Beat writer Rick Stroud has harsh grades for Glennon

Veteran Tampa Bay Times beat writer Rick Stroud — using a variety of voices/impressions — went off on rookie quarterback Mike Glennon during his Sports Page radio show on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday.

Stroud documented Glennon’s lousy day on Wednesday, including the fumbled snap that drew Greg Schiano’s ire, and Stroud talked about how down he his on the Bucs’ third-round pick.

“It’s a joke to think that this guy’s going to compete with anybody this year,” Stroud said. “Maybe at some point he becomes your No. 2, but I would think that if something happens Week 1, that Dan Orlovsky better be the guy in the game.”

Yes, Stroud’s being a little harsh, especially considering Glennon might look a lot better during live August action, and, you know, after he’s had more than seven weeks with the playbook.

But Glennon’s lack of readiness is no big surprise. This week, Joe asked rockstar general manager Mark Dominik about carrying three QBs this season, and Dominik was very clear the Bucs are “leaning” in that direction. (You can catch Stroud’s complete audio below.)

No, Joe does not know why Bucs fans have such a burning hatred for Shaun King, one of but three quarterbacks in Bucs history to lead the squad to an NFC Championship game.

He’s a local guy who grew up loving the Bucs — and still does. He wears his emotions on his sleeve. Yes, he’s been critical of Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik, but it’s not like King is a lone wolf howling in the woods.

And this just in: NFL analysts that work for one of the top media organizations in the world, NBC Universal, are supposed to have strong takes. Name Joe an NFL analyst that just shrugs his shoulders and offers little to no insight and Joe will show you a man who will be calling your house shortly trying to sell aluminum siding.

That doesn’t mean King has blinders on. Just this week while appearing on “Ron and Ian” on WDAE-AM 620, King lauded Dominik for picking up embattled offensive lineman Gabe Carimi.

“Actually thought this was a good pick-up by Mark Dominik,” King said. “Simply because Carimi coming out of college was highly regarded. For whatever reasons, it didn’t work in Chicago. He got injured and the organization didn’t have a lot of faith in him and he didn’t play really well.

“But [Bucs assistant] coach [Bob] Bostad was his coach in college. So you take a chance on a guy that had that kind of talent when you can reunite him with his college coach. It will be interesting. I don’t know where Gabe Carimi is mentally. When you put the film on from last year he was terrible. But maybe reuniting him with his [old] coach will jump-start him to help reach his potential.”

This is what Joe has written. Likely no person short of Carimi’s mother knows him as well as Bostad. And to get him for a measly sixth-round pick could work out to be a steal.

For the full interview with King, click the button below.

Joe knows he’s got young readers who don’t realize that Bucs pass rush coach Bryan Cox was a ferocious beast of a player in his day.

Not only was Cox a phenomenal three-time Pro Bowl linebacker for Don Shula in Miami, he went on to be a key cog for Bill Parcells with the Jets’ run to the AFC title game in 1998, and he made plays for Bill Belicheat in 2001, including in the Patriots’ Super Bowl win that season.

Cox has soaked up plenty from legendary coaches, and Joe thinks Cox brings a world of credibility and real experience to the Bucs’ defensive front-7. Cox also is a straight shooter, so Joe was pleased to hear him say Greg Schiano will be among the improved pieces of the Bucs in 2013.

“He’s matured as a coach,” Cox said this week. “Some things that if you were to ask him, some things that he did last year, he’d say, ‘ok, we’d like to make these changes to make things a little bit better.’ So you see growth and you see maturity. And it’s a little easier the second time around once you gained a little experience.

Cox said Schiano’s discipline and focus has clearly penetrated the Buccaneers. As examples, Cox cited getting the most out of Vincent Jackson and Gerald McCoy (interesting) to players putting in time with community service.

Joe considers Schiano’s development as a major yet unspoken X factor of 2013. Can he outcoach Mike Smith and Sean Peyton? Can he be a great game manager? Those are big questions.

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Joe has gathered all sorts of info. from Bucs players and coaches this week that will be pumped out on these here pages in the coming days. One thing Joe got from some young defensive backs is how much it helps them going up against Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams each and every day.

Soon it will be the receivers who will be tested.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik, freshly sheared, claims star cornerback Darrelle Revis will be in pads on the first day of training camp late next month. But being in pads is one thing, as Joe told his good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, on WDAE-AM 620 this week. It’s quite another to be in contact. If Revis is able to go full speed with no restrictions, Bucs receivers are all but saying, “‘Bring it on, Revis!'” so writes eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune.

