Bucs running backs coach and former NFL great Earnest Byner said his new students might not know much if anything about his background

Count Joe among those that assumed that an accomplished guy like Bucs running backs coach Earnest Byner would make it known to his crew of backs that he played 14 years in the NFL and left the game with two Pro Bowl visits, three 1,000-yard seasons and a Super Bowl ring.

But that’s not how it’s gone down at One Buc Palace.

It’s not that Joe thought Byner would bring his background up regularly, only that it would have at least been a big part of the meet-your-coaches festivities back in April.

JoeBucsFan.com: This is a very young group of running backs. Do you find that these guys know who you are and your background? And did you make any effort to introduce them to your story?

Earnest Byner: No. Not a whole lot. It comes up every now and again. But you know we all teach from our experiences. I’ve been blessed to have a lot of experience in the league and some not so fortunate. I don’t know whether they know me or not. (laughs) I don’t know if they know whether I played in the league or not. But they’re eager to grasp some of the concepts that we’ve been talking about. And some of the drills we’re doing out on the field, they’re using them. And I think they’re really excited about their overall opportunity.

Joe just found this all very interesting and surprising. And it’s no knock on Byner whatsoever. Surely Byner knows best when to play the I’ve-been-there card.

Joe hates to tease, but Joe asked the same question of former NFL great and Bucs new defensive front seven coach Bryan Cox, who delivered an extraordinary take on how current players view ex-players as coaches. Joe expects to type up his exclusive interview with Cox for Wednesday morning.

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Former Giants receivers and quarterback coach Mike Sullivan is a first time offensive coordinator and many pundits have just assumed he showed up at One Buc Palace with Tom Coughlin’s playbook raring to go.

Sullivan would transform Josh Freeman into Eli Manning, and LeGarrette Blount and Doug Martin would take the roles of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, and everyone would be happy.

Don’t go there, Sullivan told Joe yesterday, after asking Sullivan to explain the evolution of the Bucs’ playbook starting with the day he interviewed for the job. Joe never mentioned the Giants, but Sullivan wanted it clear that the Bucs’ offense will be its own unique amalgamation.

“Really, it’s a combination and the synthesis of a bunch of different ideas. I mean to say that this is, you know, a New York system is really a misnomer,” Sullivan said. “There will be some components, but there’s so much experience that’s on here. You know, between the guys sitting [next to me,] Ben McDaniels from his experience from being with his brother in Denver and Earnest [Byner’s] experiences in Tennessee and Jacksonville, and Jimmy Raye and his 30 odd years in the league and Ron Turner. So it’s foolish just to not listen to and accept and kind of mold and get an assessment of what type of players we have and how we can fit everbody’s ideas and concepts into what is the Buccaneers’ offense.

“And so it’s really been a very dynamic process, and we’re still trying to finalize and really hang our hat on the things we’re going to be good at, that we’re going to feature. … So I would just say that while there are some components to a New York system, I think what it boils down from a fan standpoint. I think they just need to anticipate and expect that the product that is out there is a unit that is tough, that is smart, and that is explosive. That’s going to be our marching orders to what we want out there on the field.”

Joe found it somehat interesting that Sullivan didn’t mention Greg Schiano when talking about the development of the playbook. Surely Schiano was all over the details, but perhaps the head coach didn’t take a dominant role in crafting the offense, other than making it clear he wants to pound the ball like teams did back in the 1970s.

Regardless, Sullivan might have the most pressure on him of any Buccaneer not named Freeman. On paper, the Bucs have a powerful, win-now offense. Sullivan needs to prove quickly that he’s an adept play-caller.

Pressed to chat about Josh Freeman’s mechanics today, Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan identified two things No. 5 is working hard on this offseason: keeping two hands on the football and making off-balance throws.

There may be more the Bucs are working on with Freeman, but Sullivan was quite confident Freeman is showing marked improvement in those two areas.

“Sometimes there’s that bad twitch of taking that hand off, but we’re really trying to reinforce that over the course of the spring,” Sullivan said. “It’s one of those details where it’s so critical that we maintain posession of the ball. It’s all about the ball. And so that’s something that we’re continuing to focus on and he’s shown great improvement in that regard this spring.”

Sullivan went on to say he’s drilling Freeman a lot on off-balance throws because “it’s rare that quarterbacks have time to set that nice five-step drop.”

