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With heavy rain throughout the Tampa Bay space early Sunday morning, Day 4 of Bucs coaching camp shifted to the indoor apply facility on the AdventHealth Coaching Middle.
Tampa Bay was in shells for Sunday’s apply forward of Monday’s absolutely padded apply – the group’s first of camp.
So with apply indoors and protected from the weather, did that favor the Bucs offense? Not precisely. Todd Bowles’ protection was everywhere in the offense for a lot of the morning, successful the day in a giant method.
Pewter Report was available for all of the motion at One Buc Place. Listed here are the massive observations and takeaways from Day 4.
Bucs Protection Wins Sunday With Sacks, INTs
After Baker Mayfield had a very spectacular apply Friday, it appeared as if the Bucs protection regrouped throughout the group’s day without work on Saturday. As a result of Sunday largely belonged to that facet of the ball.
It felt like there was a concerted effort from offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to air it out a little bit extra on Sunday and take some deep photographs down the sector. Nevertheless, no matter he was seeking to accomplish in that division fell flat as Mayfield and the Tampa Bay quarterbacks couldn’t join on something deep, nor may they escape the strain that the protection was bringing.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay acquired would-be sacks from seemingly everybody. David Walker had an particularly massive day, whereas Rueben Bain Jr., Yaya Diaby, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Chris Braswell all made performs within the backfield as effectively. Even on a few of the accomplished passes early in 11-on-11s, the Bucs protection would’ve had sacks to finish these performs effectively earlier than they changed into something for the offense.
It wasn’t simply the sacks that gained the day for the Buccaneer protection. Tampa Bay’s secondary additionally got here up with a number of cross breakups after which stole the present with two interceptions. On one Mayfield deep ball supposed for Jalen McMillan, security Antoine Winfield Jr. went up and gained the 1-on-1 battle, taking the ball away for a formidable interception.
Not lengthy after, Yasir Holmes pressured Jake Browning right into a poor throw proper into the ready palms of newly signed security Ifeatu Melifonwu. Melifonwu had a formidable sort out for loss earlier in apply, too, and this simple interception added to what felt a little bit like his coming-out occasion as a Buccaneer.
Unsung Coaching Camp Stars Start To Emerge?
Each August, coaching camp and preseason stars emerge. These aren’t your on a regular basis, big-name stars. Some could also be undrafted rookies, whereas others could also be veteran journeymen.
Granted, the Bucs are solely 4 practices into camp and have but to placed on full pads. However that they had one undrafted rookie and one veteran actually stand out Sunday. So maybe Tampa Bay is beginning to see a few of its potential 2026 camp/preseason stars emerge.
By way of a standout undrafted rookie, the Bucs noticed inside linebacker Caden Fordham put collectively a formidable apply. There have been fairly just a few totally different seems all through the morning when it comes to some second- and third-team defenders mixing in with the starters in opposition to the beginning offense, and that’s the place Fordham shined.
Bucs ILB Caden Fordham – Photograph by: IMAGN Photos – Jaylynn Nash
The rookie out of North Carolina State made his largest performs of the day in fast succession throughout a crimson zone interval. On one, he got here flying into the backfield for what would’ve been a sack of quarterback Baker Mayfield. Quickly after, Mayfield had Chris Godwin Jr. open for a landing proper on the aim line, however Fordham got here from out of nowhere to knock the ball away for a formidable cross breakup.
Tampa Bay has Alex Anzalone, Josiah Trotter, SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom main the way in which at inside linebacker, so it may be robust for Fordham to crack the 53-man roster out of coaching camp. Nevertheless, he ought to get a number of taking part in time within the preseason and will flip into the kind of standout performer that the Bucs wish to preserve round on the apply squad. It occurred with two undrafted rookie linebackers final yr in Nick Jackson and John Bullock, and it may occur once more right here with Fordham.
So far as the standout veteran from Sunday’s apply, he got here from the opposite facet of the soccer. That was 30-year-old huge receiver David Sills V, who’s off to an excellent begin in camp to this point. He had three touchdowns Sunday morning, with one approaching a crosser over the center of the sector that led to a protracted catch and run and the opposite two coming within the crimson zone interval. He has confirmed to have a robust connection already with backup quarterback Jake Browning, and with Tampa Bay’s high receivers unlikely to see a lot time in exhibition play – if any – Sills might be a giant issue.
Bucs WR David Sills V – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Sills, who’s on his fifth group since 2019, is seeking to seize the ultimate receiver spot on the 53-man roster. It’ll be robust sledding, contemplating Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson and Ted Hurst already make up 1-5 and Kam Johnson has the within observe to be the No. 6 given his particular groups position.
But when Sills continues to star in camp, he’s one other apply squad candidate, particularly given his expertise in Zac Robinson’s system and the affect he can have on a younger receiver room.
Different Observations And Takeaways From Day 4 Of Bucs Camp
Listed here are some quick-hitting observations and takeaways from a wet Sunday at One Buc Place:
Veteran security/particular groups ace Miles Killebrew, who’s coming off a season-ending knee harm from a yr in the past at 33 years outdated, acquired a veteran day without work Sunday, head coach Todd Bowles mentioned. The truth that the group practiced inside on the turf contributed to that call, too.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and S Miles Killebrew – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Vita Vea remained sidelined for Sunday’s apply, however was in attendance as soon as once more. Tristan Wirfs ultimately made his option to the indoor apply facility to observe the latter levels of apply, too. Bowles had no updates on both of his injured stars after apply.
When the Bucs labored by way of one in all their particular groups intervals, second-year cornerbacks Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison went exterior to undergo some extra particular person drills.
SirVocea Dennis performed tight protection on Cade Otton for a cross breakup in 11-on-11s, then Damarion Williams got here up with a cross breakup of his personal on Emeka Egbuka shortly after. Josh Hayes then acquired in on the motion with a near-interception after stepping in entrance of a Jake Browning cross supposed for Ted Hurst.
Williams had one other cross breakup earlier in apply, knocking a deep Baker Mayfield cross away from Jalen McMillan for an incompletion.
Baker Mayfield and the opposite Buccaneer quarterbacks couldn’t get the deep ball going in anyway in Sunday’s apply.
With that mentioned, each Mayfield and backup Jake Browning have been efficient down low within the crimson zone interval.
The Bucs will return to the apply fields Monday morning for his or her first absolutely padded apply of camp.
