Bucs Lauded For Impressive Practice Versus Competition
August 20th, 2026
Without attending practices of several NFL teams, how is one to know if Todd Bowles’ Buccaneers are putting in top quality work?
There are two ways to know.
First, Bowles teams have been 2-0 to start the past four regular seasons. That’s no coincidence.
Second, guys who watch training camp across the NFL are praising the Bucs’ summer work.
Former NFL tight end Jacob Hester is a voice on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge. He’s also a co-host with Pat Kirwan, the former NFL assistant coach and personnel man, on SiriusXM NFL Radio. The duo travel the country to watch training camp practices and talk to key people on teams.
Hester and Kirwan rarely compare camps on the air because they don’t want to anger teams and potentially hurt their future access. However, the Bucs found a way to get a nod from both.
“I was at the Saints [training camp] at the end of last week. I was at the Falcons on Monday and I was at the Buccaneers [on Tuesday],” Hester said in Baton Rouge. “It does feel like the Saints and the Buccaneers right now are at the top [of the NFC South]. And it does feel like there’s a gap right now from what I’m hearing and what I’m seeing from those two teams at the bottom: the Falcons and the Panthers.”
Hester praised what he saw from the Bucs and noted Falcons practice was exceptionally “clunky,” especially considering Atlanta was coming off a bad preseason game and had stated it was planning a focused practice. “It did not look like a well-oiled machine [in Atlanta,]” he said.
The Saints, per Hester, “diced up” the Jaguars in practice. Their joint practice, he said, clearly was won by the Saints first- and second-team units.
Kirwan on NFL Radio had a lot of praise for the Bucs’ work rate and barely could hide to Bowles how impreseed he was versus the rest of the league.
“We’ve been to a lot of camps and I’m not gonna compare you to anyone,” he told Bowles. “but the tempo of practice when the ball was snapped, the amount of explosion I was witnessing, you had to be satisfied with what they were delivering today in the the effort area.”
Joe has seen extra juice from the Bucs defense this summer. Several new coaches, new veterans, stud rookies and competition have made a difference.
How that translates to real games is to be determined.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:32 am
Loved the Pat Kirwan nugget from yesterday. “He turned in the Bo Jackson draft card” Classic.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:42 am
I just always equate training camp/ preseason with that famous Mike Tyson quote..
August 20th, 2026 at 8:43 am
“I like it….I like it a lot” – Lloyd Christmas
August 20th, 2026 at 8:54 am
“He turned in the Bo Jackson draft card”
Its fun to imagine what would have happened if Kirwan – believing Bo Jackson when he said he would never play for the Bucs – had decided on his own to turn in a different name – like maybe 6 time Pro Bowler Leslie O’Neal…..
Pretty sure DROY O’Neal could have helped that putrid 1986 Bucs defense….
August 20th, 2026 at 8:58 am
Not a surprise on Atlanta, trash coach, trash team.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Joe … ‘Joe has seen extra juice from the Bucs defense this summer. Several new coaches, new veterans, stud rookies and competition have made a difference. How that translates to real games is to be determined.’
Absolutely love that bottom line Joe. All 32 NFL teams are tied for 1st place right now (and last place). And they all have high expectations. Some will have their balloons burst real fast, and HOPEFULLY we’ll be the one doing the balloon popping. All this practice though still has to translate onto the game field to be worth anything.
Personally I think it will. I surmise that you’re not as big on FIELD LEADERSHIP as I am, but I see that as a major deficiency on our defense from last year. The veterans we’ve brought in, particularly Anzalone & Robinson, are both very experienced FIELD LEADERS IMO, and that’ll pay huge dividends this year. The rookies on defense (Bain, Trotter & Scott) seem to really be taking our renewed ‘play with your hair on fire’ attitude to heart. Add all that together & I believe we can end up with a Top-10 defense.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:12 am
somewhat surprised about the panthers…they looked sharp vs the cardinals imo…
as joe said, lets hope it translates over to the regular season
GO BUCS!!!!
August 20th, 2026 at 9:36 am
Stay healthy and finish the job !!!
August 20th, 2026 at 10:59 am
Ready for the real thing. Hope the hype sold a lot of tix. Some of the schedule is long distance for opposing fans and money is tight….waiting for the final season tix numbers.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:00 am
Hey baker Fan I bet the big Stanks rivalry will show up.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:04 am
Bucs need to get a big win this week to sell and renew season tix.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:06 am
DR Trotter is not looking very good so far.
August 20th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Let me know what Kirwan says about our good work. Not buying anything out of BSPN anymore. As for starting 2-0 that does mean a little but falling flat mid season tells me a whole different story. Coaching plays a role in that in my book. Not a good look for the players who want those new contracts either. Not to mention the bored ones who got paid!
Go Bucs!
August 20th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
A lot of people are sleeping on the (slimy) Saints, I have a feeling they’re going to be highly competitive this year.
August 20th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
Yawn 🥱
August 20th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
If the Bucs start quick then waste the effort with another mid season swoon then that shows that it’s Bowles fault . They brought in several new coaches & players so the team has new blood & fire except for the HC.
August 20th, 2026 at 7:52 pm
It’s a win win. Bucs either have a great/pretty good season or Bowles is replaced imo.
I see fire and passion with Bain and the news guys as DR pointed out. For that I’m excited. Put it on the field and let’s go crack some skulls.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
Pickgrin Says:
August 20th, 2026 at 8:54 am
“He turned in the Bo Jackson draft card”
Its fun to imagine what would have happened if Kirwan – believing Bo Jackson when he said he would never play for the Bucs – had decided on his own to turn in a different name – like maybe 6 time Pro Bowler Leslie O’Neal…..
———-
It’s more to fun to believe what could have happened if the Bucs had Steve Young and Bo Jackson in the same backfield, and a competent head coach.