@jayRecher
10 Takeaways From Bucs Training Camp Today
- I know some people have complained about how Dirk Koetter has split up the QB reps but I think he’s done a phenomenal job. Every drill is different. Sometimes Jameis is with the 1's, other times he’s with the 2's or 3's. This can only help his rapport with all of the skill players up and down the depth chart.
- There’s been a lot of talk about the long passing game (Fitz hooked up with Evans on a nice TD today) but the short receptions will be crucial in getting this offense rolling. There seems to be a focus on that early in downs here in Camp.
- Three Anger punts were blasted into the roof here inside the indoor facility. Talk about hang time!! He’s been an unsung hero for this team the last few seasons.
- Chris Conte comes up with another pick, his second in as many days. He jumped a Fitz pass to D Jax and came down with the INT. The secondary was swarming ALL DAY today!
- Love the physicality of the two young rookies, MJ Stewart and Carlton Davis. Yesterday, Davis was very strong matching up against Mike Evans and you can see Stewart’s toughness in a battle with Justin Watson from today BELOW.
- You have to check out this play! Jameis takes off, fakes the handoff and then fires a lateral back to OJ. A little flag football action in the playbook Dirk?!?!
- A play after he threw a pick to Keith Tandy, Jameis scrambles in for the touchdown. We know Dirk isn't big on calling runs for Jameis that close to the end zone but I really think it can add another dimension to their goalline offense and help eliminate the possibility of red zone turnovers.
- I know there hasn’t been a game yet, and I don’t want to jinx it, but the kicking game has been solid so far in Camp. The last couple of years, every time someone lined up for a kick you were waiting for something to go wrong. It’s a different feel this year..... About sixty seconds after I wrote that, Catanzaro missed one from about 54 yards out. It didn't look great coming off the foot at all, but to his credit, he stepped right back up there and cranked one through from 54, and then later from about 44 to finish the session strong.
- The Bucs got a lot done in about an hour and ended practice without anyone really knowing, staff and media included.
- We were fortunate enough to see Bucs COO Brian Ford today as he came up to the media section to see if we needed any roster sheets. He told us about a man named Woody he helped sing Happy Birthday to moments before the practice started. Woody is 96 today and had a Bucs jersey with the number 96 on the back. Brian was elated. Mr. Ford is one of the best people I've met in my 13 years in Tampa Bay. He's a genuine individual who is the perfect person to represent this team and city. He always has a smile on his face and his positive energy is contagious.