Greg Schiano and Ian Beckles are keeping an eye on Gerald McCoy’s strength and weight

If Joe played for the New Schiano Order, Joe would listen to his coaches. But Gerald McCoy didn’t — at least when it came to reporting to camp at the weight prescribed to him by the Bucs brass.

McCoy came in 10 pounds lighter. And McCoy wouldn’t tell media what he currently weighs. So is McCoy too skinny to fight off double teams and return to the Pro Bowl?

Greg Schiano explained why he isn’t worried, so he told The Sports Page on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday.

“Gerald McCoy has incredible flexion. You know the way he can twist his upper body yet continue up the field. Ten pounds less, I anticipate that being even better. But you gotta make sure he’s not getting rocked out of their on double teams,” Schiano said. “I trust that he knows what’s best. But I don’t think it will be hard for Gerald to put on a few pounds if he needs to.”

One man who is worried is former Bucs guard Ian Beckles (1990-1996). Size does matter, Beckles said, and McCoy coming in small is a red flag. Beckles made the case that centers, typically smaller than guards, are even 300-pounders now and McCoy could wear down in December if he doesn’t beef up.

You can hear Beckles’ full take below. Again, Joe’s not concerned, primarily because McCoy’s weight is only important in six weeks, and he has time to add quality beef.

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After two tumultuous seasons in Chicago, former Outland Trophy winner Gabe Carimi was exiled from the Windy City to warmer climes in Tampa Bay. The former first round draft pick from Wisconsin discusses his new surroundings and how he made his way to Tampa Bay. You can hear his words by clicking the link below. Audio courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.

Lavonte David didn’t make the Pro Bowl after last season, but he still was an All-World linebacker, calling the Bucs’ defensive plays and racking up 112 solo tackles, second most in the NFL.

Derrick Brooks even says David is ahead of the pace he set en route to a Hall of Fame career.

So what the hell must David do to improve in his second season? New Bucs linebackers coach Robb Smith told Joe it’s all about David studying intensely to sharpen his reactions. 

“Lavonte’s a very instinctive football player. And if he were to make a mistake, he’s usually able to make it one time. That’s a credit to him. That’s kind of why people see him the way they do,” Smith said. “As he sees things new that he hasn’t seen before, it may stumble him at first it might not, but usually the second time around he’s got it down and is moved on to the next task.”

Smith says David is a quick learner, and Smith believes David’s film work and second year in the New Schiano Order will lead to him “making more plays within our scheme.”

Joe asked David how he can make a leap in year 2, and David says it’s all about accumulating knowledge. 

“Knowing what everybody’s supposed to do and my responsibility first and foremost, to make my job easier and everybody else’s job easier,” David said. “Understand what I’m watching on film. Not just my job but watching everybody else’s job around me and making it easier for me.”

Frankly, it’s hard to imagine David improving, though Joe, of course is rooting for just that. If David can improve, then the Bucs really could be looking at the next Derrick Brooks.

McCoy says vets didn’t help or teach him back in 2010

Today wasn’t the first time Joe has heard of how Bucs stud Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is bound and determined to help fellow rookies. As McCoy told Joe during minicamp, the quicker the rookies can improve, the quicker the team improves. And McCoy is all about winning.

No. 93 reiterated that stance and went a bit further this morning. McCoy talked about how he was shunned by veteran defensive linemen teammates his rookie year.

“A lot of us have been in the system for a year but for the new guys, the walk-throughs and the learning periods and the film sessions, the chemistry is starting to come together. We are starting to figure it out. Everybody is starting to get it. The old guys know how coach wants it. The new guys are starting to understand how we do things around here,” McCoy said.

The rookie linemen “have stepped right in and are willing to learn. I have been bringing them out every day early before practice We have a little extra time so I get all the rookie defensive linemen and I bring them outside with me and we work on different fundamentals. What I am doing to them I never got. I never had anyone to help me. Had nobody to coach me, had nobody to take me under their wing. I had none of that. I want to be that guy so they don’t have to say, ‘Well, nobody helped me.’ The vets didn’t teach me. The better the [rookies] are, the better we will all be. That’s just my mentality.”

