Joe.
May 6th, 2017 at 4:22 pm
Second what Blake says Joe. THX…it’s like you’re giving junkies a fix!
May 6th, 2017 at 4:27 pm
I hope the bucs keep Cooper
For some depth
May 6th, 2017 at 4:39 pm
Yes Thank you Joe. The football junkies favorite dealer. 😎
May 6th, 2017 at 4:55 pm
Good stuff guys. Keep it coming…
May 6th, 2017 at 4:56 pm
Yah cooper is better than the rest. Thought they may give Vincent the 5 or 6th spot but dem knees probably shot
May 6th, 2017 at 5:03 pm
Donteea Dye and Adam Humphries was ‘tryout’ players in 2015. Both was invited to Training Camp.
May 6th, 2017 at 5:21 pm
I can’t wait to see that “sore thumb” stuck right in Sean Payton’s eye. Ditto Rivera and O’Brien’s.
May 6th, 2017 at 5:23 pm
Riley Cooper is a well known Asshole but he always leaves it all out on field, while never taking plays off. Sad to know now that he was sitting at home last year while we were in the middle of a playoff race??
May 6th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
Life of reiley is less than 50% career catch percentage
2notjoes
You guys see that catch by godwin. Kid can track balls like no other.
May 6th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
In Pinellas County no less!
May 6th, 2017 at 5:40 pm
How is the ‘most important’ tryout player doing ? Elliot Fry, Kicker, South Carolina.
May 6th, 2017 at 5:40 pm
You tha man(s) Joe! nice work.
May 6th, 2017 at 5:42 pm
I think Riley is hungry and realizes he needs the Bucs.
Thanks for the coverage Joe.
May 6th, 2017 at 5:52 pm
From the limited stuff I’ve found on Anthony Auclair sounds like he shows some promise, at least for the practice squad this year. At 6’6″ & 254 lbs could be a decent blocker … eventual replacement for Luke Stocker perhaps?
May 6th, 2017 at 5:52 pm
Good stuff Joe’s. thank you
May 6th, 2017 at 6:22 pm
I was searching through the archives, and stumbled upon this nugget from January.
————————————————————————————
Blake_bucsfan Says:
January 14th, 2017 at 2:46 pm
@StPete
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p789rhDRfU4
Watch this and tell me you wouldn’t want O.J Howard over Cook.
Imagine what Jameis could do with a Tight end of his caliber. Who would Defenses double team in the Redzone? Mike, Cam, or O.J.
Our offenses 2 biggest problems this year were stalling out in the Redzone, and Lack of a running game. This a really deep draft for Running backs, and thats without even including Joe Mixon. Plus there is a guy named Latavius Murray who’s an Unrestricted FA.
I Think that O.J. has the potential to be a Gronk/Jimmy Graham/ Tony G Type talent in the near future. And we all know what Koetter did with Tony G in Atlanta.
I am really hoping we have a shot at him at 19.
————————————————————————————
Dreams do come true.
May 6th, 2017 at 6:44 pm
So I just checked with my sister and brother-in-law who went to CCC with Riley and I was mistaken. They said he wasn’t an asshole and that he was actually pretty nice, just “intense” whatever that means. If he continues to produce well in practice I wouldn’t mind having him as our 5th or 6th option at receiver.
May 6th, 2017 at 6:53 pm
Hey…..hold on just for one minute, as I have previously posted, I’m a guy that stands for second chances, if the BUCS want to clean the slate, so be it but Joe I thought you had an obligation to your fans not to soft serve on your blogs, for a home run hitter, you threw it down the middle of the plate at 65 miles per hour. Where is that part about him being a known Jack-ass, a prick, a dick-head, an N-word using son of a biscuit eater, don’t do that Joe your pre-judge-ment is showing just like that blonde bobble head of a judge that had to recuse herself from the trial of USF player accused of sexual assault! So go ahead give him a second chance but please don’t soft-serve!!
Dude, Joe’s written about Cooper’s past a few times already. Calm down. Scroll down the page. Stop being an ass.–Joe
May 6th, 2017 at 7:25 pm
Everyone deserves a second chance and a bit of forgiveness Riley Cooper is NO question the 4th best WR on this team. Take that to the BANK.
