QUESTION: Who’re your darkish horses to make the roster and possibly even some little splashes within the season?
ANSWER: I can perceive Bucs head coach Todd Bowles’ hesitancy with regards to saying which gamers appeared good and stood out through the OTAs and obligatory mini-camp. In spite of everything, practices within the NFL offseason are nearer to flag soccer than they’re actual soccer, which is a bodily, full-contact, collision sport performed in full pads. In fact that hasn’t stopped us from revealing which gamers have stood out – even in these watered down soccer situations – as a result of the workforce’s personnel division is evaluating the expertise always of the 12 months.
There have been loads of offseason studs which have did not ship as soon as the pads got here on, the physicality was ushered in and the video games have been performed beneath the lights within the preseason. Former Bucs vast receivers Kenny Bell and Jaelon Darden shortly come to thoughts. Each have been quick receivers who have been extremely onerous to cowl in helmets, jerseys and shorts with none contact. However when the pads come on they wilted in actual soccer situations and in the end didn’t final lengthy as Buccaneers.
Bucs CBs Ayden Garnes and Benjamin Morrison – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
I do know there was loads of buzz surrounding undrafted free agent cornerback Ayden Garnes, who has impressed this offseason with some actual sticky protection and the power to deflect passes. He’s lucky that there aren’t any robust candidates for CB4 proper now on the depth chart after Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison.
We’ll see how he fares in coaching camp when the pads come on and the way bodily he’s. Tackling is a large a part of enjoying cornerback and that’s one thing he’ll need to show he can do to stay round. However Garnes took full benefit of the additional reps resulting from Morrison’s hamstring during the last three practices earlier than summer time break.
On offense, the Bucs are interested in undrafted free agent vast receiver Eric Rivers, who missed a while through the OTAs with a hamstring damage. Rivers is the quickest receiver with 4.35 velocity, and that’s one thing the receiver room lacks proper now – an actual burner – regardless of having tons of expertise. The Bucs have all the time appreciated to have a receiver with the velocity to go deep and stretch the protection – assume Scotty Miller and Trey Palmer from yesteryear. So we’ll see if Rivers can step up and keep wholesome throughout camp and the preseason.
Bucs OLB David Walker and QB Jalon Daniels – Photographs by: Cliff Welch/PR
One other darkish horse to keep watch over is undrafted free agent quarterback Jalon Daniels, who together with second-year exterior linebacker David Walker will probably be featured in Pewter Report’s Camp Diary collection later this summer time. I don’t assume veteran backup Jake Browning feels threatened for the QB2 job proper now, however Tampa Bay completely loves the potential of the previous Kansas QB, who has a reside arm and 4.65 velocity as a scrambler.
If Daniels impresses in camp and makes loads of performs within the preseason, he may power his means on to the roster as a developmental QB slightly than simply being on the apply squad in that position. However first he’ll need to tackle Connor Bazelak and show he’s worthy of sticking round Tampa Bay.
QUESTION: Hey SR, all the time take pleasure in your content material. In listening to your “Day 2 Mini-Camp” overview podcast, and evaluating your feedback from the “realistic expectations” episode just some days earlier, is it simply me or does it sound as should you’re quietly elevating the expectations bar for this workforce?
ANSWER: Sure, I believe that’s truthful to say. I’ve gone on document saying that the expertise on this 12 months’s Bucs workforce is considerably higher than it has been over the previous couple of seasons and I imagine Tampa Bay is probably the most gifted workforce within the NFC South and may win the division. I wrote that in a latest SR’s FAB 5 column this offseason.
Nonetheless, in that real looking expectations episode of the Pewter Report Podcast, I stated that the Bucs have but to win greater than 10 video games beneath Todd Bowles, and till they really obtain that, it’s going to be onerous for me to imagine Tampa Bay can get to 11, 12 or 13 wins – even with a extra gifted roster this season. The reason being that this workforce has had not less than a three-game shedding streak in every of the 4 seasons beneath Bowles courting again to 2022, and has had a four-game shedding streak in every of the previous three seasons.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
So for me the real looking expectation is not less than 10 wins this 12 months, and it really must be extra with this extra gifted model of the Buccaneers. I’m a extremely large fan of loads of the strikes that Bowles and normal supervisor Jason Licht made this offseason from a personnel standpoint and even shaking up the teaching workers.
