Greg Gaines Puzzled By Bucs’ Evaluation
July 30th, 2023
Bucs defensive tackle Greg Gaines spent past four seasons with the Rams playing alongside Aaron Donald.
Today’s calf injury to rookie defensive tackle Calijah Kancey certainly moves a spotlight to newcomer veteran DT Greg Gaines, but Gaines deserved a bigger spotlight regardless.
Joe had 1-on-1 time with Gaines this morning.
Gaines, 27, earned a Super Bowl ring as a Rams starter and the Bucs got him on a relatively inexpensive one-year deal in free agency. That’s likely because Gaines is coming off shoulder surgery for an injury he played through last season.
That injury, or perhaps the presence of Aaron Donald alongside him, led the Bucs to sort of mis-evaluate Gaines on film. Per Todd Bowles this week, Gaines looks quicker and more versatile than the Bucs thought.
Bowles told that to media, but Gaines also heard that take from Bucs coaches, which surprised him.
“I thought versatility and quickness were my thing. I was like, ‘C’mon,” Gaines said with a smile.
“[Donald] just looks so quick, maybe I don’t look as quick. That could be, for sure.”
Gaines speculated the Bucs might be seeing a fresher and healther version of himself.
“I’m about the same weight but I could be a little quicker now; I train hard in the offseason. I’m healthier overall, though. Last season my shoulder was tore up. I had like three ligaments torn in my shoulder and I got that all repaired [through surgery] in the offseason and I feel great,” Gaines said. “That was a huge help. I was out here full-time in the spring and felt great then and the same now.”
A college teammate and longtime friend of Vita Vea at the University of Washington, Gaines said his closeness with Vea and knowing fellow defensive lineman Patrick O’Connor helped lead him to Tampa.
“Good team. Reunite with my buddy Vita; I thought that would be really fun,” Gaines said. “I don’t know, zero percent income tax is fantastic (laughs) really cool.”
Gaines added that there’s a Rams vibe at One Buc Palace that he appreciates and it’s made his life easier.
“Similar work ethic and stuff. I feel like it’s an easy transition. It feels really similar to me to the Rams, only hotter,” Gaines said. “But these guys love to work hard. Practices are tough, same as the Rams.”
July 30th, 2023 at 5:37 pm
When we signed him I figured Gains was going to start next to Vita and Kancey. But it seems like he will be an active rotation member with Logan Hall starting..
Hopefully Hall can show some progress this season and earn that starting spot. I hear he came into camp at @ 300 lbs. That’s about 15 pounds heavier than his rookie season.
July 30th, 2023 at 6:01 pm
It’s good to see We are getting the depth needed for a very long season and We’re not losing anything when we do sub!
July 30th, 2023 at 6:12 pm
@Marine – 15 pounds heavier than his rookie season probably because he dropped college pizza weight and put on NFL man muscle.
July 30th, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Good one Joe!
Thanks
July 30th, 2023 at 6:17 pm
We’ll see when things get going against other teams. I’d be surprised GG isn’t getting major game minutes!
July 30th, 2023 at 6:21 pm
We will see how good the Dline is starting tomorrow.
July 30th, 2023 at 6:26 pm
The big question is: Can the Bucs defense stop the run, stop 3rd and short, 4th down conversions, and make successful goal line stands? That would be great to reverse the current trend!
July 30th, 2023 at 6:29 pm
I see Gaines as the starter and Kancey as the sub. Gaines is definitely better than Logan Hall and probably Kancey too at this stage of their careers. They may surpass him but I love Gaines resume and his man weight and strength
July 30th, 2023 at 6:30 pm
ATLBuc, that would be true If we knew how well the o-line is playing. If they are playing poor or just mediocre, the d line could look good even if they are mediocre too
July 30th, 2023 at 6:36 pm
@ Lt. Dan
“15 pounds heavier than his rookie season probably because he dropped college pizza weight and put on NFL man muscle.”
I hope so.
I took the 15 lb gain as a positive sign. Looks like Goedeke also put on a few lbs of man muscle this off season…
Logan Hall looks solid as a rock so I didn’t take the weight gain as a bad thing at all. He needed to bulk up a bit.
July 30th, 2023 at 6:40 pm
Our first round pick is already hurt getting a MRI.. in under wear football what a waste of a pick and joe doesn’t even have it up on his oaage!!
July 30th, 2023 at 6:53 pm
Sounds like a (better than perfect) fit.
July 30th, 2023 at 7:02 pm
“I thought versatility and quickness were my thing. I was like, ‘C’mon,” Gaines said with a smile.“
modesty, nice lol
July 30th, 2023 at 7:19 pm
@Nate – Just. Stop. Happens every year to every team. Just be glad “seasoning ending” wasn’t announced like Ryan Jensen early last year. Sheeesh bro.
July 30th, 2023 at 7:43 pm
Come on Nate – that’s not fair.
Joe Burrow just suffered the same injury… Is he a bust as well?
I know you are frustrated by this news and so am I buddy. But let’s not mention the “B”-word quite yet…
July 30th, 2023 at 8:18 pm
We need to sign Carl on a cheap deal if he’s willing. Like most maybe himself as well JTS is a bust plain and simple.
July 30th, 2023 at 8:24 pm
Kancey’s injury could just be a bad cramp from dehydration. I wouldn’t jump to any conclusion…wait for the medical report. Bucs have pretty good depth on DLine. Hall needs to show improvement over last year, too early to call him a bust. Same for JTS
July 30th, 2023 at 8:28 pm
Nate Says: “Our first round pick is already hurt getting a MRI.. in under wear football what a waste of a pick and joe doesn’t even have it up on his oaage!!”
