Monday evening after practice, Joe had a chance to touch base with Lakeland native and Bucs rookie safety Ahmad Black. Joe discussed a number of things with Black including how training camp has changed and how he is handling his cram session of learning an NFL defense.

JoeBucsFan: Now that you have been in an NFL camp for a little over a week, what is it like for you? Obviously, the wow-factor is past. I’m sure the shock of finally being in an NFL practice has worn off. Do you just treat practices now like you’ve got a regular job and going to work?

Ahmad Black: It’s just play ball now, it’s game week. I treat it like game week. Today was the first week of game week so we are getting the gameplan in and getting ready for Kansas City.

Joe: Since it’s game week, what are you doing different today that you or the team weren’t doing, say, two days ago?

Black: It’s a different attitude towards everything. You could be doing the exact same things but the way you approach things is different.

Joe: The players seem a little more intense than last week, is that one of the things you are saying that is a different approach?

Black: Yeah, this is where you fine tune everything to get ready for Kansas City. It’s game week. That’s what we are all out here to do: play in a game.

Joe: Has anything surprised you thus far in training camp that you didn’t expect?

Black: No, it’s pretty much everything I have expected. This is my job, I come out here to do the best I can.

Joe: Now that you have such a short window to get ready for the regular season as a rookie, there were no OTAs, no minicamps. Joe spoke with some offensive rookies and they told me how much the vets have taken them under their wings and have been really proactive about helping out the rookies to make sure they can help them get over that learning curve and try to make things easier if they can. Is it like that with the defense, are guys coming up to you to help out?

Black: Definitely. That’s exactly what is happening on defense, too. I try to ask the older guys a lot of questions to make sure I have everything down pat. They have been all really helpful.

The Bucs’ grand master plan seems to equate signing high-priced free agents to a shameful admission of failure.

Fans have heard the Bucs brass say numerous times that missing on a player in the draft means you admit defeat and fill the spot in free agency — or draft a replacement, as was the case with Barrett Ruud.

But the Bucs are eager to dabble in free agency when it comes to coaches, so says rockstar general manager Mark Dominik.

Speaking today to Steve Duemig on WDAE-AM 620, the rockstar talked about the exhaustive no-stone-unturned offseason search for the best available defensive line coaches and shared a story of Keith Millard and Grady Stretz bonding instantly.

When it came to new offensive line coach Pat Morris, Dominik said it was an easy call to hire the man that “has got the utmost respect in the National Football League.”.

“I think he was the highest paid offensive line coach in the league last year. And obviously, they made some changes at Minnesota, which made him available. And that was easy. That was a quick phone call,” Dominik said. “Let’s bring him in here because I think he can really help our squad. Those [other coaching searches] were exhaustive, but at the same point, we felt like we could upgrade our football team. It’s not just sometimes talent. It’s coaches, too.”

So it seems the Bucs have the highest paid O-line in the NFL and the highest paid O-line coach.

As for coaches getting paid, Joe can only imagine what Greg Olson will command if the Bucs have a top-10 offense this year. Joe’s pretty certain Olson’s contract is up after the season and the Bucs would be nuts to part with him if he has that kind of success.

Listening earlier today to the too-Jewish sounding “King David Show,” heard locally on WQYK-AM 1010, Joe had some knowledge dropped on him by the original Pewter fellow, Scott Reynolds.

The kingpin of the web-only Pewter Report had some very interesting observations and background for listeners. In discussing how he believes the Bucs sometimes fall in love with their draft picks a bit much and “force feed” them into the starting lineup before they are ready or perhaps before they are qualified, Reynolds brought up Sabby the Goat.

Drafted in the second round, it didn’t take long for Bucs fans to figure out that Sabby the Goat shouldn’t have been drafted at all. Starting 15 games in 2009, Sabby the Goat led the league in missed tackles.

Last Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik brought in Sean Jones to perhaps push Sabby the Goat to make him better and to compete for the starting job, in theory, Reynolds scoffed at this saying, “It was a sham competition. The coaches knew all along” that Jones would be the starter.

