“We Like To Have Answers Before The Questions Come Up.”
August 2nd, 2025
A twist in practice.
Underwear football reared its ugly head again today (have fun with that sentence). So that means no hitting.
And since the Bucs are in the dog days of training camp, where every day morphs into Groundhog Day, Todd Bowles decided to have a little fun while getting in hopefully unnecessary work.
The Bucs at one point had Graham Barton working at left tackle and Ben Bredeson at center. Why in the world would Bowles do that? Same reason someone in June would stock up on batteries, bottled water, Dinty Moore beef stew and liquor: Prepare for an emergency.
If Barton is at left tackle and Bredeson is at center, that’s an emergency. Bowles wants his team prepared just in case a nasty storm hits.
“We don’t want it to be the first time if it comes to that and we pray it doesn’t come to that,” Bowles said about cross-training his starting offensive line. “But we like to move guys around.
“We like to have answers before the questions come up.”
This reminds Joe of the time in 2020 when Ali Marpet had a concussion. The Bucs moved Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen to left guard and started A. Q. Shipley at center. It worked like a charm.
Joe guesses that was worked in training camp too.
August 2nd, 2025 at 11:22 am
Carbs and Grizz need a plan A where Heck has help on passing plays. Use at TE or RB to chip. Don’t wait for an Atlanta edge to blow up Heck and Bake. I’ve got vivid memories of Skule not getting help with Aiden Hutchison.
August 2nd, 2025 at 11:22 am
It may be something they actually consider. Heck is worth heck.
So, what are your alternatives?
August 2nd, 2025 at 11:24 am
By the way, although our offensive line took a step forward in run blocking — and not just a step forward — three leaps forward, they took a stumble back on pass blocking.
Personally worried for a trend there. I always favor a 21st century pass game over a 20th century run game.
August 2nd, 2025 at 1:42 pm
It’s smart to not only plan but to practice for contingencies, Remember Murpy’s rules, If something can go wrong, it will and at the worst possible moment, as the Boy Scouts say , always be prepared!
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:03 pm
Uh oh—we are going to get a full-tilt Ira Kaufman on the next SageCast, once the Joes mention, “cross-train.”
August 2nd, 2025 at 9:04 pm
Considering Licht loves drafting tackles, all these guys should be getting some snaps in just in case. Cody should also be taking some snaps at LT, just in case. This is also where losing Hainsey stinks, since if he was still here, you could legit put him at C or G and move one of them outside. And of course Hainsey was also a college tackle, so he too could have lined up there if needed.
August 3rd, 2025 at 5:42 am
“Prepare for emergency.” Yes, love the pro-activeness.