“I keep telling him I’m not one of those receivers he’s been checking,” Williams said with a smile following Wednesday’s practice. “Darrelle said he’s been going against the best, and I told him, ‘If the ball’s in the air, I’m going to get it.’ We keep arguing every day.

“I can’t wait to go against a guy of that caliber. He can get me better.”

It’s not so much an ego thing with Jackson. Rather, he believes Revis and Goldson will make him better for an upcoming opponent.

“Darrelle and (safety) Dashon Goldson are going to shore up our secondary,” Jackson said. “When Darrelle lines up against me, I know he’s going to give me his best and he knows I’m going to give him my best. When you’re going against looks on Wednesday through Friday that are harder than what you face on Sundays, that’s an advantage.”

Joe knows talk is cheap, especially in June. Still, from what Joe has seen and heard, he loves the attitude of this Bucs team.

It makes sense that going against the best in the NFL (Jackson/Freeman vs. Revis, for example) can only help the team, just like Schiano’s now famous cry for competition.

There’s no way of putting a specific value on how much this competition helps, but Joe would hope it could lead to two extra wins.

Joe’s used his share of Internet space criticizing Adam Hayward for shoving assistant coach Bryan Cox on the Bucs sidelines last December, a move that was picked up by TV cameras and the case was publicly dismissed by Greg Schiano.

For Joe, Hayward’s actions were thoroughly unacceptable. Hayward clearly was angered by Cox and shoved him. Imagine if he had shoved Schiano?

Early this week, Joe finally got a chance to ask Cox to explain what happened and what fans should know about the incident. Cox said it was blown out of proportion and is ancient history.

“Nobody really knows what happened,” Cox said of the heated sideline exchange with Hayward. “Adam and I have a really good relationship. That’s in the past. We moved on from it. He’s a really good guy and I think he unfairly got criticized for it.”

Cox is as straight a shooter as one could hope for in a coach, and Joe believes Cox. Joe still thinks it was a heinous act by Hayward, but Joe’s pleased to hear Cox is more mature than Joe and has moved on.

Joe realizes only the hardest of the hardcore Buccaneers junkies care about wide receiver coaching methods, but Joe couldn’t resist sharing this.

Last year, Joe spent a lot of time watching animated former Bucs receivers coach P.J. Fleck seem to put a lot of emphasis on footwork while he wasn’t screaming, sprinting after players to strip them, or celebrating seemingly everything positive.

New Bucs wide receivers coach John Garrett, who transferred from the Cowboys organization, also is a fiery guy, though not as crazy as Fleck. But it has seemed to Joe that Garrett is more dialed in to receivers’ work with their hands at the line of scrimmage.

Joe asked wide receiver Chris Owusu about the change in coaches and the teaching focus, and he confirmed that Garrett is a big hands guy.

“His philosophy of just being technical and just, you know, his philosophy of getting after it is something that we’ve all benefitted from. He’s all about hand placement,” Owusu said. “You know, you win the battle at the line with your hands. Yes, your feet, but your hands as well. And that’s something I’m able to learn from him.”

Owusu, a Stanford guy, also praised the intelligence of Garrett (Princeton guy) in the film room. Like Fleck, Garrett is a former NFL receiver who had a small-time career.

Joe can’t say what, if anything, this all means. But training camp practice attendees can make a note to watch the hands of Bucs receivers as they try to shake the press coverage of Darrelle Revis and the rest of the Bucs’ cornerbacks.

It’s pretty sad, no matter the player, when said player is atop his game, winning an award given to the best at his position as a senior in college and only two years is given away by the team that drafted him in the first round.

That’s what happened with Bucs offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, who the Bears gave away, figuratively, for a sixth round pick this week.

Former Bears beat writer and current National Football Post columnist Dan Pompei detailed why the Bears washed their hands of Carimi. The reasons were mostly health-related.

•In his second NFL game, Sept. 18, 2011, Carimi suffered an unusual injury. He dislocated his right knee, which previously had been dislocated, and he suffered anterior cruciate damage. Treating it would not be routine.

•Carimi lost weight in an attempt to put less stress on his knee, and in the process he lost strength. He went from about 315 pounds to about 300 pounds last offseason. Even after he started to move well around halfway through the 2012 season, he still was missing the strength that had been one of his defining traits. Early last season, Carimi still wasn’t moving well, and he got off to a poor start.

•Carimi failed to take advantage of a chance to prove himself to a new coaching staff this spring. In his absence, they moved on.

Hopefully, the Bucs’ medical staff, which is believed to be among the best in the NFL, and Carimi’s old position coach at Wisconsin, Bucs’ offensive line coach Bob Bostad, can turn Carimi’s career around.

