Rookie Minicamp Day 2 Notes
May 14th, 2022
Today was the final day for media availability at Bucs rookie minicamp. There is a closed minicamp/underwear football practice scheduled for tomorrow but often those are just enough to get the players to break a sweat — if they are held at all.
For many of the rookies, today is the final time Joe will see them on a Bucs practice field. For several, their football careers end tomorrow.
But let’s not be dour. Joe has a few highlights from today.
* Jerreth Sterns, who caught passes from Bailey Zappe at Western Kentucky and put up insane numbers, plays larger than his 5-9 frame. In an offensive drill, he meandered around a couple of tackling dummies and was heading for the far left corner of the end zone when the pass headed his way was overthrown. He skied and sold out for the ball and caught it with both hands as he tumbled to the ground. Nice job. Bucs coach Todd Bowles said after practice that Sterns has flashed and the number of catches he made in college proves his durability. In four seasons at Western Kentucky (1) and Houston Baptist (3), Sterns had 370 catches for 3,873 yards and 35 touchdowns in 41 games.
* In a seven-on-seven drill, tight end Ko Kieft took a pass over the left seams. Not only did he look smooth doing it, when he turned upfield he just didn’t tuck the ball away, he covered it up with both arms as he squared his shoulders with the line and leaned forward as if ready to get hit. Even in underwear football, Kieft was expecting violence. Solid fundamentals.
* Tight end Ben Biese (Wisconsin-River Falls) catches a quick slat from the left from Peyton Ramsey (Northwestern).
* Aqeel Glass (Alabama A&M) with a beautiful pass about 20 yards down the left seam that dropped in the bucket for tight end Sean Dykes (Memphis) who got a half-step past double-coverage.
* Ramsey to Jace Jordan (West Georgia) to the right sideline out of the backfield and Bronson Massie (Kansas State) races over for the touch tackle. Remember, this is underwear football where there is no hitting or tackling of any sort.
* Glass on a coverage sack. He backpedaled escaping pressure but no one was open.
* Kieft tries to catch a very high but short pass down the right seam that bounces off his hands high in the air and J.J. Russell (Memphis) nearly had a pick.
* Glass makes up for it on the next play with a pass in the numbers to Kieft, short right in traffic.
* Devin Thompkins (Utah State), from Fort Myers, skies high for a catch on the right side.
* Patrick Laird (California) looks very smooth coming out of the backfield to his right to haul in a pass.
* Glass drops the snap and tries to get the pass to the left for an open Sterns. But in rush to get rid of the ball, Glass didn’t have enough mustard on the pass and it falls short.
* Joe isn’t sure if this is bad or good. As Ramsey rolls right, Sterns hits the turf near the right sideline. Ramsey still throws the ball to Sterns and the pass hits Sterns in the numbers as he’s sitting on the ground.
* Kieft is getting open play after play.
* Glass would have had his world lit up if there was hitting. A linebacker came racing up the middle untouched and since it is underwear football, the linebacker pulled up at last second to avoid blowing this guy up to kingdom come. The linebacker? DeCalon Brooks.
May 14th, 2022 at 3:52 pm
Viking Ko
May 14th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Wouldn’t it be great if Kieft is the breakout star of the season.
May 14th, 2022 at 4:15 pm
If Kieft can catch, that’s a big bonus………as I recall, even Stocker & Auclair caught balls on occasion….
It would be a miracle if any of the WRs make the roster….they are all playing for practice squad slots.
May 14th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
I’m intrigued by Ko Kieft. His numbers as a pass-catcher were underwhelming, but that might be attributable to the run-heavy, University of Minnesota offense.
May 14th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
Jerreth Sterns knows how to play this game. The knock on him is his slow 40 yard time, his small stature, and seemingly ordinary athleticism by NFL standards.
But just for sake of physical comparison, his measurables are very similar to some undrafted guy named Wes Welker.
May 14th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
This Jerreth Sterns kid sure seems to warrant a full look in training camp. I don’t remember Dardung getting this many highlights last year when he was playing touch football.
Sterns > Dardung
May 14th, 2022 at 5:03 pm
I’m glad Gabbert and Jenson are so good they don’t have to be throwing
May 14th, 2022 at 5:10 pm
Pretty sure 5’9 is way overselling Sterns. I’m pretty sure he’s 5’7.
May 14th, 2022 at 5:11 pm
Great to read what’s going on there. Only way it could be better, would be there watching it myself.
May 14th, 2022 at 5:19 pm
Can’t wait to see Ko when the pads come on.
May 14th, 2022 at 5:43 pm
I’m excited hearing the highlights from Stearns. UDFA gem? Tyler Johnson and Darden a little nervous?
May 14th, 2022 at 6:04 pm
Football is in the air, thanks Joes. I’m rooting for Glass, still think he has more upside than current back ups.
May 14th, 2022 at 7:31 pm
Stearns has a lot of issues. Not physical, not a great route runner, not super fast. Good YAC, and good as a gadget bubble screen target. Maybe a returner.
May 14th, 2022 at 7:38 pm
Go Ko!!!!!
May 14th, 2022 at 7:38 pm
LOVE the fact that we picked up Sterns and Thompkins as UDFA’s. One or both could potentially make the team (or at least the PS). And with the way Kieft seems early on in the process, Licht seems to keep earning his keep. Good job!!
May 14th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
I would love to see DeCalon Brooks make it to training camp!
May 14th, 2022 at 8:54 pm
If Kieft can catch as well as block… bonus.
May 14th, 2022 at 10:32 pm
@steele
Sterns is a good route runner.
May 14th, 2022 at 10:47 pm
All you armchair coaches don’t under estimate Sterns.
May 15th, 2022 at 4:49 am
Thanks again for the notes Joe. I hope an intern grabbed you a Big Storm. I can’t believe how excited I am about a 6th round TE. I want to see Ko Kieft at Fullback.
May 15th, 2022 at 9:21 am
Love the physicality of the guys we’ve added. Ko, Goedeke. Need some more mean on the D line though.
May 15th, 2022 at 9:23 am
Ko is looking like he’s going to be a key player, key blocks and easy passes in the flat
May 15th, 2022 at 2:47 pm
we need linebacker depth is decalon brooks any good he could make the team? Like to see Jerreth Sterns get many reps as he could make the team and play slot
May 17th, 2022 at 11:36 am
Glass resign with another team. Very good QB