May 6th, 2017 at 7:28 pm
Daaaang!!!! That was a big ole slap from Joe!!!! I think I can still see his palm print on BigHogHeinous!!!!!! And I don’t know what else you expect there heinous? what else did you want him grilled about????? Did you listen to the audio because just like the other times he was asked, he totally owned his mistake from years ago!!!!!! Of course if he was another color and just punched the girl ray rice style there would be no controversy as far as bighogheinous was concerned!!!!
Keep up the great work Joe!!!!
And know, just like we expect the Buc players to control the locker room, me and the Buc Elders around here are policing these forums!!!!!!
May 6th, 2017 at 7:46 pm
Thanks Joe
May 6th, 2017 at 8:20 pm
Anything from McNicholas?
May 6th, 2017 at 8:35 pm
Ndog…….Joe has said that McNichols is recovering from surgery. Should be good to go by Training camp.
May 6th, 2017 at 8:52 pm
Thanks for linking that videos again Blake. So excited to see our offense this coming season!
May 6th, 2017 at 9:10 pm
I made a comment last year about bringing cooper in and a lot of people didn’t like it. He is not a burner and doesn’t have the greatest hands but runs crisp routes and can help the team in a pinch.
May 6th, 2017 at 9:11 pm
Thanks for the camp notes Joe. Sounds like today was about getting back to basics.
May 6th, 2017 at 9:17 pm
With all our weapons on offense I’m concerned players might take matters into their own hands and try to take out some of our players due to frustration. That’s the only worry I have this year with Winston or other receivers.
May 6th, 2017 at 9:27 pm
So a Joe can you explain why Godwin is wearing Doug Williams number 12? Doug is in ring of honor & not even 2 years later they give his number out? Glazers approved this? Think they would let anyone wear 99 or 55 or 40 again I think NOT. terrible job by the equipment manager.
May 6th, 2017 at 9:32 pm
Looks like I am going to fall for it all again and get excited for the upcoming season.
Such is the life of the buc fan.
May 6th, 2017 at 10:50 pm
Tomorrow will have some quotes. He didn’t practice.
Chris Godwin is wearing Chris Godwin’s number. The Bucs have only retired three numbers and none are No. 12.
Retired numbers are Selmon (63), Sapp (99) and Brooks (55).
May 6th, 2017 at 10:52 pm
good to see joe have change of heart & willing to give young men a 2nd chance 😉
May 6th, 2017 at 10:53 pm
And thanks for the compliments guys. Much appreciated!
May 7th, 2017 at 12:01 am
“Think they would let anyone wear 99”
That would cause me to protest outside of One Buc.
May 7th, 2017 at 1:11 am
I’m for giving Cooper the benefit of the doubt and new life in Tampa. Thoughts and words do not speak louder than deeds.
May 7th, 2017 at 1:50 am
Blake…I remember ME gushing over the kid after YOU pointed him out for me. I’m sure I’m close by talking about how nasty 2 TE sets would be with this kid.
Fans JUST have no idea.
May 7th, 2017 at 1:54 am
Riley Cooper and the calls for him to have a second chance is reflective of the society we live in. Just like it’s okay for a drunk white girl to spit on, kick, call a Black kid the N-word, etc… but let him defend himself and he should never be given another chance despite how much he expresses remorse and serves punishment. As far as I’m concerned I feel the same about Cooper… I don’t want him anywhere near any team I root for and I know Black teammates will never trust or respect him.
May 7th, 2017 at 9:18 am
I thought it was everyone opinion in January (except maybe one of he Joes who took some convincing) that we wanted OJ over anybody in the draft. The only reason everyone stopped lobbying for OJ was that he seemed to shoot up the board and become a unrealistic option.
May 7th, 2017 at 9:56 am
@C2
I hope you feel the same way about colin kaepernick who in 2015 dropped that word on the field and was fined $11,000!!!!!!
May 7th, 2017 at 7:53 pm
Realist I hope you fare equally outraged or forgiving about Kap and Copper too.
May 7th, 2017 at 8:06 pm
Joe thanks for the clarification on number 12, so what you’re saying is that 40 isn’t retired either? So will the bucs put someone in that number (40) and disrespect mike like they did with someone wearing Dougs 12? I think not.