Carimi’s knee problems are why Joe shakes his head when fans are quick to dismiss knee injuries pointing to Adrian Peterson’s miracle recovery as the new norm.

It’s not. Knee injuries are not as simple as ingrown toenail procedures. They are complex and still tricky operations.

There’s a new wide receiver in the mix for the Bucs. And he’s got experience, and he knows Mike Sullivan’s offense.

The Bucs have signed Derek Hagan, who enters his eighth season in the NFL. He spent part of 2008, and all of 2009 and 2010, with the Giants, where Sullivan was his position coach.

Tom Coughlin once called Hagan an “excellent contributor on special teams.” A Raiders blog this year characterized Hagan as hard-working and reliable, and a guy the Raiders wanted to return. Hagan has 129 career receptions, including 20 with the Raiders last season.

Greg Schiano craves competition, so this move comes as little surprise, and it shakes up the battle at the bottom of the receivers depth chart. After Vincent Jackson, Mike Williams, Kevin Ogletree and Tiquan Underwood, the Bucs have Hagan, David Douglas, Eric Page, and Chris Owusu seemingly slugging it out for one roster spot.

Joe broke word two weeks ago that WFLA-TV, Ch. 8, would be the new home for Bucs preseason TV broadcasts.

Now it’s official, per the station’s website. They’ve locked up the rights for five seasons. There’s also going to be fancy pregame shows and a new Bucs show during the regular season. (Perhaps Joe will be a special guest?)

News Channel 8 will also produce and air pregame specials prior to each preseason game and News Channel 8’s Dan Lucas will host “Bucs Bonus”, a half hour program that will air Saturday night’s at 7pm during the NFL season

There’s been no disclosure of announcers yet. Joe reported Ronde Barber was in talks to replace John Lynch, who tired of flying in from his Colorado home for the preseason schedule and the duties surrounding his game analyst role.

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It seems players at the top and bottom of the Bucs roster, and coaches and suits, are systematically wiping out every molecule of a potential excuse for poor performance in 2013.

This week, Josh Freeman verbally obliterated any chance that first-year miscommunication issues that plagued the Bucs’ passing attack last season would return, as chronicled in a video by electronic media czar J.P. Peterson of TampaBaySportsCentral.com.

“Making sure that the time that we get to the season there’s no more of those plays of indecision,” Freeman said of hard work he and players have put in this offseason. “Everbody’s going to be on the same and page, and we’re not going to hinder ourselves.”

There’s more in the video linked above, with Freeman going on about the readiness of the Bucs offense to be consistent and make strides.

All this exemplifies what Joe loves most about this coming Bucs season — no excuses.

The numbers-crunching, TV-football-watching crowd at Pro Football Focus resumes a series where they look at each NFL team’s sophomore players and try to figure out which second-year player can have a breakout season.

After pouring over the Bucs’ roster, Peter Damilatis has come to believe that Bucs cornerback Leonard Johnson could have a breakout 2013.

Despite the name of this series, it would be a bit of a stretch to say that Johnson was a true superstar last season. Aside from the large responsibilities he had, he also made mistakes that will cost him in the future if he doesn’t correct them. With 10 missed tackles on defense and special teams, he may need to bulk up his 5-foot-10, 200 pound-frame to avoid slipping off ballcarriers. But as Rahim Moore showed us this season, poor tackling is certainly correctable for young players.

To fully reach his potential this season, Johnson will have to earn back his starting spot first. Newcomer Revis will likely be on one side, but the other starting spot is there for the taking. Wright was nearly released if not for a drastic pay cut, and Johnson’s experience last season gives him a slight edge on fellow youngsters Johnthan Banks and Anthony Gaitor. A year after going undrafted, Johnson’s has shown success as a starter and could have a clear path back to that position. On a roster already brimming with young talent, don’t be surprised if he soon earns the notoriety of his 2012 classmates.

Joe can’t quibble with a lot of what Damilatis types, but here is where the proclamation runs into problem: For Johnson to have a breakout year, a lot must go wrong for the Bucs. For Johnson to shine this much, that tells Joe that either Darrelle Revis can’t come back from his knee injury, or Eric Wright stinks, or Johnthan Banks struggles mightily and/or one of the two gets hurt.

That’s not very reassuring to Joe, as much as he would love to see Johnson develop so well.

Perhaps there is something to word that Greg Schiano is making the transition from tyrant to just plain hard-nosed coach. The Bucs just announced that today’s third and final minicamp practice has been cancelled.

Joe suspects the leader of the New Schiano Order will have players in for meetings and study before dismissing them early with details of the serious conditioning test that awaits them in late July, when they return for training camp.