Well, the initial one word take would be “idiot” for this comment. Dude is indicting Licht because of a strained hamstring. If anything, he should be disparaging Bucs trainers for not making sure players properly stretched before drills.
Either way, it’s a strained hamstring – not something season ending and certainly not something that points to Kancey being a bust because he cannot play the position (which is what a “bust” really is).
Take a pill, slam a shot or two or take some time to learn about the game before you write something so stupid!
July 30th, 2023 at 9:20 pm
With RNR gone, who’s NT2 or who’s going to spell Vita? I’m thinking Gholston and Gaines will get a lot of reps with Kancey out. Gaines will be a starter. Hall is a wasted pick and might get some backup reps with Senat.
July 30th, 2023 at 9:44 pm
Scotty Mack perhaps you’re not keeping up with modern training.
“he should be disparaging Bucs trainers for not making sure players properly stretched before drills.”
Since I’m an old dude who stretches every morning I’ve done a lot of research and reading. Like you I always believed you stretched first BEFORE the exercise. That thinking has now changed.
Stretching before a workout can make your muscles looser and warm up the body, however, stretching after accomplishes both of those benefits while also increasing blood flow which helps with muscle recovery from either an intense or light workout.
“The best time to stretch is after a workout.Jun 23, 2021”
You can see that is pretty recent stuff. There is also now a lot of nuance about stretching itself. There is “dynamic stretching” and “static stretching”. Static should NEVER be done before a competition because according to studies it actually reduces the amount of effort left for your muscles to perform during the competition.
Dynamic or moving stretching can still be done ahead of time.
If Brady really had an effect on this team “training” would be right near the top. Brady concentrated on the LATEST methods and surely passed that along to teammates although I personally do not consider myself more qualified than the Buc’s training staff…they are paid professionals…I am an amateur with a significant interest who has read a lot on the topic of stretching.
You can google if you wish to learn more…simply ask about “Static” (traditional) and Dynamic (moving, the latest rage) stretching.
July 30th, 2023 at 9:44 pm
BTW Scottie Kancy does not have a pulled hammy but a strained right calf, similar to Joe Burrows.
July 30th, 2023 at 9:54 pm
I’m gonna go ahead and say it STRAIGHT UP. But first, I’d like to point out that taking a shot or 2 was a Bottle AGO! That’s first.
Back to my point, Hey Nate, You’re STUPID Period and EXCLAMATION POINT❗
Im having a hard time distinguishing whether or not you’re a PUTTS or a JAG OFF❗
Never mind, you’re at the “Minimum”, Both….
Freaking AINT’s fan! Don’t worry, Kancey will be back to Embarrass your entire Oline soon enough honey. And Carr is going to look like Kancey’s “woman” as much as Kancey IS going to be laying on top of him!
GO BUCS!
July 30th, 2023 at 11:52 pm
^^^
😂😂😂😂 it’s the quotation marks around woman that set me off, lol obvious you got a few tears outta me. That comment needs a soundtrack
July 31st, 2023 at 12:04 am
I’m guessing the plan was to ease him into playing, make the workload light to prevent another injury.
July 31st, 2023 at 12:06 am
Nate Says:
July 30th, 2023 at 6:40 pm
“Our first round pick is already hurt getting a MRI.. in under wear football what a waste of a pick and joe doesn’t even have it up on his page!!”
Actually, he had at least two articles about it.
July 31st, 2023 at 2:05 am
Yeah, that was fun. But sooo true..
July 31st, 2023 at 6:22 am
^^^
Sounded like a wrestling promo lol if you read it by itself w/o context you’d think you were turning heel lol
July 31st, 2023 at 8:33 am
What I see of Gaines is a relentless dude who has lots of lateral quicks and a strong get off.
I think he is gonna make Jason look like a genius.
Go Bucs!
July 31st, 2023 at 8:55 am
Nassib
July 31st, 2023 at 9:47 am
I never understood the reasoning behind drafting DTs so damn early when you always have a vet on the Free Agent market ready to go and just as cheap or cheaper than a rookie.
July 31st, 2023 at 9:48 am
Toad Bowels Says:
July 31st, 2023 at 8:55 am
Nassib
^^^^^THAT
July 31st, 2023 at 9:59 am
I wonder if other teams felt his shoulder problems are likely to return. That seems like a tough injury for a defensive lineman.
July 31st, 2023 at 10:48 am
Hey Dooley, everybody needs a “part time gig” 😁
July 31st, 2023 at 12:43 pm
B4I, of we were to sign a “cheap” DL it would only be to add a mentor. Those guys may technically still be able to play reasonably well, but there’s not much of a ceiling and even less future. Rookies are more of a risk, but they carry far more potential for the future. All those veterans were once rookies too.
July 31st, 2023 at 2:44 pm
” zero percent income tax is fantastic (laughs) really cool.”
I bet – especially compared to the 13% you were paying in CA….
Its a nice place to visit – or was…. but how anyone could afford to – or would even want to live in that cesspool of a state is beyond me….
July 31st, 2023 at 2:55 pm
forget training camp, JOE BUCS FAN scrimmages are going on in this cage match! SCOTTYMAC SAYS in this corner, STPETEBUCSFAN in this corner.. GO!