On that note, Sullivan downplayed the concern that Freeman has been throwing too much off his back foot, saying game circumstances don’t often make that possible.

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Many Bucs fans might be concerned about Ronde Barber’s move to safety.

But laid back Bucs secondary coach Ron Cooper wants everyone to know it’s no big challenge for the Bucs icon. Cooper said today at One Buc Palace that Barber’s experience and professionalism make it a truly seamless transition.

“[Barber] understands. There’s only a few different coverages. People think it’s a lot and it’s difficult, but you know you can only run so many different coverages, ” Cooper said. “And, you know, after being in the league 15 seasons going on 16, he’s been playing DB all his life, there’s not many coverages to invent. But when I say ‘true professional,’ meaning being there and the way he carries himself, the way he takes notes, everything that he does is first class.”

“Being around Ronde has been a joy for me to watch a man work the way he’s worked.”

Among the intriguing position battles in preseason games, Joe’s really eager to see Barber play safety, especially on rushing downs. Joe suspects Bucs fans will see more of Barber in preseason than they have in a very long time.

Thursday was “Discovery” day in the case of Texas vs. Aqib Talib, and it seems Talib’s legal team wants a lot more information from the State in regards to Shannon Billings, the registered sex criminal who allegedly was harrassing Talib’s sister on the day Talib was accused of shooting at Billings while he fled from Talib’s sisters house.

If you remember the story from Billings to the Garland police, Billings said he managed to be running for his life at dusk fleeing Talib’s mother shooting at him but was able to glance over his shoulder in the frenetic scene and see Talib with a gun and know Aqib Talib, not his mother, was shooting at him.

Per a Motion For Evidence Favorable To The Defendant filed by Talib’s legal team, they are seeking the following from the State:

 1) The District Attorney file in the 1997 child sex assault case against Shannon Billings “for the development of impeachment evidence, including but not limited to witnesses to whom Billings has been untruthful. This would include investigating officers and the complainants in those cases.” Talib’s team states it wants data necessary to contact the complainants, “who will most certainly testify that Mr. Billings is not law abiding.”

2) The District Attorney file in a child sex assault case filed against Billings on 11/29/11, “which is subsequent” to Talib’s arrest.

3) The District Attorney file in a currently pending child sex assault case against Billings.

4) The District Attorney file, “including pictures, of the Assault Family Violence case involving Saran Talib. Defendant would also inspect the file for evidence of any sort of deal cut for Mr. Billings.”

It’s no surprise that Team Talib will come after the credibility of the prosecution’s star witness, Billings. How could they not?

Talib’s trial remains on the Dallas County docket for June 25.

One thing that’s not filled with uncertainty in the world of Aqib Talib is how his coaches feel about him.

Many weeks ago Greg Schiano was candid about how he wants Talib to be one of his Buccaneer men. And today, speaking to JoeBucsFan.com at One Buc Palace, Bucs secondary coach Ron Cooper was quick praise Talib as a model Buccaneer.

“I”m impressed with everything about him,” Cooper said. “He’s done everything that we’ve asked and I’m pleased with him. I like his attitude. The times I’ve been around him he’s done everything we’ve asked. I think he’s a solid person.”

Cooper went on to rave about Talib’s work ethic and how he practices “full speed.”

Of course, Talib’s future — personally and professionally — won’t be known for a few weeks after his pending trial in Texas. However, it’s at least clear — painfully clear for some — that the Bucs are eager to have him in the starting lineup on opening day.

Update: The luxury bus is staying for the postgame concert on June 17. We’ve had many sellouts this season, so don’t wait too long.

The sizzling Rays are back home next weekend, which means it’s time to have more fun going to Rays games and save money.

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Another great video churned out today on Buccaneers.com that doesn’t say much but offers a glimpse inside Greg Schiano’s world. Click the link to take a look.

Joe knows many fans will enjoy seeing Schiano give Quincy Black a tackling lesson. “Wrap and roll. Sweep the ankle.”

Also, the video offers a look into what appears to be Schiano’s office. For those Bucs-obsessed like Joe, it’s interesting to note Schiano doesn’t seem to have any photos around, there’s a big Rutgers logo on a notebook in the bookcase, and the coach — surprisingly — seems to have a messy desk. C’mon, Coach. “Details. Details.”

Some local slime stole thousands of dollars in football gear from a couple of Tampa youth football programs, and today the Bucs will cough up cash to help the many kids that would have been out of luck this summer without helmets and more.