Never fear. Joe has all kinds of news and nuggets to serve up today.

“The premium groceries have been purchased, sir, and there’s plenty of change left over.”

Respected NFL scribe Albert Breer, now employed by NFL.com and NFL Network, broke down the power structure of every NFL team and rolled out his look at the Buccaneers yesterday.

In what might shock longtime skeptics of Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik, Breer states unequovically that Dominik has “full decision-making power over personnel.”

Who’s really in charge? The Bucs ran a coach-driven system for seven years under Jon Gruden. The end result — an aging roster in need of an overhaul — led the Glazers to make the move to Mark Dominik, who has full decision-making power over personnel and final say on the 53-man roster. Greg Schiano has control over the 46-man game-day roster and oversees his own staff.

In the end, the idea is for the two sides to work together on building the team. Gruden had a reputation in Tampa for getting upset when the club couldn’t or didn’t get a player he wanted, which, some believe, was a big part of the reason that the Glazers built a division of power into the organization. Dennis Hickey, who is considered a prospective GM candidate in league circles, has become a trusted No. 2 for Dominik, while Butch Davis, for whom Schiano worked at the University of Miami, is the second-year coach’s closest confidant.

You an click through above to read more. The article posted about noon yesterday, and to the best of Joe’s knowledge the Bucs and detail-obsessed Greg Schiano haven’t demanded a correction.

Now Joe’s not surprised that Dominik wields this kind of power. Hell, Joe openly scoffed at the wacky TampaBay.com report last year that proclaimed Schiano to be a more powerful head coach than Tom Coughlin and Mike McCarthy. And Joe knows there are many misguided fans who still believe Dominik is little more than a coffee-fetcher for Schiano.

Joe believes Dominik and Schiano work hand in hand daily and have a very healthy GM-coach relationship, which means Schiano drives his share of decisions while Dominik drives the bus.

It’s an important delineation of the team power structure as the Bucs move into a critical season, one in which the Bucs have eight Pro Bowlers on the roster — none over 30 — and no on-paper excuse for a losing record.

A great listen below on Vincent Jackson’s chat with the media after practice today, via Sports Talk Florida.

Jackson talks about how he counsels Mike Williams to come to work daily with a “workpail” and “having a beginner’s mentality.” He also calls Greg Schiano the best he’s ever seen when it comes to breaking down the game for players.

One of the most underpaid receivers in the NFL says his financial status is about ready to change.

Mike Williams told TampaBay.com today that a new contract with the Bucs is imminent. “All I can say about it is that it’s very close,’’ Williams said.

This is great news, as Williams is in the final year of his rookie contract and the Bucs absolutely can’t afford to risk losing him. Hopefully, Williams agent won’t hold things up, as it sounds like Williams likes what the Bucs are offering.

It’ll be interesting to see how much the Bucs front-load a new deal for Williams and what kind of cash he commands ($6 million annually?). Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has about $18 million to play with under the 2013 salary cap.

Joe likes the cocky edge to the Bucs’ highly-touted rookie

Rookie Bucs cornerback Johnthan Banks has a cocky streak. Joe’s got no problem with that, and it will be awesome if the dude can back it up like he did as a stud cornerback in college.

Banks was asked about adjusting to the speed of the NFL after practice today, and Banks cranked out a gem with a straight face.

“I played in the SEC. … Speed ain’t really no different,” Banks said.

Well, what can Joe say? The Bucs open 2013 against the Jets on opening day, and they probably wouldn’t fare well in the SEC, so perhaps Banks has a point.

The Bucs have yet to release when Training Camp 2013 opens, much less the times of practices much less what days will be single-practice days and what days will be the dreaded two-a-days.

What we do know is that per NFL rules, the Bucs could open training camp July 24, said Bucs coach Greg Schiano today in his post-practice presser with the local pen and mic club.

Schiano said teams are allowed to open training camp two weeks prior to the first preseason game. The first preseason game for the Bucs is a home date with the Baltimore Crows Aug. 8. Two weeks prior would be a tentative date for the opening of training camp being July 24.

The second day of training camp is when teams hold their first training camp practice. If the above information is accurate, that would mean the first practice(s) would be held July 25.

Again, Joe stresses that these dates are tentative and speculative.

Of course, Joe realizes most Bucs fans don’t care when training camp begins. But Joe does know there is an enthusiastic gaggle of Bucs fans who take vacation days so they can watch practices.

So for those rabid few, you way want to begin to formulate a plan to attend practice July 25.

Also, Schiano noted that per NFL rules, he could have rookies report as early as July 5. He conceded he’s not quite that crazy.