Now remember that last year when Jones was named the starter, Sabby the Goat — what do goats do? They don’t bark; they don’t growl; they don’t bray. — lashed out at Raheem Morris, claimed he was set up by the Bucs second-year coach and that the competition was not fair. Reynolds did not infer this at all, rather, Reynolds suggested that Jones was clearly the better player and that had Sabby the Goat started, it would have been an injustice.

This subject came up because Reynolds — much like Joe — is apprehensive about rookie Mason Foster, who has been a pro for all of about two weeks, currently listed atop the depth chart ahead of Tyrone McKenzie, like Foster, a former third round pick.

(To be honest, this scares the hell out of Joe.)

Reynolds, though he believes Foster will turn out to be a fine NFL middle linebacker, hopes Foster is not handed the starting job because of what he may be, but because he won the starting job in battle with McKenzie.

Joe agrees. It’s only fair and rightful.

Seeing LeGarrette Blount, Joe thinks the guy looks more fit and menacing than last year. Bigger up top, smaller in the waist, but still a manbeast all around.

Raheem Morris agrees with Joe’s assessment, so he told Steve Duemig on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday. The head coach says Blount is “rocked up” and nobody would believe his actual weight.

More important, Raheem was glowing about Blount’s work ethic and new-found awareness on third down.

“First off, it’s not really imperative that he stays on the field for three downs. But his want to and drive, that I’m really impressed with, him having the ability to come back and really lock in the protections, do a bunch of things right, really not have to start over from scratch again. He took some of that stuff and he worked on it, and came back and you can tell, Raheem said.

“You’ve seen his body change. He was already a physical specimen, but I’ve seen him get a little bit heavier, but rocked up. It’s a different heavy. If I told you how much he weighed, you’d go, ‘No way’ because he looks 230. He’s a manchild.

“He’s taken that and really got into his playbook in the offseason and studied it and just kept doing it over and over again. Whatever he took home with him, his notes or whatever it was. Him being around Josh [Freeman] has helped him out a bunch. So I’m really proud where he’s come back at and what he’s trying to do for his football team.”

Joe’s fired up to see Blount get an entire season as the No. 1 running back and mature into an all-around player. And, hopefully, Greg Olson will see fit to pound Blount a bit more on first down, which Olson seemed allergic to at times last year.

In that interview, Raheem also went on to say Blount’s situational football smarts are improving.  (Think short yardage in Atlanta.)

For Joe, watching Blount pound the rock and leap tall buildings in a single bound is priceless. Nothing would be better for the Bucs offense than Blount reaching a new level of greatness.

Every Bucs fan has heard the career numbers that follow around Ronde Barber: 40 interceptions and 26 sacks.

Nobody else that’s played the game has that combination. And he hasn’t missed a game since 1997.

Speaking on The Jim Rome Show yesterday, Barber said the sack total makes him most proud.

“If I can get more of either this year, I’d love to have four more sacks, get to a nice round number. A lot of people intercept the ball but very few get a chance to, at my position, to blitz the quarterback and have success at it,” Barber said. “You know, I enjoy it. I enjoy doing things other people don’t get to do or do well and I’ve made a career out of it. It’s going to define me when all is said and done.”

Barber went on to say sacks were easier earlier in his career when he came clean on his blitzes, almost unnoticed. Barber had 5 1/2 in 2000. But nowadays he said he blitzes and battles “amongst the trees” on the offensive line.

Other highlights from the interview:

On playing on the youngest team in the NFL: “They’re closer to my oldest daughter’s age than they are me. … I end up bringing myself down to their level. … Being able to relate to them is not as easy as it would seem. Outside of football, I don’t spend a lot of time with them to be honest with you. … I go in the lunchroom and it’s like, ‘Who do I sit with? The 22-year-old [players] or do I sit with the video guys that I’ve known for the last 14 years?'”

Barber explained that most of his teammates in training camp call him “Mr. Barber.”

On Josh Freeman, Barber said he’s definitely the “alpha male in the locker room” and lauded the quarterbacks natural leadership.

Like most members of the media as well as fans, when a player with a nasty health history like Brian Price is not seen on the practice field, people, naturally, are wont to jump to conclusions.

So when Bucs rookie defensive end Da’Quan Bowers was not seen in pads Monday, the first thing that popped into Joe’s head was “knee.”

