Clashing Views On Bucs’ Lackadaisical Practice
August 27th, 2026
Three big names weigh in.
After last year’s ugly season finish, any effort hiccup by the Bucs is worthy of scrutiny. The team lost all benefit of the doubt after losing to the Saints, Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins in consecutive weeks.
So was it a giant red flag that the Bucs, after two days off, came out flat against the Jaguars in a joint practice on Tuesday?
Speaking on ESPN TV this week, former NFL safety Louis Riddick, also a former Philadelpia Eagles executive, said it’s absolutely important to grind through the late days of training camp and to not have bad days, especially in a joint practice. Per Riddick, that’s what the best teams find ways to do.
ESPN colleague Booger McFarland disagreed. The former Bucs defensive tackle said he understands how difficult it is to get up for a practice four weeks into training camp and the Bucs primarily need to focus on getting and staying healthy, and prepping for Week 1.
“Because if all their pieces are healthy, this is a top 2 or 3 team in the NFC, and that’s with the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams,” McFarland said. “That’s how much talent this Tampa Bay team has.”
Bucs legend Rondé Barber, speaking on his WFLA-TV streaming show, said he scrutinzed Tuesday’s practice film and it wasn’t nearly as bad as Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin and Bucs media implied.
Barber lauded the Bucs’ pass rush, saying the Jaguars would have been in serious trouble if the hitting quarterbacks was permitted.
Joe saw substandard energy overall from the Bucs on Tuesday. Plenty of good, though.
August 27th, 2026 at 10:40 am
It’s to F in hot out! That’s the problem.
August 27th, 2026 at 10:42 am
If you can’t hit the QB it’s pajama football. Jags needed to look good after losing their own worthless preseason game.
August 27th, 2026 at 10:54 am
It’s hard to catch every single rep because they are on two separate fields with the respective offenses and defenses during the early periods. And even then, the coaches are rotating lots of players in and out, and they are trying to get as many reps in as possible. Based on what I witnessed, the only “red flag” was the Bucs’ offensive line. They were consistently allowing the Jags defensive line to get the best of them both in the early periods and the latter stages of practice when they practiced the two minute drill. The Jags didn’t really have to do anything exotic (e.g., a safety or a corner blitz) to put pressure on Mayfield. I was impressed by the Bucs’ receivers, defensive line, and secondary overall.
August 27th, 2026 at 10:54 am
McFarland. Came out of college with surreal reputation. But then slightly above journeyman in NFL. Bucs kept him over Sapp. As stupid as letting Brooks go.
Now a fool on TV because he bought into the “they have real talent” pitch.
Won’t be long until someone asks why they have suffered a 3 game losing streak.
The answer is the coaching. And the mismanagement by Licht.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:03 am
>>> It’s to F in hot out! That’s the problem. <<<
Was the Jags' half of the field air conditioned?
Someone tell Boog that Riddick played for Nick Saban and Bill Belichick. Pretty sure Riddick knows all about practicing in August when players were allowed to hit and had two-a-days.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:08 am
It all comes down to Bowles.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:13 am
All these people saying this team has talent. Well, why isn’t the talent winning?
August 27th, 2026 at 11:17 am
The NFL has become a war of attrition. The smart teams realize this and their number 1 goal is to get to week 1 aa healthy as possible.
No one will remember a joint practice held in August come November. The only thing that is remembered in these preseason practices are major injuries. Not some 4th string OT getting beat by a great edge rusher in practice.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:20 am
They take after their “Erckle Like” head coach.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Jimmy Says:
August 27th, 2026 at 11:03 am
>>> It’s to F in hot out! That’s the problem. <<<
Was the Jags' half of the field air conditioned?
Someone tell Boog that Riddick played for Nick Saban and Bill Belichick. Pretty sure Riddick knows all about practicing in August when players were allowed to hit and had two-a-days.
_____________________________
More to the point… it's not like it's going to be a lot cooler at the Licht House for 1PM games against Cleveland and Green Bay in 3 and 5 weeks, respectively. It might be slightly less hot at 4pm for Minnesota, but only very slightly.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:32 am
Booger has it right.