As Joe’s astute and savvy readers heard Joe tell his good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig yesterday on WDAE-AM 620 (you can listen to the audio here), it’s not a good thing if a football team doesn’t know who its strongside linebacker will be in early June.

That is the case with the Bucs. If one had to handicap it (and Joe is not a handicapper, but a lover), it appears to be a two-horse race between Dekoda Watson and Jonathan Casillas for the starting gig.

And if Joe can speculate further, judging by watching the first-team defensive unit work, and listening to Bucs coach Greg Schiano yesterday in his normal post-practice press conference, the job is Watson’s to lose.

This afternoon, Watson took a break from sweating after practice to talk to Joe and others about how he plans to lock down the starting SAM linebacker slot after years of stellar special teams play.

“I just want to take advantage of the opportunities and make sure I don’t get a big head,” Watson said. Just take care of the little things. Make sure I build and continue to build each day from here out.

“I just need to be a student of the game and keep my compusure. Be confident in everything I do. Coaches can [assign tasks] however they want. Whatever they want me to do I can do it. For the most part you have to make sure you contribute each and every way you can. Just make sure you make the most of your opportunity.”

Watson admits he has matured as a player since he was selected in the seventh round of the 2010 draft.

“I started being a better student in the film room,” Watson said. “Physically, shoot, just continue to lift weights. I’m doing [the off-field homework and working out] so much better now. I am doing a lot better on the mental part of [the game].”

Naturally, Watson has been trying to somehow crack the starting lineup the past three years. Before this season, he was viewed as a versatile linebacker, who could play inside or outside, strong or weak. Now he is just focused on strongside and Watson admits the focus is helping.

“It is very important,” Watson said.

More action than usual on the fields of One Buc Palace today. The Bucs ran a lot of plays for an offseason workout. Joe took in practice, thankfully in the shade, and shares various observations below from this underwear, no-contact football event.

*”Lets go, let’s go, let’s go!” Practice starts with a bit more spirit today.

*Freeman with two overthrows back-to-back to Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams in a QB-rolling-left drill.

*David Douglas makes a sliding catch of a Dan Orlovsky pass over the middle

*Williams goes low to scoop up a Freeman pass over the middle.

*There’s a lotta hollering going on, especially when the first string offense plays the first string defense.

*”Three wide, three wide! Nice tempo, men. Nice tempo!” Schiano bellows.

*Dekoda Watson is getting a lot of work with the first unit at SAM linebacker. VERY early indications are that the position is Watson’s to lose, though Jonathan Casillas is pushing Watson.

*A Freeman pass to Williams on a slant inside goes right through Williams’ hands.

*Eric Wright is now working with the first team defense.

*The coaches all but drool over Dashon Goldson but that quickly ends on one play where Goldson blasts Chris Owusu and is roundly and loudly scolded by coaches. This is supposed to be a non-contact practice after all.

*From shotgun, Freeman throws a perfect pass over the middle to Vincent Jackson.

*Bad drop by receiver hopeful Carlton Mitchell.

*Mike Glennon throws behind wide receiver Jerry Johnson. Soon after Glennon is picked by Johnthan Banks, who showed off his length on the overthrow to Zach Miller.

*Drop by WR Chris Owusu, who’s been having a strong offseason, on a short Freeman pass in tight coverage with Banks covering.

* “Third and 16, third and 16!”

*Jackson beats Anthony Gaitor for a diving catch down the left side for a first down.

*Right defensive end Aaron Morgan drops into the right flat for pass coverage, bats down a Freeman pass and nearly picks it off.

*Leonard Johnson dives for, and doesn’t quite reach, an errant Freeman pass to the right side.

*Brian Leonard catching a check down on 3rd and 16. Lots of work with the first team for Leonard.

*DE Steven Means had a two-hand bat down of a Mike Glennon pass.

*Another tipped Freeman pass.

*Tight end Nate Byham had a good catch and displayed good ball security in front of safety Sean Baker over the middle.

*Mr. Glennon, you cannot fumble good snaps in the NFL if you want playing time.

*Doug Martin hauls in a pass from Freeman over the middle for a touchdown in a goal line offense.

*Douglas is wide open on the left side for a short touchdown. Later, he just misses a diving catch near the backline for what would have been a touchdown from Glennon.

*Here comes the crowd noise…

*On a slant pass across the middle from Freeman, the pass is way behind Williams.

*Jackson drops a pass over the middle where he was wide open.

*Eric Page with a nasty case of alligator arms on a pass over the middle in traffic from Glennon.

*Freeman throws too low to Jheranie Boyd on the left side of the end zone to avoid Goldson pick.