No, Joe isn’t sure who GMC was referring to, sackless Kyle Moore, Ryan Sims, Stylez White, Tim Crowder? Granted, most of the vets expected the No. 3 overall draft pick to take their job, so it is somewhat understandable how they may have been less than proactive to help GMC, no matter how rotten that move is.

This is what Joe does know: You want a leader on your defense who is sick and tired of losing and doing whatever he can to turn the Bucs ‘ fortunes around? Look no further than GMC.

As is custom, Bucs coach Greg Schiano held a press conference after practice today, following the second practice of the Bucs training camp 2013.

Overall, Schiano was happy that while the Bucs defense made plays in 11-on-11 drills, so too did the offense in what Schiano termed an even match.

Schiano also reinforced how he was going to bring Pro Bowl guards Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph back slowly as both had their 2012 seasons cut short due to injuries.

To hear the press conference in its entirety, please click the arrow below. Audio courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.

Leave it to that winged superhero Batman  Dashon Goldson to transform what was a horrid Bucs secondary.

Rid of the stench of Adderall (?)-popping, spa-vegging Eric Wright, the Bucs secondary appears to be rebounding big time. Why? Because Goldson and Revis won’t let their secondary teammates tank like last year.

“I faced [Dashon] Goldson in the NFC West a bunch of times and I always felt like he was a leader,” said former Arizona and current Bucs cornerback Mike Adams. “When he called us up to tell us what we had to do, I was able to watch him when he was in San Francisco and their secondary led the defense, and that’s what he wants to do here. I am all on board with that.”

As far as Adams is concerned, Goldson is a pro’s pro at safety.

“Aw, man. He can hit, he can run, he’s fast,” Adams said. “He’s everything you want in a safety.”

Then there’s the young pro at cornerback for the Bucs, rookie Johnthan Banks. Adams is so impressed with Banks, he believes Banks is a younger version of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

“Honestly man, this Banks kid, he’s long and lean,” Adams said. “I think he has a tremendous upside. There are a lot of plays he can make as a taller DB. Man, it’s a blessing to be 6-2 or 6-3. It reminds me of the same stuff Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie used to do.”

Now that Wright is no longer poisoning One Buc Palace, there is an opportunity for Adams to possibly start.

“I am just here to try to step into any role the team asks me to play,” Adams said. “I have been a nickel back for the last five years I have been in the league. What the team asks me to do, I am gong to step into that role and do it.”

Among other topics, Ronde Barber talks about how he and Aqib Talib used to study Darrelle Revis. Barber called him a “rare technician.”

Former Bucs great Ronde Barber made a triumphant return to One Buc Palace today, the first time he has been at the facility as a guest, not as a player sweating through another training camp practice.

Barber is now a broadcaster for FOX Sports and will serve as the Bucs TV analyst for preseason games broadcast on WFLA-TV, Channel 8.

Hear what Barber had to say today by clicking below. Among other topics, Barber talks about he and Aqb Talb used to study Darrelle Revis. Barber called him a “rare technician.” Audio courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.

Greg Schiano has raved several times about how Adrian Clayborn overhauled his entire body while rehabilitating his blown knee. Joe got a chance to ask Clayborn about that today.

JoeBucsFan.com: Coach Schiano has said you re-made your body this offseason. Can you explain to the average fan what that means?

Adrian Clayborn: Being hurt, injuring your knee like that you can’t really move much. Pretty much the only thing I could do was lift with my upper body, so I really attacked that during the winter and during the spring and got big. And once I got able to get on my feet, I worked on just getting leaner and keeping my muscle tone up and my muscle build up while preparing to actually play football.

Joe: Did you get any good advice from guys who ere in your shoes? I know you were around Brian Price for a while who had a serious lower body injury, as well as other linemen.