No worries, all good, Bowers told a gaggle of reporters after Monday’s afternoon practice. Bowers simply had time to relax, approved time.

“I feel good, Coach [Raheem Morris] gave me the day off,” Bowers said. “I need to get my legs back. My first day of running was the first day of camp. I’ve been going pretty hard since so coach gave me the day off.”

There has been speculation that Bowers had been on a program where his practice time is regulated to save the wear and tear on his less than perfect knee. That’s not quite accurate Bowers explained.

“It depends on how i feel,” Bowers said. “If I tell them I am tired, Coach might tell me to take the day off. This is the first day that I have taken off. I have been going hard. I haven’t been left out of any contact, I haven’t been left out of any drills. It was Coach’s idea to take the day off. Who am I to argue?”

Bowers tried to quell any hint that his knee has been barking since he arrived at One Buc Palace.

“Once I finish for the day I ice it down and go about my business,” Bowers said. “There’s no soreness, no swelling, no anything.”

Even if Bowers wasn’t suited up, it didn’t mean he truly had the day off. Instead, he hung around his fellow defensive linemen and tried to soak in whatever advice the coaches were offering to his teammates.

“Any time I am not on the field I have to take a mental rep,” Bowers said. “Even when I am out there practicing, if I am not [in a drill] I watch my fellow teammates and watch what they do and see if I can help them. That’s how we help each other.”

In what has been a recurring theme in this Bucs training camp, it’s how the veterans, almost like fathers, have reached out and proactively become tutors for the rookies, knowing that the first-year pros are enduring a sharp if not cruel learning curve, having to master an NFL offense/defense in five weeks thanks to the asinine lockout that wiped out all offseason OTAs and minicamps.

For Bowers, his tutor of sorts is a guy who Bowers is trying unseat as a starter, Michael Bennett, who is currently listed on the depth chart as the starting left defensive end.

“Michael has been a great asset,” Bowers said. “He’s teaching me all I need to learn. He’s helping me out with my coverages and my defenses. He knows a lot. He’s a great [attribute] to the team.”

While Bowers admits he’s had a lot thrown at him in a small window, it could have been worse.

“Learning the defense hasn’t been easy but it hasn’t been as hard as I thought it would be,” Bowers said. “Having these great coaches and these guys on the defensive line, they have been cooperating and walking me through this process.”

Bowers wasn’t sure if he would play this Friday in the preseason opener at Kansas City, but he does plan on suiting up for the remaining three preseason games.

Derek “Old School” Fournier of WhatTheBuc.net details what he saw at the Bucs afternoon practice Monday.

To reinforce a couple of “Old School’s” items:

* Derek disagrees with Joe as to Josh Johnson’s performance. Joe was looking specifically at throwing accuracy and Johnson was accurate when Joe watched him. Derek was discussing his play-making decisions. Joe did see one play that backs up what Derek said. There was a play that Johnson threw into traffic over the middle and it was an incomplete pass. LeGarrette Blount ran a wheel route in the flat and headed toward the corner of the end zone and was wide open. He was visible frustrated that Johnson missed him.

* Josh Freeman was simply spectacular in the afternoon practice. Joe has never seen this kind of accuracy from a Bucs quarterback. More important, Freeman was putting balls where defenders had no chance of getting to the ball.

Joe doesn’t usually post after 11 p.m., but what the hell? It’s training camp and as Ahmad Black told Joe tonight, it’s game week.

Just a few brief thoughts on practice:

* Josh Johnson was pretty damned accurate. Later, Joe has a video from “Old School” who ripped Johnson for checking down way too much. Joe wasn’t looking for that. The plays Joe watched, Johnson was getting the ball right to where a receiver wants it.

* Joe noticed the following but read Shaun King Twitter this as well: Earnest Graham was “explosive.” King was right. Joe can’t remember the time Graham was running like this in practice much less a game. He really stood out.

* Kregg Lumpkin is getting a boatload of carries and is doing a decent job. Sadly, Joe kept mistaking him for Allen Bradford because Lumpkin had his jersey rolled up and Joe could only make out an “8.”

