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Bucs Practice Notes: Minicamp Day 1

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014
cheerleadersweaty

All kinds of stuff happening on the practice fields of One Buc Palace today

Here’s a pile of nuggets to quench your thirst for Bucs happenings, and Joe’s got much more to share later.

Your Bucs took to the practice fields at One Buc Palace for the first time under Lovie Smith this afternoon. The sun was shining, and it was clear that one Pro Bowler is getting an education. (more…)

Da’Quan Bowers At A “Turning Point”

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014

Joe hasn’t felt the vibe he sensed today in the Bucs locker room in a long, long time. It’s almost like the principal just gave the school an extra recess.

No, the Bucs players were not slacking off on their first day of volunteer mini-camp at One Buc Palace. But there is a sense of fresh air. Virtually every player Joe saw had a smile on his face, which is sort of strange, given that practice was only moments away. (more…)

Nicks Is Running, Hoping

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014

carl nicks 0107The human armoire, Bucs left guard Carl Nicks, is watching practice this afternoon and taking “mental reps.” Nicks won’t be running with his teammates.

However, Nicks is running on his own and working out in a fashion that has him excited. (more…)

Demps Agrees With “Fastest Man” Label

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014

jeff demps 2Olympic speedster, former Gator and Lovie Smith focus Jeff Demps is healthy and will be on the practice field this afternoon for the start of Bucs minicamp.

Is he the fastest man in the NFL? Demps sure thinks so. (more…)

Sapp’s Pick Is Teddy Bridgewater

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014

teddy bridgewaterBack at the 2014 NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando, Joe joined other media types for a long, cozy breakfast with Lovie Smith.

One question Joe asked Lovie was what glory-days Buccaneers were reaching out to him to get involved with the new regime and the scope of those conversations. It seemed to be a fair question, considering that at Lovie’s introductory news conference he publicly stated he’d be welcoming ex-Buccaneers with open arms. (more…)

A Little Bit Of Marc Trestman

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014
Bucs starting QB Josh McCown said the Bucs offense will have some elements of the Bears offense devised by McCown's old coach Marc Trestman.

Starting QB Josh McCown said the Bucs offense will have some elements of the offense used by Bears coach Marc Trestman.

If CNN was a sports network (anyone remember CNNSI? Man, Joe misses that outfit), it would have round-the-clock coverage of trying to solve the mystery of Jeff Tedford’s offense. For weeks, that’s all Bucs fans have been trying to decipher, with few clues.

Bucs coaches and players have been very coy about Tedford’s offense. Granted, today is the first day players will have a chance to run a play under the watch of Tedford (yes, Joe will be at the first voluntary minicamp, so check back often this afternoon), but folks outside of One Buc Palace are hungry for information. (more…)

Crazy Busy Days For Bucs Fans

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014
jeff demps

It’s showtime for Jeff Demps and many returning Buccaneers

If you’re not among the crazy fans who live and breathe Bucs football 24/7, then you may not realize the first minicamp of the Lovie Smith regime runs today through Thursday at One Buc Palace.

It marks the first time Bucs coaches will get players on the field, versus strictly classroom and conditioning work. (more…)

Lovie’s Plan Executed

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014

NThe Bucs did more shuffling this offseason than a Vegas blackjack dealer. Some 19 new players were brought in and a boatload of players were sent packing.

Holdovers like Gerald McCoy joked that returning for offseason conditioning at One Buc Palace was like the first day of high school. He knew some of his teammates, but most were strangers. (more…)

Kyle Van Noy In The Second Round?

Monday, April 21st, 2014

Van-NoyEven with all the talk of the Bucs needing or wanting to draft a quarterback, an offensive lineman and a wide receiver, the option of Bucs general Lovie Smith getting wowed to his defensive core by a college prospect shouldn’t be discounted?

What if ferocious Khalil Mack is sitting there at No. 7? And what about Brigham Young linebacker Kyle Van Noy? (more…)

Adrian Clayborn May Not Be Long For Bucs

Monday, April 21st, 2014
Jason La Canfora doesn't expect Bucs DE Adrian Clayborn to get his fifth-year option from the Bucs by May 5.

Jason La Canfora doesn’t expect Bucs DE Adrian Clayborn to get a 5th-year option exercised by May 5.

Now Joe likes Adrian Clayborn, but ever since his knee injury not quite two years ago, he has not been the same defensive end. Prior to his injury, it looked like the Bucs might have a pretty good edge pass rusher in the making.

Because the Bucs couldn’t breathe on any opposing quarterback, one of the first items on new Bucs coach Lovie Smith’s agenda was to beef up the pass rush, little that they had. (more…)

“Not Hearing Great Things” About Nicks

Monday, April 21st, 2014

carl nicks 0107More light will be shed on the Carl Nicks situation tomorrow at One Buc Palace to be sure. Will Nicks, the human armoire and former All-Pro left guard, be on the practice field working with his teammates in shorts and helmets?

One insider isn’t expecting great news. (more…)

Keyshawn Pinched For Domestic Battery

Monday, April 21st, 2014
Former Bucs WR Keyshawn Johnson was pinched for domestic violence.

Former Bucs WR Keyshawn Johnson was pinched for domestic violence.

Joe used to mock Keyshawn Johnson until Joe got a chance to meet him. Johnson couldn’t have been nicer or more cooperative. As a result, Joe thought it no longer fair to mock him.

Nor is now the time. A key cog to the Bucs lone Super Bowl win, Johnson, it seems, is in a pickle today. Per Joe’s good friend, Jason McIntyre, czar of TheBigLead.com, Johnson was pinched for domestic violence, McIntyre learned by way of TMZ.com. (more…)

Johnny Football Vs. Jameis Winston

Monday, April 21st, 2014
Johnny Football's numbers against Jameis Winston's common opponents may surprise.