Clayborn: Unfortunately, and fortunately, Davin [Joseph] and I were both injured this offseason. We were lifting together and just seeing his motivation to get stronger, and having him there to ask questions about getting through it and what he’s doing other than regular treatment, was a big plus for me.

Joe: Did you get into any of the yoga that Joseph does?

Clayborn: I can’t really do yoga. I’ve tried it, but I like to do stuff that’s fun, and that’s not fun. That’s torture.

Here are sights and sounds Joe jotted down during practice of Day Two of Bucs training camp 2013 — in no particular order.

* Te’o bats down Orlovsky pass like JJ Watt.

* Mike Williams wide open over the middle, first down.

* Trickery: Mike Williams on an option on the left side would have been wiped out by Lavonte David.

* No one asked, but best player in Bucs camp after two practices? Mike Williams. Play after play after play he sticks out.

* Anthony Gaitor having a good practice. Just got a pass breakup of Vincent Jackson by jumping route along right sideline.

* Rashaan Melvin allows a short completion in front of him and Greg Schiano runs onto the field for some up close and personal coaching.

* Mason Foster dives to break up pass and grabbed his right hamstring. Got up but was limping. Seems to be OK, though.

*Mike Glennon overthrows Tiquan Underwood by five yards on a deep ball.

*Danny Noble flashes some good hands.

*Josh Freeman makes a bad throw to Mike James on a dumpoff pass. Out of synch?

* VJax big gain on crossing pattern to right. Think Joe J. vs Eagles.

* First team defense includes Darrelle Revis and Johnthan Banks.

* Revis strongarms Kevin Ogletree off line on walkthrough. LOVE his intensity.

* MYRON!: Welp. David Douglas burns Nine Lives Myron Lewis badly on a pass down right sideline. Who could have guessed?

* Hawk Goldson blitzes and bats down a Josh Freeman pass. Could have been a sack if there were live bullets flying.

* Johnthan Banks on Mike Williams like a second skin on a comeback route but Freeman’s pass sails over everyone.

* Tiquan Underwood got away with a clip on Banks.

* Mike Glennon fans on a throw, ball came out as he began throw and crowd chants, “Rookie, rookie!”

* Kevin Ogletree and Nate Byham down after a pileup for a pass. Ogletree needed help getting up but walked off under his own power. Roughly 10 minutes later, he resumes practice.

* If there was hitting allowed, Hawk Goldson would have positively decleated Tom Crabtree on a short pass to right.

* Mike Williams goes all Michael Jordan, skying high to grab a Josh Freeman pass.

*Details! The Bucs have a drill that has defensive linemen catching passes from five yards away. Only drop was by camp-meat DT Matthew Masifilo.

* Revis jams VJax at the line … in a walkthrough! Next play up against Mike WIlliams, the play goes other way but Revis shadows Williams all the way back to line.

* Chris Owusu can’t break free of Anthony Gaitor on a bomb down right sideline.

* Mike Glennon, Michael Adams does not like your passes. Pick-six along right sideline running across the field to the left for the score.

* Johnthan Banks jumps a route and picks Josh Freeman and the crowd roars. Next play Banks breaks up another pass. Crowd likes the rookie’s play.

* During a pass play, Greg Schiano could be heard bellowing, “VISION, VISION!”

* Leonard Johnson would not let Nate Byham past him.

* Josh Freeman pass to Martin in left flat and Dekoda Watson all over the Muscle Hamster.

* Darrelle Revis steps onto the main field for first time and works with first team defense vs. first team offense. Crowd buzzes; all eyes on 24.

* Darrelle Revis getting physical in walk through vs. Tiquan Underwood. Dude is just chomping at the bit to drill someone.

* Darrelle Revis vs. Mike Williams in a walk-through and the two quickly got into a jousting match for position.

* Hearing quite a bit of talk from Bucs people about Rashaan Melvin but he hasn’t shown much in practices (yet). Maybe he will in games?

* David Douglas uses his height to grab a ball over Anthony Gaitor.

*Vincent Jackson revved up the crowd with his hands. Wanted more intensity from the Bucs faithful.

