How many starting jobs are open?

You hear coaches say this all the time: Competition brings out the best in players. [read more]

Vita Vea

Will leaner Vita Vea be a better Vita Vea this season?

Joe’s not sure, but Vea is excited and was heard talking about his offseason body work today. [read more]

“Jason, here’s what we’re going to ask Baker and here’s what I want everyone to tell Baker.”

Yes, the quote in the headline comes from the fearless leader of the Bucs’ offense, Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield. [read more]

“Hey, Bake, it’s always all good.”

Hey, Baker Mayfield, “Do you ever wish, like, Bruce Arians would walk through that door and chew me out, just like call me a dumb motherfuc*er?”

Mayfield was hit with that question this week. [read more]

“Stay in your lane, Kyle.”

Setting a teamwide tone last season was a work in progress for Baker Mayfield, he said this week. [read more]

Still a large presence.

This is almost mind-blowing to Joe. [read more]

Still dominant.

If there is one thing about former Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ offense that his successor Liam Coen retains, Joe hopes it is using Mike Evans in diverse routes. [read more]

Not just a pass rusher.

This really blew Joe away. [read more]

Future is bright.

This has to bring a wide smile to folks at One Buc Palace. [read more]

Bucs WR Trey Palmer.

More encouraging NextGen Stats on Bucs speedster Trey Palmer. [read more]

Odd findings.

In a stat geeky breakdown of quarterbacks, it seems like last year’s results weren’t that great for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. [read more]

Elite.

Some really cool stats on receivers and their production. That is, if you believe the PFF tribe. [read more]

Can he continue to ball out?

Yeah, Joe admits maybe former Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales wasn’t Joe’s cup of tea when it came to gameplans. [read more]

Needs help from defense.

Bucs coach Todd Bowles is a defensive guy through and through. [read more]

As Joe shared, future Hall of Fame wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, said this week that he ranks Baker Mayfield as the fifth-best quaterback in the NFL. [read more]

Does he have the magic elixir?

Last summer, Joe remembers asking then-Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales an important question. [read more]

Count Baker Mayfield among the parents shaking a head at the legions of obsessed moms and dads that think it’s great for their kid to hyper-specialize in one sport at a young age. [read more]

Happiness in Tampa for Baker Mayfield is about a lot more than his new three-year, $100 million contract. [read more]

So many summer savings are flowing at Bill Currie Ford! That’s new and used vehicles, and don’t forget to ask GM Sean Sullivan for the Ira Kaufman discount. Pick-up, delivery and loaner vehicles are available for service appointments.

Sage of Tampa Bay Sports Ira Kaufman has been covering the NFL since the late 1970s. He landed on the Buccaneers beat in 1985 for United Press International and proceeded to have a storied career at The Tampa Tribune. He abandoned corporate shackles and short lunch breaks when he arrived at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters in 2016.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The passing of Monte Kiffin hit hard for friends and associates, including Jon Gruden.

Legendary Bucs defnesive coordinator Monte Kiffin in a tender moment with Rondé Barber.

Kiffin ran Tampa Bay’s defense in 2002, when Gruden arrived as head coach and challenged a star-studded unit to score nine touchdowns. Led by NFL Defensive Player of the Year Derrick Brooks, the Bucs promptly responded with one of the most dynamic seasons by a defensive unit in league history.

“It’s a sad day, very sad,” Gruden said. “Monte was the same guy every day, upbeat, positive and prepared. He was a phenomenal teacher and presenter. He did the preparation and he did the presentation. Those are the two things I always thought the great coaches did … and he did it better than anybody. God bless him and his family.”

Gruden and Kiffin had an interesting history before teaming up at One Buc Place. [read more]