* Josh Freeman was sick today. Just sick. He was rifling balls through the defense, just carving up the defense at will. Not only was Freeman accurate, lethally so, he was putting the ball where defenders had no prayer of making a play. Joe has never seen a Bucs quarterback slice through a defense like Freeman did today.

It nearly took Joe’s breath away, but we all know only Rachel Watson could render Joe speechless.

Joe’s already smelling low expectations from some fans and media for the 2011 season.

Sorry, but Joe doesn’t play that game. Joe’s not in the corner where people sit around all giddy and hold hands and say the Bucs likely will and probably should take a small step backwards this season — all part of the grand plan to grow happily toward a Super Bowl contender.

Sadly, Joe thinks a lot of those folks are the ones sitting on the sidelines waiting to buy tickets when they perceive the team is really good.

Joe’s heard the attitude from sports radio callers, sports radio hosts, commenters here, and throughout Joe’s travels. Frankly, that’s not what the NFL is all about. You can’t go 10-6 with a young team and not demand at least as good or better the following year as a fan, an observer, or as a member of the organization.

This isn’t a Girl Scouts hopscotch tournament or some panzy youth soccer league where the result isn’t as important as progressing toward a goal and personal growth.

Joe’s not saying the Bucs missed the boat passing on free agents outside of a punter. Joe’s fine with the team plan, but winning has to be a part of it. It is, if you listen to the Bucs, and fans should join the team in demanding greatness.

What set Joe off was hearing esteemed columnist Gary Shelton of the St. Pete Times ask Raheem Morris today to open the coach’s news conference, “How does a team fight regression?”

Joe likes and respects Shelton — the two had some bonding time together this offseason — but what the hell kind of question is that? It’s almost ridiculous. Joe gives Shelton the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he was trying to bait Raheem into a unique answer. Raheem didn’t really answer and simply said everyone is hungry.

Joe’s hungry, too. For a team that’s better than last year’s.

Allegedly healthy manbeast-in-waiting Da’Quan Bowers, the man many say would have been the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft, might be playing behind Michael Bennett come opening day.

Perhaps it’s just Raheem Morris lighting a fire under Bowers, or there’s real concern about his health, or Bennett is just looking damn good, but the head coach said he sees Bennett deserving of the starting gig on the left side of the line.

Speaking today on The Steve Duemig Show on WDAE-AM 620, Raheem talked about the competition between Bowers and Bennett, the man former Bucs DE Steve White said was loaded with talent and wished he could coach up last year.

“Michael Bennett finished the season as our left end starter last year. And I believe he deserves the right to be there right now until it’s taken,” Raheem said. “I’m gonna make [Bowers] take it. You know, Adrian Clayborn has shown some stuff here practice where he’s the starting right end. And he’s got the ability to go out there and play those roles.

“I look forward to Michael Bennett and Da’Quan Bowers absolutely pushing each other to the limit.  As you know I’m going to make packages for them where they’re all going to play anyway. But I like the competitive edge of the two of them right now.”

Joe’s glad to hear Bennett is fired up and looking strong since returning with the rest of the free agent re-signees Thursday.

Bennett also showed ability rushing inside last year. Joe’s going to looking to see if he does any of that Friday night in Kansas City.

Walk into any watering hole in the Tampa Bay area and ask many of the patrons about the Bucs and more often than not, a Bucs fan will knock over their bottle of beer they are so animated with outrage over the Bucs only buying a punter to help their team.

The Bucs are wanting to go about things the Packers way, the Steelers way. And despite ample evidence this is the way to build a lasting winner, fans, at least Bucs fans, aren’t satisfied, seemingly.

Even today, with a preseason game just four days away, the Bucs are still being peppered with questions about sitting on their hands while other teams decided to go shopping.

Bucs coach Raheem Morris once again said today, it’s the draft where the Bucs will build, not a second-hand store, so writes eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune.

“When you mess up in the draft, you’ve got to go make it up in free agency,” Morris said, referring to last year’s disappointing sixth-round pick, punter Brent Bowden. “Last year, we made a mistake at punter, so we had to make it up in free agency. We wanted to sign (linebacker) Quincy Black, we wanted to sign (guard) Davin Joseph, we wanted to sign (linebacker) Adam Hayward.