* Tight end Zach Miller juggles the ball for two or three steps before it bounces off his fingertips.

* Mike Williams reaches over right shoulder of Johnthan Banks to haul in pass. Good coverage; better catch.

* Carlton Mitchell just blew past Revis along sideline. Had to double check it wasn’t Myron.

* Beautiful over-the-shoulder catch by Kevin Ogletree. Jim Edmonds would applaud.

* Darrelle Revis working against VJax in WR drills on far field. Stuck on VJax like Velcro.

* Yesterday passing game was strong. Today, it is the run game.

* WTH? Already saw four Barrett Ruud jerseys this morning. People need to upgrade their wardrobes. Lavonte David perhaps?

Joe doesn’t blink an eye when he types that the Bucs will have the best offensive line in football if right tackle Gabe Carimi steps up and fulfills his potential.

The 2011 Bears first-round pick was snatched by rockstar general manager Mark Dominik for a sixth-round pick last month. In Chicago, Carimi had injuries and his attitude wasn’t appreciated.

Two practices into training camp, Carimi is drawing rave reviews from Donald Penn. Drenched in an endless flow of sweat, Penn told Joe after practice today that Carimi’s skill set stands out among the Bucs’ veteran offensive line.

“He’s a great technically sound guy. He’s [got] great technique,” Penn said of Carimi. “He’s a good player. He’s going to help us out a lot. He’s very technically sound. You know, it’s hard to get that. It took me a year or two before I got my techniques down. I’m still working on my techniques.”

Again, it’s definitely noteworthy when a guy like Penn, who’s been around numerous offensive line coaches and stud linemen in his day, is impressed like this.

Now it’s time to see what happens when Carimi puts the pads on. As Penn said, “All this little pattycake stuff, we’re ready to get the real stuff tomorrow. There’ll be no more excuses.”

Yes, there is a lot of pressure on Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman this season. First, there are the big expectations. Then there is his contract expiring at the end of the season. And not so trivial, it’s the pressure from fans, many disgusted by his yo-yo play, who are demanding perfection.

This is not lost on prickly Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com. He believes Bucs fans have been unfair to Freeman and seem to want to run him out of town. In fact, Prisco goes so far as to declare that if Freeman hits the free agent market, no player will be as sought after as much as Freeman would be.

@PriscoCBS: Spent time with Josh Freeman today. Why isn’t he more appreciated in Tampa? If he hits the market in 2014, he is No. 1 FA.

Now Joe’s not going that far as to suggest Freeman would be the most sought-after free agent, provided the Bucs don’t re-sign him or franchise him. He’s not Reggie White. Joe can think of at least eight NFC teams who have no need for Freeman as they have their own franchise quarterback.

Unless Freeman completely melts down, Joe cannot see Bucs rock star genearl manager Mark Dominik letting Freeman get away.

Ironically, a lot of Cardinals players looked up to new Bucs cornerback Michael Adams when he played in Arizona. Adams stands just 5-6. (Yes, the program says Adams is 5-8, but that’s just not the case.)

Bucs QB coach John McNulty spent years coaching in Arizona and observing Adams. McNulty told Joe that Adams is “a very vocal player who throws his body around with reckless abandon,” and he had “a strong circle of players who looked up to him.” He also said Adams made his share of big plays at nickel cornerback.

Joe caught up with Adams to hit him with questions yesterday. Here’s a handful: 

JoeBucsFan.com: John McNulty was with you in Arizona and he said coaches there always talked about upgrading at your position but couldn’t find anyone to beat you out. He praised your toughness and intense work ethic. Most Bucs fans don’t know who you are. How can you describe yourself and your game?

Michael Adams: I’m a feisty character. I’m a bit undersized. But in [the Bucs’] defense I feel like my size kind of suits me. I mean, they can say whatever they might want to say about my game. The fans can say whatever they want to say. But I was an undrafted fee agent going on seven years in the league now. I feel like I’m pretty good myself.

Joe: What do you expect your role to be on the Bucs and what are your goals?

