Luke Stocker got his share of first-team action Saturday

You saw him. Big No. 88, healthy at last, healthy at last, was spotted on the field with the first team offense on Saturday night.

And no, Luke Stocker wasn’t there to squirt Gatorade in Vincent Jackson’s mouth. [read more]

The spreadsheet crowd has fresh proof. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.

Joe started hearing the rumbling last year from a guy who rumbles the walls when he speaks. Joe raised an eyebrow (picture Derrick Brooks) when last year Warren Sapp tried to tell Joe that Gerald McCoy was better than he was.

Joe wasn’t biting. Or buying. [read more]

Well, that didn’t take long.

When the Lovie Smith regime took over, Joe knows it liked tight end Tim Wright. Really liked him. In his rookie year, the converted wide receiver landed in the top half of tight ends in the NFL, despite being a Schiano Rutgers man.

In the offseason, suits at One Buc Palace raved about Wright. Early in training camp is sure seemed, at worst, Wright would be the No. 2 tight end on the team and would still see a lot of playing time. [read more]

Today, Lovie Smith said there will be “no life sentence” for Mike Evans, and the head coach weighed in on various players.

Head coach Lovie Smith watched last night’s game film and emerged for media this afternoon at One Buc Palace.

Lovie had plenty to say about the offensive line and more. [read more]

Bucs DT Gerald McCoy, who said the defensive line needs to improve, puts a move on a Dolphins guard last night. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.

Defensive end Michael Johnson signed a five-year deal worth $43.75 million, per Rotoworld.com. Some even suggested that paired with Gerald McCoy, Johnson would be the next Simeon Rice.

Frankly, unless Johnson flips the switch next month, the next person comparing him to Rice should be towel-snapped in the shower. [read more]

Johnthan Banks is really growing on Joe. The second-year cornerback has a real edge to him.

He plays angry. He talks angry. Heck, Joe can still remember glare on Banks’ face when Joe asked Banks about being named a backup cornerback on Lovie Smith’s initial preseason depth chart. [read more]

Skill position players like Bucs RB Charles Sims could not play through his ankle injury without surgery

The Bucs took a nasty hit Friday when highly-touted rookie running back Charles Sims had ankle surgery and would be lost for at least 12 weeks. For a team building its offense in part around his skills, this was bad news.

Of the three Bucs rookies with the greatest team expectations, wide receiver Mike Evans, tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Sims, it was Sims who appeared most NFL-ready. He was an effective if not a good runner and, of course, had very good hands. [read more]

The warm and fuzzy, happy-to-double-our-win-total crowd may not care about a prized Bucs defensive end looking anemic in the preseason, but Joe can’t ignore it.

So far, the real Michael Johnson, the one Tampa Bay paid handsomely, hasn’t shown up. [read more]

Think Bucs rookie sixth-round pick Robert Herron is “on the bubble” when it comes to making the Tampa Bay roster, well, not so fast.

After hearing Bucs general manager Jason Licht speak last night, Joe’s ready to anoint Herron an opening-day Buccaneer. [read more]

Right tackle Demar Dotson talks about the improvement the offensive line made from last week’s train wreck.

Mental health professionals throughout the Tampa Bay area saw appointments for counseling spike after Bucs fans were ambushed with a truly horrid display of blocking last week. Josh McCown’s life insurance policy terminated, he had to run for his life so much.

In the first half last night against Miami — Joe is only counting the first half because the second half was largely played by future carpet cleaners, high school assistant coaches, concierges and tire store managers — the offensive line was did a halfway decent job. Not great, mind you, but certainly better than that horror show of turnstiles last week. [read more]

Unless Lovie Smith is hiding former Gator and Olympic speedster Jeff Demps as part of a secret plot to thrust Demps on the NFL via Jeff Tedford’s never-before-seen plays, it seems Demps is on the wrong side of the roster bubble. [read more]

Bucs WR Mike Evans streaks down the left sideline for an apparent touchdown. But, no! He fumbled at the one with the ball rolling out of the end zone for a touchback. It proved to be the difference in the game. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.

Bucs fans got a glimpse of the future tonight, and almost immediately wanted a time machine to turn the clock back 30 seconds.

Bucs coach Lovie Smith always touts Mike Glennon as the quarterback of the future. And there he was, in a shotgun from the Miami-42 midway through the second quarter. [read more]

McCoy talks about the state of his game and translating Warren Sapp

There’s really no limit to the praise Gerald McCoy deserves for his performance tonight against Miami.

Reflecting a bit in the locker room following his truly dominant effort tonight, McCoy said he’s always been a good learner but a slow learner through his life. [read more]

Josh McCown and the Bucs offense struggled on third downs in the first half. Again.

No, the Bucs offense didn’t look good tonight, for the second straight preseason game. Granted, the first game was a complete and utter disaster largely because the offensive line was a complete and utter disaster.

At least tonight, the Bucs’ offensive line seemed to have a pulse. It was better than last week, but that’s not saying much at all. Baby steps, Joe supposes, baby steps. [read more]

We know the new Bucs offense is under a veil of secrecy, but what about the new Bucs starting quarterback?

Consider Josh McCown has thrown just 11 passes in two preseason games. [read more]

It was Gerald McCoy’s night. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Gerald McCoy was freakin’ dominant. The Bucs’ offensive line looked solid. Mike Evans learned a valuable lesson. And did Joe mention Gerald McCoy was an unstoppable force?

Hope and peace and calm is restored across the Tampa Bay area.

Joe’s must tip his cap to new right guard Patrick Omameh who made the most of his shot tonight. The 23-year-old did some good things, showed some quick feet and strength. There were holes for Doug Martin. Real holes. And Martin looked sharp. Omameh was undrafted out of Michigan last year, a Schiano-Dominik pick up off the 49ers’ practice squad.

The Bucs’ defense was again the no-worries unit Joe expected. They got the turnover Lovie Smith covets (thanks, Gerald) and allowed three points to the Dolphins’ first-team offense and through the first half.

Job pretty well done.

Stick with Joe through the night for so much more out of tonight’s game and the locker room.

Joe can only imagine the absolute glee pulsing through Lovie Smith’s body in the second quarter tonight. [read more]

Good evening, Bucs fans! Joe is here at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa where the Bucs host their first preseason game. This time the opponent is the Dolphins.

Some news for you to chew on before kickoff. Patrick Omameh starts at right guard for Jamon Meredith. And the shocker of all shockers, defensive lineman Da’Quan Bowers is inactive. Can you imagine? [read more]