TAMPA — Four practices into training camp, the Bucs have logged tons of 11-on-11 reps, developed some clairvoyance in each position group and acclimated themselves to the central Florida humidity.
No matter. For all practical intents, camp commences Monday.
The Bucs will slip on full pads for the first time, marking the initial test of fortitude and formidability in the trenches. To this point, 11-on-11 work has been essentially non-contact, with a defensive player getting his hands on a receiver or ballcarrier being considered a “tackle.”
“It definitely ramps up,” third-year right tackle Luke Goedeke said. “We’re always practicing at a fast speed regardless, but yes, as you get more and more in pads, from spiders to shells to full pads, the intensity and speed only continues to increase. And it presents new challenges and everything.”
Coach Todd Bowles said his focus Monday will be on how his players execute “fundamentals and technique” in the most physically demanding workout to date.
“It’s the first day in pads, it’s going to be hot,” he said. “They’ve been practicing for a while, their legs are going to be gone. We’ve got to harp on the fundamentals and technique for them to get better and do things the right way.”
Monday’s session, which starts at 8:30 a.m., is open to Krewe members. A digital ticket, available via the Ticketmaster account manager, will be required for entry to all practice sessions. More information can be found here.
Precision in red-zone period
While deriving any conclusions from Day 4 of training camp can be risky, the first-team offense did sparkle in its initial 11-on-11 red-zone period against the first-team defense Sunday.
Baker Mayfield went 3-for-4 in the opening session, connecting twice in a row with Chris Godwin — once over the middle, once in the corner — for touchdowns before finding Mike Evans deep in the right corner for another TD.
Godwin has drawn praise early on for how comfortable and crisp he looks in his return to a traditional slot-receiver role.
“Obviously, it’s practice,” Bowles said. “Last year, him and Mike were two go-to guys. Mike made a lot of plays, they took Chris away some, so this year hopefully we’re trying to get both in the end zone. He had some good plays (Sunday).”
Corners come up with picks
Projected starting cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum both intercepted Mayfield — Dean’s pick came on on a deflected pass — during 11-on-11 work, which may not seem terribly significant on Day 4 unless one considers the premium defensive coaches are placing on splash plays in 2024.
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Explore all your optionsThe Bucs got five total interceptions from starting corners Carlton Davis (now with the Lions) and Dean the over the last two seasons combined. Dean hasn’t had an interception since picking off Jameis Winston twice in a Week 2 win at New Orleans in 2022. McCollum, who has appeared in 30 games the last two seasons, still is seeking his first NFL pick.
“We’ll get Dean drug-tested, because he usually doesn’t catch ‘em,” Bowles joked after Sunday’s practice.
“We’re going to see if he’s been on that stuff or not. But other than that, (Dean and McCollum) are concentrating more and understanding where their help is. They came back in good shape, and they’re kind of talking to each other after every play about what they see, and the communication’s been good.”
Odds and ends
Veteran edge rusher Randy Gregory, who signed a one-year deal with the Bucs in April, remains a no-show at practice and remains on the reserve/did not report list. ... Backup quarterback Kyle Trask’s first pass of 11-on-11 red-zone work was picked off by SirVocea Dennis. ... Second-year defensive tackle Calijah Kancey on the chemistry between him and veteran nose tackle Vita Vea: “There’s no ceiling for the two of us and also, like, the team. As far as us two, we’ve got a year down in our books, and we know how each other plays and we know how to feed off each other. If I need to give more, he’ll tell me, and if he needs to give more, I’ll tell him.” ... Though Zach Triner has been a mainstay at long snapper the last five seasons, Bowles said a competition exists between Triner and former Duke long snapper Evan Deckers.
Audible
“He’s definitely taken a tremendous jump. Me and Tristan (Wirfs) talked about it. Just the physical traits he possesses and the difficulty he’s going to give tackles in the whole National Football League, it will be interesting to see. ... I would say he’s a faster and twitchier version of (eight-time Saints Pro Bowler) Cam Jordan.” — right tackle Luke Goedeke on second-year edge rusher Yaya Diaby, whose 7-1/2 sacks as a rookie led the 2023 team
Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls
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