The Intensity Of Underwear Football
June 14th, 2024
Rookie RB Bucky Irving.
Joe had to chuckle at this because on face value, it’s funny as heck.
There are only a handful of underwear football practices left this summer. Yes, OTAs and minicamp are done. History. But alas, underwear football is not over. When training camp kicks off in six weeks, usually at least the first two practices are underwear football. Then the “shells” come on, shoulder pads. Then, full padded practices. Real football.
It almost seems like rookie Bucs running back Bucky Irving is undergoing a slight bit of culture shock that is underwear football in the NFL.
“I’d probably say the … intensity is way higher from college to the NFL,” Irving said. “Guys take it a lot more seriously and even if it’s a walk-through, we’re going with speed.
“I’d pretty much just say the high intensity and the details.”
Again, Irving has yet to participate in a full padded practice with the Bucs. If he thinks underwear football is intense — it’s more like flag football than real football — imagine when he’s got Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield chasing him down?
Joe remembers when tight end Cade Otton was a rookie. Maybe six weeks into his first regular season with the Bucs, Joe asked Otton about his transition from college.
Otton said the difference was each play guys are flying around as if their lives depended upon it and in many cases, they sort of did. They were the breadwinners for their family.
Otton said he had to brace himself for each play as if $20,000 was on the line on that snap because, more often than not, $20,000 really was on the line because someone could get cut or benched by not giving maximum effort.
Joe hopes Irving takes a page from Steve Smith, the old receiver for the Stinking Panthers, and ices up before training camp begins.
June 14th, 2024 at 7:45 am
Great analogy
June 14th, 2024 at 8:11 am
Bucky also said Trask has done voiceovers for the playbook for him to watch and study from while the team is away on break. Really cool on Trasks’ part and I hope it serves its purpose and keeps Bucky on the fast-track.
June 14th, 2024 at 8:25 am
Liking Bucky so far. Looking forward to the high intensity on the field.
June 14th, 2024 at 8:27 am
The speed of the NFL is always noted by rookies and Bucky is just being honest. Coen is piling on the offensive system to stress test the offense, much faster than what Canales did. Bucky is also facing Bowles defense that is challenging. Bucky wasn’t asked to do much pass pro at Oregon and he’s doing that too. Don’t forget that Bowles has singled out Bucky and JMac for their smarts.
June 14th, 2024 at 8:39 am
I have a different take. I think what Bucky means, and he said it is “details”. He’s now playing football for a living and not as a part of his college life and activities. Maybe he’s realizing football is now his job and others around him take it seriously.
June 14th, 2024 at 8:54 am
That is good for Trask to do but I’m sure it is also good for him as well. Fir a lot of people reading something out loud can really help with memory retention.
I an one of those people.
June 14th, 2024 at 9:24 am
F Steve Smith
June 14th, 2024 at 9:29 am
Maybe during the dull season, while struggling to find subject matter to write about, Joe could do short profiles on the many coaches and assistants. It would most certainly be more interesting than some of this….stuff.
June 14th, 2024 at 10:06 am
Sounds like he is taking every snap very seriously. That is a good sign. Those that don’t get cut Joe.
Jeremy McNichols comes to mind.
Go Bucs!
June 14th, 2024 at 10:27 am
I’m not sure I agree with low renting “underwear football” in mid June Tampa.
No doubt SOME guys might fade when the hitting starts but that’s a minority IMHO.
Meanwhile in addition to “toughness” and being a “badarse”, brains and experience play a big part in any NFL players success. The OTA’s were a GREAT way to test guys brains and comprehension skills. For some guys the mental acuity is much tougher for them to master than the physical skills they were born with.
It’s the broiling sun, a new OC with his new offense, and everybody together as a TEAM suffering through the challenges and heat together. It’s the very first of what are hopefully many bonding experiences.
Judging from JBF’s reporting OTA’s were very successful and that’s a good thing!
June 14th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
St Pete fan,
New OC is a really good point! We need to remember all the new and 2nd year players too.
The Glazer tent is another option when the roster thins out.
June 14th, 2024 at 2:16 pm
All I read was it’s more intense than in college. Which makes sense. Business Men versus college kids
June 14th, 2024 at 8:40 pm
We have a great mix of veteran NFL players and young talent with great potential. This is the stuff great runs for the prize is made of.
Might sound a little hokey but, is is true for this year and upcoming seasons.
Go Bucs!!
June 14th, 2024 at 8:49 pm
It’s more intense because guys are SERIOUS, and not talking about what club they hit up last night. This guy isn’t afraid of football or anything. The lack of comprehension on simple subject matter is astounding.