The money will be presented by various Buccaneers this afternoon, per TBO.com.

Bucs players and cheerleaders will present checks for $7,500 to the Carrollwood Cardinals and $3,500 to the Highland Pines Cougars. …At 3 p.m. today, Bucs players Connor Barth and Adam Heyward will join cheerleaders at the Jackson Heights Youth Education Town Center in Tampa to present the donation to the Highland Pines Cougars. At 4 p.m., Dallas Clark, Gerald McCoy, Dekoda Watson and cheerleaders will present a check to the Carrollwood Cardinals.

Here’s the sad story of the theft in this Ch. 8 video below.

The Bucs have Brian Price, Gerald McCoy, Amobi Okoye, Gary Gibson, Frank Okam and Roy Miller on the roster.

More than likely the Bucs only will keep four of the defensive tackles. Five is a possibility given the fragility of Brian Price and Gerald McCoy.

So who goes?

Well, Pat Kirwan of NFL Radio, the former NFL scout, assistant coach and personnel executive, has many times said on the air recently that Miller is high on his list of players that will be targeted by other teams as September approaches.

In Kirwan’s mind, Miller has little chance now of landing a roster spot with the Bucs, barring an injury to someone else, and he’s got tremendous upside that could see the Bucs deal him for a late-round pick or have other teams pounce on Miller when he’s cut.

Of course, Bucs fans know Miller hasn’t done much, or been the player the team hoped it got in the third round of the 2009 draft. However, Miller was asked to fatten up in Jim Bates’ scheme, which didn’t work for him and other D-linemen. Then he did have an MCL tear last preseason that likely lingered for much of 2011. Also, former Bucs DE Steve White has shown Miller a little love in his regular breakdowns of Bucs defensive line play. So maybe Miller is primed to improve this season.

It’ll be interesting to see how Miller performs in his new longshot role, seemingly behind the more accomplished Okoye, and Gibson, Schiano’s old pal from Rutgers.

Joe would be very pleased to see rockstar general manager Mark Dominik score a sixth-round pick for Miller as final cuts loom in September.

For Joe, there are certain mysteries in the world that will forever go unanswered. One is why did Adolph Hitler declare war on the United States? Talking about biting off more than you can chew.

The other is why former Bucs offensive coordinator Greg Olson was so allergic to the run, even when you have a proven running back in the backfield and your young quarterback is struggling.

Well, those days are gone and Joe won’t have to wring his hands weekly over the Bucs not running the ball. Not with a run-first mentality from the New Schiano Order. Not with Doug Martin as a first round pick and not with studly offensive guard Carl Nicks now on the Bucs roster.

Nicks recently spoke about how good the Bucs running attack can be this season as he told Dave Schreiber of FoxSportFlorida.com.

“We have the personnel, we’ve got the beef and we’ve got the running backs for sure.”

His impressions so far of the ballcarriers? “They’re talented, and they all bring something different,” he said. “Blount, he’s going to run you over, and he may hurdle you. And he’s big. The rookies, they’re all fast, hungry and they all work really hard, so that’s really good.”

Damn, this gets Joe’s mouth watering for September. Joe can tell you one thing he saw in the Bucs OTAs and it was like a blast from the past.

In one play, the Bucs ran what surely appeared like the old Packers sweep made famous by Vince Lombardi. LeGarrette Blount took a handoff, ran left, and following the leading charge of pulling guard Davin Joseph, Jeremy Zuttah, Carl Nicks and Donald Penn, galloped down the left sideline.

Even though the Bucs were in underwear and there was no hitting on defense it was a beautiful sight and Joe got excited in a sensual sort of way at what might be this fall.

Bucs fans seem split as to who the Bucs should count as their No. 1 running back, LeGarrette Blount, who was slandered and thrown under the bus by the previous Bucs offensive coaching staff, or 2012 first round pick Doug Martin. “The Professor,” John Clayton, hopes to solve this riddle in this BSPN video.

The leader of the New Schiano Order carved out time from his daily 1440 recently to hang out with Tampa Tribune sports columnist/humorist Martin Fennelly. The result was Fennelly penning a very long column today with his various observations.

Below Joe has excerpted part of the segment on trust, one of Schiano’s core beliefs.

Trust – it’s the biggest thing.

