First-Team Work Isn’t Impressing Alex Cappa
July 28th, 2019
After Training Camp Day 2 at One Buc Palace yesterday, the man known as one of the meanest and nastiest players coming out of the 2018 NFL Draft seemed genuinely saddened by the fact Bruce Arians doesn’t want players fighting on the practice field.
Yes, it sounds like second-year guard Alex Cappa is salivating at the chance to show what he can do in pads for the first time this year. That chance comes today for Cappa and the rest of the Bucs.
Can Cappa win the right guard starting gig? Will it be journeyman Earl Watford? Evan Smith won’t go away and he’s been cleared to practice and compete. And Caleb Benenoch, now working at tackle, remains on the roster, which means you just never know if a rash of guard injuries has the Bucs doing something unthinkable.
Cappa worked with the first-teamers yesterday but told WDAE radio after the session that he’s not impressed by that. “No matter where you’re at, you just got to compete. It’s all the same. Everything can change. You just got to go out there and compete and take it one day at a time.”
Wise words from young Cappa. Just keep winning every snap, fight to the death for every blade of grass.
Cappa likely will square off against a leaner and meaner looking Vita Vea and or Ndamukong Suh this evening. Joe suspects every Bucs offensive coach and front office suit will be paying very close attention.
July 28th, 2019 at 8:11 am
I’m all for meaner play, during the play. The penalty-fetching late stuff is selfish & amateur.
I hope he is earning his 1st team reps and this isn’t another player forced onto the field because of his draft position.
Licht inhales vigorously!
July 28th, 2019 at 8:20 am
C’mon Joe, shouldn’t Cappa be allowed to fight with the future UPS Drivers, Insurance Claims Adjusters, Mattress Movers & Pizza Delivery Drivers……
What in the world is “camp meat” for if you can’t pound on it?
July 28th, 2019 at 8:38 am
So what happens when Cappa, Spence, Rojo, Hargraeves all perform well? Im guessing all of the fans who wanted Licht gone will find some excuse as to why he doesnt deserve credit for picking them although those same fans blame him for the bad picks. Cant wait to read the b.s spewing from their keyboard fingertips
July 28th, 2019 at 9:24 am
“Cappa likely will square off against a leaner and meaner looking Vita Vea and or Ndamukong Suh…”
Sheesh. Talk about being put to the test! I can’t see him knocking either of them on their butts!
Although, now that I think about it, I hope he does it to Suh. That would be impressive! And it would make Suh play angry.
July 28th, 2019 at 9:55 am
Between Suh, Vea, and the interior LB blitzes, Training Camp is going to suck for the guards whether they’re good or not.
July 28th, 2019 at 10:13 am
Poor guy!
Vea + Suh could be scary!!
July 28th, 2019 at 10:31 am
“Steel sharpens steel.”
If Cappa wants to get sharp, he has the opportunity of a lifetime. His reputation as a brawler is on the line, and I hope he re-earns it.
July 28th, 2019 at 10:42 am
Cappa had the attitude in College but only average strength for Olineman. Curious if he added any bulk or strength during the offseason.
July 28th, 2019 at 10:49 am
In tampa the reasons have been like redshirt year for them all for a few years now. I would like to see these first and second year guys actually get through a full season injury free for once, experience will come and with that better play
July 28th, 2019 at 11:14 am
I would be SHOCKED if the Bucs did not put Cappa through a massive weight training program in the offseason.
July 28th, 2019 at 11:20 am
Won’t be either of them, the RG spot is Zach Bailey’s to lose.
July 28th, 2019 at 11:42 am
“So what happens when Cappa, Spence, Rojo, Hargraeves all perform well? Im guessing all of the fans who wanted Licht gone will find some excuse as to why he doesnt deserve credit for picking them although those same fans blame him for the bad picks. Cant wait to read the b.s spewing from their keyboard fingertips”
________________
Well, there’s plenty of fodder. Licht let Mike Smith overstay his welcome and he drafted Aguayo. And, if Spence thrives, that means Licht let him languish under bad coaches.
Then there’s the money or time Licht wasted on Ayers, Grimes, Alterraun Verner, Clinton McDonald, Michael Johnson, Anthony Collins, J.R. Sweezy, Chris Conte, Chris Baker, Vinny Curry, Catanzaro and Unrein. Letting Bradley McDougald go. Re-signing Doug Martin.
We can also debate who Licht passed up. Derrick Henry, Derwin James.
I’m probably missing a few, but you get the point.
July 28th, 2019 at 11:48 am
He was awful last year when he played
Let’s see…..
July 28th, 2019 at 11:51 am
It’s one thing to develop a reputation for being ‘mean & nasty’ against Division III opponents but quite another to to protect against the likes of Vea or Suh. Cappa showed me nothing last year except that he didn’t even remotely have the strength or technique to be an NFL starter. I’ll put my money on Vea & Suh to show him what it’ll take to EARN a spot on this OLine. And I don’t think that Cappa (or Benenoch) will do that. Watford has a chance, but I’ll bet that the starter after the first couple of games isn’t even on the roster right now.
July 28th, 2019 at 11:55 am
ModHairKen … RoJo will improve this year, as will Spence (BA’s system is a much better fit for their skillsets than was Koetter’s). VHIII, IF he can stay healthy, should have a decent year … at nickel (based on his $9 mil option for 2020 already being signed, he won’t be back IMO). Cappa will be lucky to make the team.
July 28th, 2019 at 11:17 pm
Guess what, Benenoch took D. Smith’s place and held his own against our excellent Defense today, which proves Licht picked a good OL with a low pick who just had potential as an OT just waiting to be developed by BA or another good Coach but Clueless Warhop who never developed any players stuck Benenoch in the wrong position with no development and hung him out to fail last year. Warhop also kept D. Smith in the wrong position too. Great development will never make him quick enough to stop speed rushers, but if developed by a great OL Coach as a Guard and forced to produce and not loaf he would have already been an All Pro. But faced with poor Coaching Licht brought in Veterans who had produced well elsewhere but poor Coaching and the losing culture here with no accountability ruined their production here. Case in point is our Center Jensen who in his first year as a Center with the Ravens was rated the 6th best Center in the NFL but with Warhop here and the losing culture and no accountability he was rated a below average Center with the Bucs. Now tell me how that is Licht’s fault? NOT!!!