Adams: I’m going to come out here and do whatever the coaches ask me to do. My goal is to start. But whatever their mindset is I’m going to take care of whatever role they give me.  I was playing mostly nickel back in Arizona. I actually like the position. I look forward to trying to compete to get that spot here. Whatever happens, happens.

Joe: As a” feisty character,” does that mean you were a leader in Arizona? Will you do some of that here? And can you talk about your experience in the Super Bowl.

Adams: I was there for a long time in Arizona. And I feel like I was a leader there. Whatever role I get here, I’ll put forth 110 percent effort in all ways. The Super Bowl at least gave me practice time and experience in the stadium and on the practice fields here.

Joe: Was Ronde Barber ever a guy you got to talk to about being a successful nickel back and a small guy.

Adams: I never got to talk to Ronde, but as a young player you looked up to Ronde and Charles Woodson, and any veteran in the nickel position.

Joe: You’ve got quite a reputation as a special teams player. What can you say about that?

Adams: Oh, man. I mean special teams is everything. Special teams is the reason I’ve been in this league this long. I look forward to working with the guys, with the coaches, and bring whatever I can bring to the team. I feel like I’ve had a productive career on special teams. And I feel like I can continue that.

The cool thing to Joe about rookie cornerback Johnthan Banks is his quiet confidence. He’s not cocky; understands he has to raise his game; but hardly shies away from challenges.

Yesterday after Bucs practice at Day One of Training Camp 2013, Banks’ first as an NFLer, the Mississippi State product was asked to grade himself.

“I would give myself a ‘B,'” Banks said.

But why a “B?”

“Nobody is on their A-game yet. That is a work in progress,” Banks said.

Banks knows the Bucs are putting a lot of stock in him to produce right away. This was never more evident when the Bucs tossed aside Adderall (?)-popping, spa-vegging malcontent Eric Wright.

“I have chance to go out there and compete, to start,” Banks said. “I need to work hard and do whatever [Bucs coach Greg Schiano] tells me to do and play my role on this team. I don’t feel any pressure. It’s what I do: play football. I wouldn’t have signed up if I was going to be nervous. I know it is a different level of football. But I think I am good. I just have to play my role on this team, know the playbook and adjust to things and see how it plays out.“

Probably the coolest thing Joe learned from Banks is that fellow corner Darrelle Revis is playing big brother to his teammates in the secondary.

“Revis has been talking to all of us,” Banks said. “If I have a question, he will talk to all of us. He gives all of us advice. Out whole group [of corners] is tight. Revis, Leonard Johnson, Danny Gorrer, “MyLew” [Nine Lives Myron Lewis]. All of us help each other. That is one thing I like about our group. We are tight knit.”

Greg Schiano wears a bracelet with the word “F.A.M.I.L.Y.” on it. Bucs players have them, too.

It’s the Barney-The-Dinosaur-style theme of the Bucs. Hell, it’s even the cheer Schiano leads in the locker room.

This family concept is very new to Darrelle Revis, who took to Instagram this week to set a fan straight on the meaning of family. It was a real New York moment for Revis.

Joe gets that Revis might need to get acclimated a bit to the New Schiano Order and the college-like team spirit that is expected. Yesterday on NFL Network, Revis said in a positive manner that the family atmosphere with the Bucs is the greatest difference between the Bucs and his last employer, the New York Jets.

Revis is a leader, and Joe’s confident that even if Revis doesn’t believe in the semantics of “F.A.M.I.L.Y.”, he does know how to be a great teammate and command respect — and roll with the “F.A.M.I.L.Y.” vibe.

Man, yesterday was a zoo at One Buc Palace. People were in a good mood as it was the first day of practice for training camp and it marked the start of football season. Yes, there is a God.

Celebrities were in the house, including Bryan Glazer, Shaun King, Prickly Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, and of course NFL Network was broadcasting live with no less than former Bucs great Warren Sapp holding court, basking in being back at a Bucs training camp for the first time in probably years.

