Practice Notes From OTA Day 1

May 23rd, 2023

So Joe was at OTAs today when the Bucs, (most) veterans and rookies alike, had a voluntary underwear football practice on the sunny fields of One Buc Palace.

For those unaware, underwear football is guys in shorts. No pads other than a helmet. There is no hitting of any sort. Think flag football without the flags.

Let’s hop to it:

* The Bucs are running a strip drill. No, this has nothing to do with the clothing-optional establishments on Dale Mabry Highway. Yes, Joe has seen teams work on stripping the ball before, but not to this detail. A ballcarrier jogged and a defensive player would run from behind, place on hand on the ballcarrier’s shoulder and use that as leverage to rip the ball out with the defender’s free hand.

* With Russell Gage hurt (again), rookie receiver Trey Palmer got a lot of work with the first team. In one play he was lined up with Chris Godwin in a twins formation. Godwin ran an inside route, Palmer outside. Joe hopes to see more of that this fall.

* Baker Mayfield hits Cade Otton in the hands down the left seam but the ball bounces off Otton’s hands.

* If Joe had to guess, Baker Mayfield had maybe 70 percent of the snaps until the final 20-25 minutes of practice where competing Kyle Trask took most of the reps.

* Kade Warner takes a short pass over the middle from Mayfield.

* Mayfield to Taye Barber right in the breadbasket along the left sideline.

* Godwin hauls in a Trask pass pass over the middle.

* Patrick Laird hauls in a Trask pass along the left sideline.

* Trask throws to the right sideline where Godwin houses the pass.

* During a water break, Joe saw offensive coordinator Dave Canales and Mayfield have a private one-on-one. Canales would mimic the footwork and throw of a pass and Mayfield would repeat the gesture.

* Yes sir: rookie linebacker SirVocea Dennis flushes Mayfield out of the pocket to his right and Mayfield dumps the ball off to Otton near the right sideline.

* A new Joe Tryon-Shoyinka? The third-year outside linebacker seems more vocal and in charge. He’s directing guys and making sure teammates are in the correct position.

* Red zone work: Mayfield hits Palmer over the middle as Palmer came in from the left side.

* Highlight of practice: Mayfield targets Palmer along the left sideline but the throw was high. Palmer skies and hauls the ball in with his fingertips and Joe thought he got two feet in but not sure as there were so many players around the play blocking the view. It created a roar from the players on the sideline watching.

* Here is what Trask does well: This is a Bill Parcells method. When passing over the middle, Parcells demanded his quarterbacks throw low to prevent tipped passes or worse, a pick. Trask always seems to throw low over the middle, cock-high or lower.

* Joe is thinking Trask wanted a wet ball drill. He throws a rainbow to the right that was so dang high Joe is thinking it got wet in the clouds. It almost looked like a punt. Tight end Tanner Taula (Illinois State) caught the touchdown. The Bucs’ offensive linemen were so happy with the play they came and hugged Trask.

* Mayfield hands the ball off to receiver Deven Thompkins who runs right and meets a wall of linebackers. He quickly reverses field and runs left and Joe thinks he may have gotten five yards out of the play.

* Ke’Shawn Vaughn runs up the middle for a few yards. Then cuts right for a few more.

* Ryan Miller (Furman) catches a pass from Trask over the middle.

* Trask is flushed to the left and he maybe gets five yards.

43 Responses to “Practice Notes From OTA Day 1”

  1. Nicholas Carlson Says:

    I just learned a new way to describe a throw to a receiver’s…”midsection” !

  2. K2 Says:

    Big thanks for keeping us involved…appreciated!

  3. Bucsfan13 Says:

    Joe, I’m glad you bring up Parcells. Brady was also trained to throw the ball low. He mentioned in part it was to protect his receiver. Belicheat is a disciple of Parcells. I bet you Trask picked up that method from Brady. People think because it’s low it’s a bad throw. It’s actually mitigating risk and it helps to not get your receivers blown up. Love Parcells, by the way.

  4. D-Rok Says:

    Thanks for the notes, Joe!

  5. Tim Says:

    Keep the notes coming Joe, some of my favorite stuff to read on this site.

  6. robert Says:

    Trask=the next GOAT!

  7. Dooley Says:

    Was David Moore in attendance? Also what’s the word if any on Sean Tucker & Chase Edmonds? Diaby looks humongous as well, idk if it’s because he keeps a low pad level, but on tape he doesn’t look as big as he has in the photos the Bucs media dept post on the teams’ site. The audio on the interviews the team posted was terrible

  8. Red86 Says:

    Didn’t know OTA was today, but thanks again for the great notes. I think the Bucs are going to surprise some folks this year.

  9. AC Says:

    Cock-high… LOL thanks the visual Joe!

  10. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    It sounds like Palmer can actually catch a ball…..that’s very encouraging.

  11. Mike Says:

    Awesome coverage, thanks! Sounds like it’s shaping up to be a good QB battle!