“We’d like to sign all of our guys if we can, but unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way. We lost Barrett (Ruud) and we lost Cadillac (Williams). Those things happen.”

Joe is of the mind that it’s a confluence of influences why Bucs fans, seemingly, are so hostile to Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik building through the draft.

First, Chucky had the fans spoiled. He was like a junior grade Daniel Snyder. There wasn’t a free agent on the market he wasn’t interested in. Yet his shopping ways got him zero playoff wins since the glorious Super Bowl victory eight years ago.

Then there is the fantasy football mentality we live in. If someone isn’t a “name” player, he can’t be any good. Fantasy teams are drafted each year and rarely are rookies or unheard of free agents chosen. As usual, Joe’s concept of a fantasy is not football but Rachel Watson.

Lastly, we can blame this mentality on how the Bolshevik four-letter outfit has innocent American citizens hypnotized. Bucs fans want to hear the four-letter talking heads speak about the Bucs. Generally, the only way this happens is if something awful happens, or if the Bucs sign a free agent.

By not going after free agents means the Bucs are not talked about therefore, in fans’ minds, it can’t be good.

Trust Joe, if it’s not good for BSPN, it is a very good thing sports fans, and Bucs fans in the long run.

Much hand-wringing has taken place over the fact Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik has deemed a college outside linebacker from the PAC-10 can be a viable starting middle linebacker in the NFL after only being a pro for a handful of days, and the start of the regular season a month away.

This scares the hell out of Joe, but this move could be a pattern.

Many Bucs fans were so angry over Team Glazer, through Dominik, for only throwing cash at a punter, that said fans’ dogs were afraid to walk into the same room as their master for fear of getting kicked in the ribs.

These same fans went delirious with rage watching the Eagles sign virtually every warm body (Vince Young?!) available in order to buy a Super Bowl. Why, these same Bucs fans lost their minds so completely, they actually had the nerve to suggest on live radio no less that the Bucs should go after Braylon Edwards if you can imagine such a thing?

But lost in the hysteria over the Eagles throwing money around like Joe after Courtney the Bartender has served him multiple adult beverages was that the Eagles too plan on starting a rookie middle linebacker who hails from the PAC-10 in their march to a purchased Super Bowl.

No less an authority than the Eagles’ own official site, so documents Chris McPherson of PhiladelphiaEagles.com.

Matthews, the younger brother of Packers beastly middle linebacker Clay Matthews, was drafted in the third round just like Bucs projected rookie starting middle linebacker Mason Foster, only Foster was selected ahead of Matthews.

Could this be a growing trend of starting rookie middle linebackers? It’s very curious to Joe that a team that tried to go all Danny Snyder this season has chosen to leave such an important position to a rookie.

Bucs defensive tackles coach Keith Millard works with his pupils earlier this summer in training camp.

Of course Joe is geeked for football to begin now that the asinine lockout is an afterthought. Aside from the obvious — football — Joe is geeked to see the improvement of the defensive line.

Last year the Bucs defensive line was impotent in getting to the quarterback. It didn’t help that Gerald McCoy, once he started to turn the corner tore his biceps and was lost for the season and that Brian Price barely got his career started as he had hamstring muscles torn clear off the bone.

But Joe is geeked for another reason: Keith Millard takes over to coach up the Bucs defensive tackles. Millard, who was hand-picked by no less an authority than former Bucs great Warren Sapp, has already worked wonders with GMC in identifying why he didn’t succeed as well.

Millard is more excitable than the players, he has an effusive, burning passion for the game. Also, Millard told Joe himself that it’s just the little things that the defensive linemen need to improve to be successful.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune documented one of those little things. It seems Millard didn’t like how Bucs defensive linemen used “tilted” stances and instead, wants the Bucs to square up against opposing offensive lines.

Gerald McCoy, the Bucs second-year under tackle, is on board with that idea. Already, he said, he is noticing the benefits of the squared stance. He said the tilt stance loosened him up but the squared stance is more effective.

