Bucs fans fantasize that the Tampa Bay offense will hum with Vincent Jackson or Mike Evans drawing single coverage and Josh McCown will hurl a well-placed jump ball to be plucked out of the sky, and over the outstretched arms of a too-short cornerback.

The Bucs are expecting that, too. [read more]

Bucs TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a monster.

Watch Bucs general manager Jason Licht talk about rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and you will see a grown man’s face light up as if Carmella Garcia was whispering naughty thoughts in his ear.

ASJ hasn’t performed a ton of work with the first-team or second-team offense in training camp thus far. He’s still somewhat learning the ropes after missing spring workouts recovering from ankle surgery and attending classes at the University of Washington, which conflicted with the Bucs’ schedule.

When ASJ does get on the field, this dude is a matchup nightmare. Think a young Vincent Jackson playing tight end. [read more]

Peter King wagged a finger at a new Buccaneer

Esteemed fight-instigating, barista-training, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball box score-reading Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame, was at Buccaneers practice yesterday and shared a little negativity with Buccaneers.com. [read more]

Whatever Herm Edwards is inhaling at ESPN headquarters hasn’t been passed on to noted NFL insider “The Professor,” John Clayton.

Clayton likes what Lovie Smith is building but doesn’t believe it’s enough to make Bucs fans smile all around Tampa Bay. [read more]

Can Lovie Smith simply release the hounds?

When an established defensive coach has a loaded roster on defense, you would suspect good things to happen. Then when that same coach stocks up the offense as if he’s at a Publix and a hurricane is hours away, well, it is easy to see how Bucs fans have their hopes up.

(A good gauge on how excited Bucs fans will be is how they fill up the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway tonight for the night practice, which begins at 7:30 p.m.) [read more]

A fan surprises Jason Licht

Usually, Joe is a cranky cuss in the morning, especially if he had a couple of cold ones the night before, and certainly before his morning ration of caffeine has kicked in. That’s why Joe’s most emotional rants often happen first thing in the morning.

Today, there’s no room for being petty, at least not to start off this fine Friday. Joe stumbled across the following accidentally and was taken aback. Never heard of such a thing before. [read more]

It seemed like an uneventful day out at One Buc Palace for Day 6 of Bucs training camp 2014. But Vincent Jackson continued an incline in improvement, really setting himself apart. Tommy Streeter continued to consistently catch balls. Robert Herron continued to struggle finding the handle on passes.

For the second day in a row, linebacker Danny Lansanah is blasting Bucs offensive players. The Jeff Tedford offense is beginning to look fun. [read more]

It was Vincent Jackson raving earlier this week about how Josh McCown is an extraordinary athlete, surprising his teammates at 35 years old. (You can read about that here.)

So today Joe figured he’d asked McCown if he still felt like the same guy who cranked out a 4.57-second 40-yard dash and a 38.5-inch vertical leap at the NFL Scouting Combine back in 2002. [read more]

Of course, Joe knew who wide receiver Tommmy Streeter was. He was a massive target with wheels who scared the life out of shorter defensive backs in the ACC because of his size and speed.

The 6-5, 215 receiver is a huge target and potentially a future member of the “Dunkaneers.” During this spring’s OTAs and minicamp, Streeter was a total non-factor. [read more]

Bucs coach Lovie Smith broke his months-long silence on RB Mike James today.

Even a guy walking around with a white cane can see the Bucs have a loaded backfield. Doug Martin, Charles Sims, Bobby Rainey, Jeff Demps.

Oh, yeah. And Mike James. Maybe you remember him?

The same guy who ran for 158 yards against eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle last season? [read more]

A two-way player?

Man, the Bucs have a crowded backfield. First, there is the Muscle Hamster himself, Doug Martin, plus Charles Sims, Bobby Rainey and Mike James. Pretty good stable of backs.

Then there is Jorvorskie Lane, a Texas A&M guy. He’s one of those birds who is nearly on the endangered species list. A fullback. [read more]

Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner was in a floppy hat and sneakers for the third consecutive practice

Cornerback Mike Jenkins officially joined the wounded Tampa Bay secondary this afternoon. He walked gingerly off the field yesterday with a hint of a limp, and Lovie Smith said he’s got a leg injury.

That meant all kinds of action this afternoon for Danny Gorrer, and questions about what this means for Pro Bowl CB Alterraun Verner adjusting to a defense and a press-coverage style new to him. The Bucs’ first preseason game is in eight days. [read more]

Lovie disagrees with some Bowers criticism

Those hoping disappointing fourth-year defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has a new team in five weeks, might want to chill out.

Lovie Smith went out of his way this afternoon to not only defend Bowers but praise his versatility. [read more]

Training camp marches on at One Buc Palace, as your favorite Tampa Bay team was back in pads today after about a 20-hour break.

Of course, Joe was all over it. Here are the highlights and lowlights, including a little skirmish between two big-name Bucs: [read more]

Top pick Mike Evans enjoying the sun as wide receiver drills begin

Bucs training camp practice (Day 6 in pads) kicked off earlier this afternoon. and Joe is fired up for another day in the swelter, pounding the One Buc Palace grass to bring you all kinds of news, notes and nuggets from your favorite Tampa Bay team.

Make sure you follow Joe on Twitter, @JoeBucsFan, and Instagram for info and for a heads up to all the stories and notes Joe will post here at JoeBucsFan.com through the afternoon evening.

A popular NFL scout and analyst weighs in

Despite all the uplifting, positive items coming out of Bucs training camp, it has done little to douse the anxiety of fans surrounding guard play.

Since Carl Nicks couldn’t play any longer on that ugly toe of his — which was not in any way a shock or surprise to the Bucs — the thought of Oniel Cousins starting at guard has Bucs fans drinking heavily these days. [read more]

Joe confesses he dry heaved a little this morning after hearing longtime BSPN NFL insider John Clayton, “The Professor,” talk about how the NFL is informing teams of the latest “emphasis” of game officials.

Don’t think it’s a quarterback-driven league? Don’t think you need a stud quarterback to thrive and reach the promised land? Well, the NFL seems to disagree. [read more]

Yes, it is only the first week of training camp, Joe gets that. And in March, Bucs coach Lovie Smith hinted no one would see the complete Bucs offense until the regular season, and maybe not until late September or October.

From what Joe has seen, this is going to be a fun offense. It’s difficult for Joe to comprehend a Bucs offense could make people stay in their seats/in their La-Z-Boys rather than going for a beer/going to the bathroom to take care of delayed smelly business. [read more]

Lovie Smith chimes in on his wounded Pro Bowler

The wounded in the Bucs’ cornerbacks crew are piling up.

It’s nothing serious, but it’s still there, for a new defense that needs to jell. Something that won’t be so easy, warns Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp. [read more]