“That to me is the hardest thing as a head coach and a staff to try to build with our players,” he said. “You may not like what we say but you’re going to get the truth. No shenanigans. We’re not going to say something, then do something else.

“Do they trust me yet? Not yet, not completely. I think, step by step, it’s like putting money in a bank account, it grows. The balance grows.”

The Bucs head coach says he gets it, the whole publicity thing, the media thing, the ticket-selling thing. We might get to know him, or might not, but if we do it will take a long time – and it will take trust. Translation: You might never see a Greg Schiano Bucs team on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”

“As far as the private part, I think the relationship between player and coach, it either grows or it gets ripped apart,” Schiano said. “If you have a relationship and all of a sudden the most intimate parts of that relationship become public, that makes it very hard for that relationship to grow. That’s why I’m very protective of relationships within the building.

“I understand, more than probably most coaches, that we’re entertainment. That’s what we are. I get that. Yet, as coach, that’s not where my focus is. My focus is to provide a vision, teach them the fundamentals and make sure we play with great effort. But at the end of the day, that’s not what the fans see, they see the entertainment part. That’s why I think if a player wants to be open about human interest stories, I think they’re great. That is what fans hook onto.”

Joe found the last sentence above very interesting, and Joe has to disagree with the coach. Joe’s of the mind that fans in 2012 are not craving human interest stories that don’t involve cheerleaders; they’re yearning to soak up as much real football as possible — from changes in drills to nuances of schemes to what a player’s read was on a particular play. Especially with the millions of fans trying to gain an edge in fantasy football.

There’s a reason BSPN and NFL Network are offering more and more film breakdown looks every season. And Joe knows how popular former Bucs defensive end Steve White’s Xs and Os analysis has been over the years.

Regardless, Joe hopes Schaino makes great strides in all phases, from trust to all the other stuff referenced in Fennelly’s column, during this week’s mandatory minicamp. After Thursday’s practice, his team will disappear until training camp opens in late July.

You remember Mossis Madu. He’s the speedy guy many Bucs fans yearned for last season after enduring far too much of Kregg Lumpkin.

Madu is a bit of a forgotten man since the Bucs drafted Doug Martin in the first-round and Utah State speedster Michael Smith in the seventh round during April’s NFL Draft. But Josh Freeman hasn’t counted out Madu. In fact, Freeman said Madu has been a standout during OTA practices, so he told Tampa Bay Times beat writer Stephen Holder yesterday.

“And one guy, Mossis Madu, that guy is shredding it right now. He is doing an awesome job. Our backfield is going to be great. I’m excited,” Freeman said.

It should be an interesting battle between Madu and Smith. Madu had eight carries for 25 yards last season against Carolina in December and drew hefty praise for that performance from former Buccaneer and current radio analyst Dave Moore. He also quietly caught 10 balls on the season.

Joe’s unsure of Madu’s abilities on special teams, which likely would be key to him beating out Smith for a roster spot.

Beer-guzzling, Jim-Bates-stalking, multimedia good guy Rock Riley takes command of the WDAE-AM 620 air chair this morning from 9 a.m. to noon. What a way to start your Sunday!

Rock will serve up all kinds of Bucs chatter — Joe will join him about 10 a.m. — and plenty of talk about the red hot Rays and more. So don’t forget to tune in as you stumble around this morning dreaming of the Bucs being a contender under the New Schiano Order.

Those chained to a computer can listen live at 620wdae.com.

In case you’ve been wondering how Raheem Morris is faring in Washington, three-time Pro Bowl cornerback D’Angelo Hall has weighed in on his new position coach.

Hall likes the vibe, so he told John Keim, of CBSSports.com.

New secondary coach Raheem Morris already has impacted his players in their short time together. Morris, Tampa Bay’s former coach, replaced Bob Slowik, who was moved to linebackers coach. CB DeAngelo Hall said Morris’ techniques and suggestions have helped the corners as well as the nickel corners.”I love coach Slow,” Hall said, “but Slow say it as a football coach. Raheem sees it as a player.”

It’s interesting that Raheem’s one-of-the-guys routine is inspiring a veteran entering his 10th season. Perhaps Raheem is a better fit for a team that isn’t so yungry. He is, after all, one of the shiny apples on the Jon Gruden coaching tree.

Joe has no doubt Raheem will make a positive impact on the Redskins’ secondary. Does that mean he’s a good head coach? No. Though he’s sure to get another shot in the coming years.