Number 1 goal is to get to Week 1 healthy. Because if you dont, looking good in a practice against Jax in August is completely meaningless.
I remember being a kid in the 80s and going to the preseason games at the Big Somberro. We also thought “this is the year” because we would beat really good teams and looked great. Then Week 1 came and reality set in quickly.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:36 am
One thing that has been consistently consistent with this team under Coach Bowles, they nod off periodically, particularly during 5 to 8 game stretches during the regular season (lose 5 of 6, etc.). We have all seen it, and we just saw it during a joint workout too. A trait of the demeanor of their head coach. Its his last chance to fix it. The 7 wins they get this season won’t be enough. Prove me wrong sleepy Todd…..I hope you do.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:38 am
The smart teams are learning that having good depth is what gets you there. You can’t avoid injuries entirely. I am not happy with our O-line depth. I could be missing something I suppose but I don’t think so.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:41 am
Any 4th string left tackle is going to be significantly less talented than Joshua Hines-Allen. That’s just a fact. When Wirfs was in there, I’ll bet there was virtually no pass rush at all. However, he was only in for a few snaps. I seem to recall Joe writing that we completed some passes when he was in. Otherwise, Allen is going to be in the backfield way too much.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:44 am
@jimmy
This years bucs is a talented team. Not last year or 5 years ago this team we have this year is talented. We are 2-0 in preseason. I’m unsure of this losing your talking about. Last years team is gone along with about 6-7 starters. So yes this team is talented
August 27th, 2026 at 11:55 am
ModHairKen Says:
August 27th, 2026 at 10:54 am
McFarland. Came out of college with surreal reputation. But then slightly above journeyman in NFL. Bucs kept him over Sapp. As stupid as letting Brooks go.
Ken, your post caught my attention when you said “Bucs kept him (Booger) over Sapp”. Ken when The Bucs traded Booger McFarland, Saap personally went over to Dunge’s house and raised hell. Just the opposite of what you said. Either that or I am delusional.
August 27th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
imo both are right…
The HC and the leader in the locker room have to push thru….that shows/creates mental toughness
But its super important to get to week1 as healthy as possible…
unfortunately, coming out flat is an staple under bowles just like the mid season slumps….which goes back to the phrase Ive been yelling since DEC….SENSE OF URGENCY!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 27th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
BucsfaninOregon … ‘when The Bucs traded Booger McFarland, Saap personally went over to Dunge’s house and raised hell. Just the opposite of what you said. Either that or I am delusional.’
Me thinks we should welcome you to the Delusional Club. Sapp moved on to the Raiders after the 2003 season & played there thru 2007.
Booger was traded to the Colts in 2006 … when Sapp was a Raider. And oh ya, the coach of the Colts was Tony Dungy at the time. Amazingly 2006 is the same year Colts won the Super Bowl. Nice move by Booger.
August 27th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
Many times winning teams lose all the pre season games.
August 27th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
There really is no comparison. The Bucs messed up keeping McFarland over Sapp. Just like they screwed up in firing Gruden for Morris.
Sapp had 96.5 sacks in 198 career games. Booger 22.5 in 109 games. Sapp had 19 sacks in just his last 4 years with the Raiders.
But hindsight is always 20-20.
This thought started with Booger’s irrational exuberance about the talent. I do not agree they have top 3 NFC talent, but even if they do, they don’t have top 3 coaching.
Look, I’d love for the Bucs to win 12 games and make it to the NFC Championship game. I just don’t think it’s possible with this HC and GM. They have weak CBs. Why didn’t Licht fix that? People are also placing too much hope on 4 rookies. The OL is one injury away from lineup chaos. Bucky is not a franchise RB.
And they have already shown that they get disinterested in the middle of camp. What happens in week 13? Do they lose their motivation again?
August 27th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
The inconsistent effort is on the leadership
2-7 finish was on the leadership
The 4 game losing streaks EVERY year the last 3 seasons is on the leadership
NOTHING is changing until the leadership changes
August 27th, 2026 at 1:17 pm
The September 10th NFL opener can’t get here fast enough. Itching for any discussion about football that counts in the standings.