After a long day of taping interviews, Sapp, just days from being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, talked with the assembled scribes still there and WDAE-AM 620 Bucs beat writer Tom Krasniqi jotted down some of Sapp’s thoughts on the Bucs’ defensive line.

“I want to see this [defensive] front come [step up],” Sapp said. “I’m issuing a challenge to Da’Quan Bowers. Last time I checked, if you wore pewter and red, you hunted the quarterback here.” On any possible concern regarding Gerald McCoy’s weight loss, Sapp remarked, “Looks can be deceiving. Trust me, he’s just getting himself in great shape.”

For the rest of Sapp’s sitdown yesterday, click the arrow below.

The highlight of Day 1 of the Bucs training camp 2013 clearly was Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams. The new $40 million dollar man was part of a fireworks show of a passing attack that thrilled the fans in the bleachers under the overcast skies.

On one play, Williams, covered like a blanket by Danny Gorrer, made a diving one-handed catch of a Josh Freeman pass over the middle for a 30-yard gain. It was beautiful and brought the fans to their feet.

Williams spoke about opening of training camp in this WDAE-AM 620 audio.

Tampa Bay sports electronic sports media czar J.P. Peterson and WDAE-AM 620 sports personality Ronnie Lane discuss their thoughts and observations on the first day of Bucs training camp 2013.

During a recent interview, it sure seems like former Bucs wide receiver Preston Parker, a man who was cut by the New Schiano Order and evicted from his Tampa apartment for non-payment in 2011, is taking shots at the Buccaneers and Josh Freeman. You can watch the clip below.

If anyone can tell Joe what exactly is on Parker’s head, that would be appreciated.

Warren Sapp told a national TV audience today that Mike Williams earned the $15 million guaranteed in the contract extension he signed yesterday.

NFL Network cameras caught Williams making a diving catch of a Josh Freetman bomb this morning (3:00 mark of this linked video), and that sparked the detailed Williams conversation.

Sapp called Williams a “number one and a half.” And Sapp explained that Williams is a tireless worker who overcame NFL defenses catching up to him during his sophomore season of 2011.

Joe definitely recommends the link above, especially for fans craving an extended, raw look inside the first training camp practice.

Mark Dominik talked about how players, coaches and front-office types obsess about money when they’re in contract years.

Is Josh Freeman thinking about the $100 million or so contract he could lock down with a strong season in 2013?

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik says Freeman surely is. Players in contract years get very caught up in the business of football, Dominik explained during an interview this morning on the Ron and Ian show on WDAE-AM 620.

Yes, Freeman has said repeatedly he doesn’t think about money. So Joe enjoyed Dominik’s dose of reality.

Ian Beckles: You got Mike Williams signed and that’s awesome. … Now Josh’s contract’s up this year. How do you guys go about making a decision who’s contract gets settled? Because  I’ve been in a situation before where I was starting and I was like, ‘I want to re-up.’ And they’re like, ‘Well, wait til the end of the year.’ You ever worry about what it does to that athlete?

Mark Dominik: Yeah, I think about it. I mean let’s be honest; I’m sure Mike thinks about his contract non-stop. When you get closer to that, I know from a National Football League perspective, whether it’s a coach, whether it’s myself, when you’re contract is going to end it’s hard not to think about it, right Ian?  I mean, it consumes you. And I know that happens for every player on this football team. … That’s just how you think.

Interestingly, Dominik went on to reveal that part of the reasoning behind locking up Mike Williams early, with one year remaining on his contract, was the steadily escalating contracts for wide receivers.

Joe notes that QB contracts are skyrocketing, as well.

Dominik said he wants Mike Williams’ new contract to reverberate throughout the Bucs’ roster. “I’m hoping that the locker room sits there and thinks, ‘Look, Mike’s really produced for our football team and he’s earned that contract.’ And I’m hoping that’s the message that’s been sent,” Dominik said.

The No Excuses Tour heads to Tropicana Field from Tampa Lee Roy Selmon’s locations. Click here for the schedule.

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