“I’ve been in the backfield a lot more (in practice) than I ever was before, because I’m right there on a guy at the snap and if he overreaches, it’s like, boom, I’m in the backfield,” he said.

“I don’t have to worry as much about being in my gap, because if I take a step and I’m already in the backfield, then they have to decide what to do with me and that’s disruption, and that’s what we want.”

Fellow first-year Bucs defensive line coach Grady Stretz told Cummings that a tilted stance sometimes would take a step and a half away from a defensive linemen.

No wonder the pass rush sucked so bad last year! If an offensive lineman can get at least a step advantage on the snap of the ball, he’s going to own any defensive lineman.

Just having Millard on staff alone should result in the Bucs having 10 more sacks next year.

Grand master of CommishOnline.com, Justin Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620, asked Raheem Morris to share all things Aqib Talib during a radio interview Saturday.

And the defensive mastermind/head coach was eager to serve up his take on Talib’s maturation process, even daring to compare him to Bucs icon Warren Sapp (Joe suspects Sapp might not like that).

“I don’t think people really know that Aqib is really somewhat of a leader for us in our locker room. And not so much of giving direction, but as an example-setter,” Raheem said. “Nobody plays as hard or studies as hard as an Aqib Talib. He learned it from one of the best.

“You know, he was a heavy student of Ronde Barber and how he carries himself in the building and how he portrays himself as a football player and what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. He lives, you know, pretty much under Ronde when he’s in this building. And he leads by example when it comes to pressing the buttons when it comes to one-on-ones, or pressing the buttons when it comes to team activities or practicing hard, or just giving all out effort. And sometimes his passion gets in the way of that and it gets him in trouble, both on and off the field.

“So, we’ve dealt with that and we’re going to continue to teach him. And hopefully he can grow up here soon and be that ultimate leader that you want him to be. You know, he’s very similar to [Warren] Sapp along those lines. When Sapp was young he had some issues and as he got older he matured and got a lot better. But they’re both great players and they have the ability to be great leaders.

Joe liked how Raheem said Talib’s “passion” gets him in trouble. Great word choice.

Joe can only hope Talib is able to focus his passion on doing right by the team that has stood by him unwaveringly.

Bucs offensive coordinator Greg Olson watches quarterback Josh Freeman on the first day of training camp this summer.

As Joe has documented, he was fortunate enough to watch the Bucs practice at The CITS from the sidelines. It gave Joe a chance to chat, albeit very briefly, with Bucs offensive coordinator Greg Olson as the fireworks were exploding overhead and Olson and the team had to hop on buses back to the team hotel. Olson was kind enough to give Joe a few moments of his time.

JoeBucsFan: How do you see the offense coming along? Obviously you are always looking to improve but now in your second full season as the Bucs offensive coordinator, without giving away any secrets, is there something you are surprised with that your offense is doing so well or are there areas of concern?

Greg Olson: For me, it’s the fact that we haven’t been able to get together over the summer, like the minicamps. We’re still trying to get in synch and get everyone on the same page. We’ve come a long way though but we still have a way to go. We still have four preseason games to get ready and we’ll be ready [for the regular season].

Joe: Has it been that much of a challenge for you as it has been for the players, that you only have five weeks to get ready for the regular season?

Olson: Yeah, but one thing about this group is that we are almost all returning starters for us so it’s just a matter of them getting used to playing with one another again and to know that the goals are going to be higher this year. They are a very hungry team. Last year we were very close to the playoffs and this year this group is very single-minded right now, looking forward to getting into the playoffs.

If you’re planning to head to Jacksonville to watch the Bucs play the stinkin’ Jags in December, keep reading.

Via Joe’s partners at Paradise Worldwide Transportation, Joe is chartering a 29-seat, chauffeured luxury bus to and from the game. There will be pickup/dropoff points in Cleawater and Tampa with secure parking that will be finalized this week.

The luxury bus has big comfortable seats (far better than Greyhound style) and you can bring along alcohol and food.

In a matter of days, Joe will be selling a roundtrip ticket on the luxury bus to Jacksonville for $59.00. It will not include a game ticket, and Joe is not doing a group ticket thing. There are plenty of game tickets available in Jacksonville, and Joe wants the average guy to be able to grab the bus and a cheap ticket outside the stadium, if he doesn’t buy one in advance.