Johnny Football’s numbers against Jameis Winston’s common opponents may surprise.

Yes, Joe knows the Bucs need a quarterback for the near future. Starting quarterback Josh McCown is 34 and only signed to a two-year pact. Backup quarterback Mike Glennon could be gone depending on how he practices this week, says a local morning sports radio personality.

Joe is awfully confident at some point in the three-day draft next month the Bucs will draft a quarterback. Whether it is Johnny Football in the first round, Derek Carr in the second round, Jimmy Garoppolo in the third round or Aaron Murray on the third day, Joe isn’t sure but he’s willing to lay cash the Bucs have a new signal-caller on the roster after the second weekend in May. (more…)

Report: Bucs “Partial To” Mike Evans

Monday, April 21st, 2014

peter king 0326The Mike Evans bandwagon got bigger this morning, thanks to fight-instigatingbarista-training, pedestrian-bumpingolive oil-lappingpopcorn-munchingcoffee-slurpingfried-chicken-eatingoatmeal-lovingcircle-jerkingbeer-chuggingcricket-watchingscone-loathingcollege football-naïvebaseball box score-reading Peter King of SI.com and NBC Sports Fame. (more…)

Mike Glennon’s Last Stand

Monday, April 21st, 2014
GlennonSchianobills

“Trust your training, my son.”

Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud believes Mike Glennon is preparing right now for what could be the biggest week of his career — in April.

This morning on WDAE-AM 620, Stroud talked about how the Buccaneers’ first minicamp under Lovie Smith (tomorrow through Thursday) could represent the time Glennon has to prove his value and save his Tampa Bay future. (more…)

Pressure On Jeff Tedford

Monday, April 21st, 2014
BSPN's John Clayton doesn't appear to be enamored with Bucs QBs Jeff Tedford has to work with.

BSPN’s John Clayton doesn’t seem enamored by what Jeff Tedford has to work with.

The greatest mystery hanging over the Bucs, short of what the team is going to do with the seventh pick in the draft, is the Jeff Tedford offense. Bucs players and coaches all but say you won’t see the Tedford offense until September.

Whatever the offense is, how Tedford can develop quarterbacks will be key. Was Josh McCown’s success with a quarterback guru in Chicago just a fluke? Can Tedford mold Mike Glennon? Can Tedford develop a rookie QB Joe is certain will become a Buccaneer next month during the three-day draft soap opera? (more…)

Mike Evans Before Lewan Or Bridgewater?

Monday, April 21st, 2014

taylor lewanJoe doesn’t hide his immense respect for Pat Kirwan, the former Jets linebackers coach and personnel executive who has authored books on Xs and Os and co-hosts the fantastic Movin’ The Chains on SiriusXM NFL Radio, along with his duties for CBS Sports.

Kirwan is plugged in from many different angles. So Joe is a bit distressed that Kirwan has the Bucs selecting Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans with the No. 7 overall pick in his latest mock draft. (more…)

It Is Time To Be Great

Monday, April 21st, 2014
Lavonte David said the defense must get better for the team to get better.

Lavonte David said the defense must get better for the team to get better.

One reason many NFL pundits think the Bucs can be this year’s version of the Chiefs is the team has a defensive core foundations to deliver a quick turnaround. You have Gerald McCoy up front, Lavonte David in the second level and Darrelle Revis in the secondary.

So with that foundation, some NFL types believe the Bucs are not that far away from building a feared defense, if only they can learn how to breathe on opposing quarterbacks. (more…)

Warren Sapp No. 3

Sunday, April 20th, 2014

bYes, the fun list of the top Bucs in franchise history continues from Pat Yasinskas of ESPN. This time Yasinskas selected Hall of Fame tackle Warren Sapp. (more…)

“Kind Of Reminds Me Of Me”

Sunday, April 20th, 2014

LavonteHow good is Lavonte David? Bucs icon Derrick Brooks has said multiple times that David is, after two seasons, ahead of the Hall of Fame pace Brooks set.

Now another Bucs icon is talking about David looking like a Bucs legend. (more…)

Ronde Barber No. 4

Sunday, April 20th, 2014

Yes, it is fun to try to name the best players in Bucs history, and that is an ongoing task for one beat writer. Pat Yasinskas of ESPN has been running a top-five of all-time Bucs. Ronde Barber is ranked No. 4.

You could make an argument Barber was the best draft pick in franchise history. He wasn’t taken until the third round, but he blossomed into a player who was selected first-team All-Pro five times and was on the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2000s.

Barber’s biggest claim to fame might be the fact that he’s the only player in NFL history with at least 40 career interceptions and 20 career sacks. That alone puts Barber in the conversation for a spot in the Hall of Fame, although he might face a tougher time getting there than teammates Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp, who were selected the first time they appeared on the ballot.

(more…)

Brickmaster Derek Carr

Sunday, April 20th, 2014

derek carrThe weird and wacky world of interviewing NFL prospects knows no limits.

Ever since the Dolphins asked Dez Bryant if his mother was a whore, Joe has vowed to never be surprised by anything that happens before the NFL Draft. (more…)

“Wildly Productive” And “Super Efficient”

Sunday, April 20th, 2014

teddy bridgewaterJoe heard the urgent “Tank for Teddy” chants from fans of bad NFL teams last year. Plenty of Bucs faithful were in the mix.

The concept was simple: fans wanted their team to lose earn the No. 1 pick in the draft so they could select Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater. (more…)