August 27th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
ModHairKen Says:
There really is no comparison. The Bucs messed up keeping McFarland over Sapp. Just like they screwed up in firing Gruden for Morris.
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Morris was clearly not ready yet to be an HC in the NFL, but I disagree that the Bucs screwed up in firing Gruden. In his final 6 seasons as HC, after the team won the Super Bowl, only once did they win more than 9 games, and they failed to win a single playoff game in that six-year stretch.
If Bowles had a record like that, thousands of fans would have been screaming to throw him off the pirate ship WAY before the sixth year.
August 27th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
MHK
Gruden and Bruce Allen broke this team through their incompetence.
August 27th, 2026 at 1:59 pm
If you DISLIKE Bowles this is great …
The Bucs are getting so much hype that a losing record is an easy termination.
If you LIKE Bowles this is great …
If you believe the hype, the Bucs will win, and Bowles stays.
Personally, I think …
The CBs aren’t good. Offenses can air it out and score points.
Watch out for Game 1. A healthy Bengals offense will light the Bucs up.
August 27th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Joe is blowing a lot of hot air to please his loyal anti-bucs supporters. Two other sites said that the Buccaneers dominated in the second practice against the Jaguars.
This is in the running for misguided comment of the summer. The Bucs did not practice in pads against the Jaguars on Wednesday (second practice). That’s fake football — 7 on 7 for limited reps. If you’d like Joe to pretend that’s something to scrutinize with fervor in late August, or to pretend is on par with a practice in pads with referees and hitting, fine. But it’s not. Also, Joe wrote what Joe is interested in, not to please “loyal anti-Bucs supporters.” Also misguided is to think the comments here consistently represent Bucs fans at large. They don’t. Miniscule sample size of the tens of thousands of fans here weekly. –Joe
August 27th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
It’s the smell in Jacksonville. Would throw anybody’s game off.
August 27th, 2026 at 2:59 pm
Booger is a huge Homer… I believe he got the Bucs confused with his LSU Tigers, or something. Cause, that’s just LUDICROUS. 3rd Most Talent in THE NFC. Absurd. I mean, it’s just not even being serious. And, it’s just not even close. Eagles. Cowboys. Lions. Packers. Bears. Even, the Vikings. GTFO. It’s NOT CLOSE.
August 27th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
Buddha Says:
August 27th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Joe is blowing a lot of hot air to please his loyal anti-bucs supporters. Two other sites said that the Buccaneers dominated in the second practice against the Jaguars
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True…I had to go to a jaguars site to find a more positive view of Tuesday’s practice and notes on Wednesday. Anyone who depends on JBF as their only source of news/info on the Bucs is just asking to be beat over the head with negativity.
Tuesdays practice wasn’t as bad as it sounded. Wednesday we bounced back (shells/no pads). Both good work to learn from 👍🏼
As Joe wrote previously about this original comment. This is in the running for misguided comment of the summer. The Bucs did not practice in pads against the Jaguars on Wednesday (second practice). That’s fake football — 7 on 7 for limited reps. If you’d like Joe to pretend that’s something to scrutinize with fervor in late August, or to pretend is on par with a practice in pads with referees and hitting, fine. But it’s not. –Joe
August 27th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Football is a lot like.most jobs in that some days you kick ass and on other days not so much. The better teams figure out ways to minimize the number of bad days. It helps when you have inspiring coaching!! Does that exist in Tampa? We’ll find out come December!
August 27th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
So just to confirm, our 1st, 2nd and 3rd string left tackles are all injured and that’s the reason the Bucs have been playing this stiff at LT that has totally destroyed our Oline chemistry in the preseason.
August 27th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Sorry Joe.
I thought you were in the habit of posting practice notes, period, and not just padded practices. If that incorrect ?
August 27th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
Maybe they should do all joint practices on the road up north. Wisconsin, Colorado, etc. Give the players a little break from the heat, which might give them some energy.
August 27th, 2026 at 4:23 pm
Joe when will we see Bain lineup against wirfs?
August 27th, 2026 at 4:24 pm
Joe when will we see Bain lineup against Tristan wirfs?