Joe expects this trip to sell out quickly when it goes on sale right here later this week. Every last detail will be available at that time.

If you already know you want in, e-mail Joe with the subject line “Jacksonville.” — [email protected] — And Joe will e-mail you with a 24 hour heads up before the bus tickets go on sale.

The rolling taligate, as Joe likes to call it, will be a lot of fun. And you can expect a first-class trip from Paradise, which has run The Blackout Tour and the No Excuses Tour for Joe.

Joe kept busy during Saturday night’s Bucs practice by snapping photos with his modest SLR camera with, frankly, an insufficient lens for shooting football. Enjoy.

E.J. Biggers is ready to haul in a pass in defensive back drills.

Just like a good receiver would do, E.J. Biggers watched the ball into his hands.

Reporters listen intently to Bryan Glazer's words.

Aqib Talib goes high for a ball during defensive backs drills.

Jeff Carlson makes a point to Bryan Glazer during a panel discussion with, from left, Rock Reilly, Bucs radio analyst Dave Moore, Carlson and Glazer.

Lakeland's Ahmad Black gets acrobatic for a ball in defensive backs drills.

Pass receiving drills.

Bucs wait in the tunnel to take the field before practice.

Cody Grimm skies to reach a pass in defensive backs drills.

James Lee (77) keeps Da'Quan Bowers (91) away from Josh Johnson (11).

Jeff Faine waits in the tunnel to take the field.

Allen Bradford (38) is about to be gang-tackled by Adam Hayward (57), Quincy Black (58) and Corey Lynch. Just out of the frame to the left was Aqib Talib. Hayward splashed Bradford on this play causing a fumble and Talib couldn't quite grab the ball before it went out of bounds.

Ted Larsen gears up.

Wide receivers get ready to take the field as they wait in the tunnel before practice.

Donald Penn takes a break to watch the quarterback competition on the JumboTron.

The defensive line waits in the tunnel for their names to be announced just before practice.

E.J. Biggers wraps up in a defensive back drill.

Bryan Glazer listens to a question from Rock Reilly during a live TV interview.

Josh Johnson looks downfield while defensive tackle Frank Okam tries to elude a block.

Former Bucs cheerleader and new Bucs video host Tiffany Jimenez smiles for Joe as Joe's good friend Justin Pawlowski seems more impressed with what's happening on the field.

It’s a glass-half-full, glass-half-empty argument. The Bucs outplayed and beat the Saints last year in New Orleans with a slew of backups, rookies and little known players.

An optimist might say that shows how deep the Bucs are and how much better they’ll be with so many starters returning in 2011. But a pessimist might wonder whether the Bucs that beat the Saints are better — or at least more effective collectively — than the Bucs that missed that game. 

Defensive tackles Al Woods and Frank Okam were strong in New Orleans, and Alex Magee got a big sack, one of three for the Bucs that afternoon. Barrett Ruud called the shots in the middle while Adam Hayward and Dakoda Watson got a lot of snaps with Quincy Black on the shelf. Larry Asante intercepted Drew Brees, as the secondary covered the absences of Aqib Talib and Cody Grimm. Then there’s Derek Hardman, James Lee and Jeremy Zuttah. Add all those contributors together, and there’s 10 guys that might barely see the field for the Bucs on opening day against Detroit next month.

At the end of a loving Gary Shelton column today in the St. Pete Times about Ronde Barber, the Bucs icon made a strong point about the major loss of Ruud.

Barber pointed out the Bucs won’t be the same team that left the field in January, which got Joe thinking about how much change, in fact, will be in place in five weeks.

[Barber] on departed linebacker Barrett Ruud: “We have so many guys who are hungry. I know we have some huge shoes to fill to replace Barrett. I understand the business, but if we had to play a game right now, we’re not the same team we were on January in New Orleans just because he’s not there. We need a dominant (middle) linebacker to emerge in the next couple of weeks. You talk about underappreciated? Barrett was underappreciated.”

This is a big reason why Joe is chomping at the bit to see the Bucs in preseason action. There’s an awful lot to see come together, more than it might appear.