  12. BBQBUC Says:

    According to Joe’s notes Trask completed all his passes.

  13. Jon Says:

    So we now know that one of the Joes is Pete Rose.

  14. Bee Says:

    Trask sounds like he’s off to a good start.

  15. BBQBUC Says:

    Wow, so few comments. If Trask had thrown lots of incompletes and picks this story would have 100+ comments attacking him. As someone else commented recently, this is really an FSU website. LOL.

  16. realistic-optimistic Says:

    Brady regularly used the Parcells method as you call it. Glad to see Trask picked up a trick or two from the goat. Hope he pans out. It would be great for the Bucs to actually hit on a QB for once.

    Love these practice notes, Joe.

  17. MX buc fan Says:

    Form only those notes, looks like Trask is getting the job done in a smart way, looking good for a QB competition!

  18. Craig Says:

    Still think the Bowles cleaner will step in and anoint Mayfly to start.

    But it looks like Trask wasn’t just getting the coffee, he was paying attention.

    That is good for the longer range outlook of this team.

  19. SOEbuc Says:

    Ke’ finally getting his chance to shine up the middle, and he will.

  20. Joe Says:

    Was David Moore in attendance? Also what’s the word if any on Sean Tucker & Chase Edmonds?

    Not sure about Dave Moore. Joe doesn’t pay much if any attention to the third-team/teamsters. Didn’t do anything to stand out. Joe knows there are reporters who take attendance. Joe always thought that was more a less a waste.

    Sean Tucker, Todd Bowles said, doesn’t have a timetable when he can begin practicing.

    Didn’t notice Chase Edmonds.

  21. Joe Says:

    According to Joe’s notes Trask completed all his passes.

    Including a truly ugly one which was caught by a guy in a red (defense) jersey.

  22. Crickett Baker Says:

    Love these articles, Joe.

  23. kyle Says:

    Thanks as usual for the camp notes! OMG!! Has anyone spoken to coach Bowles about his weight? Dang, is this dude hitting wendy’s everyday for dinner? His face is very thin so you dont realize how “robust” he is.. hahah

    GO BUCS

  24. kyle Says:

    i guess we will roll bowles out in a wheelbarrow opening day?

  25. LakelandSteve Says:

    Love it Joe, first time ever in a sports column. ‘Cock High’.

  26. Defense Rules Says:

    Might be just the angle Joe, but that photo of Vita Vea makes it look like he’s slimmed down some. Here’s hoping …

  27. Bucs2Yucspart2 Says:

    The pic speaks a thousand words, but the biggest takeaway is they all have their heads down .. oh and TB stands weird.. The start of Lost Years 2 coming soon

  28. mark2001 Says:

    Got to cheer for the Illinois State guy.

  29. Delusional Intelligence Says:

    As always thanks for the time & effort that goes into practice notes.

    Is it just me, or possibly the angle, but from the picture it looks like Vita might have lost some weight? Precursor to a shift in D-Line philosophy?

  30. Buc4evr Says:

    From what I read elsewhere, the Bucs are running bootlegs, play action, waggle plays. More like Seattle, which will really help the OLine this year. More short passes while the QB is in motion. Should be an interesting offense this year.

  31. Usedtocould Says:

    Cock high

  32. Irishmist Says:

    Sounds like Trask is balling out. Just hope he doesn’t get too cocky.

  33. gotbbucs Says:

    Cock-high……(post is under moderation)

  34. optimisticbucsfan Says:

    thanks joe…much appreciated

  35. 1#bucsfan Says:

    Thank you Joe much appreciated for the notes. Looking forward to more 🍆 high commentary

  36. BucsFanSince1976 Says:

    QB hugged by Olineman ? Seems obvious qho they want to see starting at QB. Perhaps actually count the snaps each QB gets Joe as a fair competition must ensured by the scribes.

  37. BBQBUC Says:

    That pass looks like a punt.

  38. BBQBUC Says:

    “The Bucs’ offensive linemen were so happy with the play they came and hugged Trask.”

    The couldn’t hug Mayfield because Joe was hugging him. 😛

  39. Jeff’s grandpa Says:

    Cock-high haven’t heard that since I was a kid at my grandpas farm

  40. BillyBucco Says:

    LOL at Joe hugging Mayfield.
    Come on man!!!

    What I love is Trey Palmer getting mentioned a lot.
    It appears Canales knows talent when he sees it.

    Lefty would have him on a different field because he hadn’t “EARNED” it yet!!

  41. Mike Johnson Says:

    Appreciate the updates here Joe. Thanks!!!

  42. Nybuccguy Says:

    Why is everyone commenting on the stock photo NOT from OTAs?

    Vita Vea isn’t even there and they aren’t practicing in pads.

  43. My Momma Says:

    “During a water break, Joe saw offensive coordinator Dave Canales and Mayfield have a private one-on-one. Canales would mimic the footwork and throw of a pass and Mayfield would repeat the gesture.”

    Joe, did you see Canales give any instructions to Trask when it comes to his mechanics?