Bowles simply has to determine a solution to win each winnable recreation and eradicate the “stub your toe” video games in opposition to lesser opponents. For instance, the Bucs had no enterprise shedding at house to a three-win Saints workforce final December. There’s no disgrace in shedding to playoff-caliber groups like Buffalo and the Los Angeles Rams, particularly with Tampa Bay scoring wins over San Francisco and eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Seattle.
At this level, I believe not less than 10 wins must be the expectation for Bowles and the Bucs this 12 months. Had Tampa Bay swept New Orleans and Atlanta that’s the variety of wins the Bucs would have had final 12 months. They have been extremely near 10 wins even with all of the accidents and much much less expertise on protection.
QUESTION: Is there an opportunity the Bucs usher in Cam Gill from the UFL? He was the Defensive Participant of the 12 months and was with us in 2020. He actually has produced within the UFL and I’d like to see him get a shot on squad once more.
ANSWER: In a distinct 12 months I may possibly see that. However not this 12 months – not after the workforce signed Al-Quadin Muhammad in free company, drafted Rueben Bain Jr. within the first spherical and is getting David Walker again from injured reserve. In a single offseason, the Bucs have fully turned the surface linebacker room from a weak point to a perceived energy. I believe Bain has star potential.
With all of those new additions on the prime of the depth chart it’s going to be very troublesome for Chris Braswell, who was OLB4 final 12 months and a former second-round choose, to even make the workforce this 12 months. And veteran Anthony Nelson, who was OLB3 on the depth chart final 12 months behind Yaya Diaby and Haason Reddick, will seemingly be OLB5 this 12 months.
Former Bucs OLB Cam Gill – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Cam Gill was signed by the Bucs out of Wagner as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and he was on the workforce for 4 years as a depth piece. Tampa Bay obtained fairly an extended take a look at him, however he in the end didn’t make the workforce following the 2023 season. And whereas he recorded 10 sacks within the UFL was fairly an accomplishment this 12 months, it’s a decrease stage of soccer and can be onerous to copy that stage of success within the NFL.
Gill can also be undersized at 6-foot2, 232 kilos. He’s constructed extra like Reddick, and Todd Bowles wished to get greater this offseason. Muhammad is 2 inches taller and 15 kilos greater than Reddick, and Bain is about 30 kilos greater as properly. If the Bucs have been really determined for go rushers I may see the workforce being , however not with the present items on the depth chart.
And the excitement is again concerning Walker, as properly. He had an extremely robust end to the offseason program and two implausible practices within the mini-camp. Walker will duke it out with Muhammad for the best to be OLB3 this 12 months – the primary edge rusher off the bench.
QUESTION: With loopy depth and expertise at vast receiver, will Zac Robinson dial again the 12 personnel utilization? Final 12 months appeared like a little bit of an anomaly as he hadn’t used it that a lot earlier than.
ANSWER: Sure, I agree. I believe Zac Robinson leaned into heavy 12 personnel (two tight finish units) utilization in Atlanta final 12 months out of necessity slightly than out of want to make use of it. Prime receiver Drake London missed 5 video games in direction of the tip of the season and the Falcons didn’t actually have a deep receiving corps. Tight finish Kyle Pitts was closely concerned within the passing recreation and functioned extra like a receiver than a good finish on the finish of the 12 months, particularly in opposition to Tampa Bay when he hauled in three landing receptions in a 29-28 win on Thursday Evening Soccer.
Bucs OC Zac Robinson – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Robinson’s receiver room is flush with expertise in Tampa Bay, so I count on him to play to that energy this 12 months. He’ll go from being the second-most 12 personnel play-caller to most likely one of many prime 11 personnel (three receiver units) customers this season with the Bucs. Tampa Bay is a legit 5 deep at vast receiver with Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan, rookie Ted Hurst and Tez Johnson, and even among the depth items can actually play, too.
Now that gained’t stop Robinson from calling some performs that deploy 12 personnel. It’s going to be primarily based on matchups and attacking opponents’ weaknesses. So if a workforce isn’t large up entrance and doesn’t do job of stopping the run, Robinson may be inclined to make use of 12 personnel and hammer the ball on the bottom if that’s the perfect technique.
Tampa Bay additionally has a robust working again room that’s three deep with Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker. The Bucs are additionally anticipated to make use of extra of the 21 personnel (two working again units) Pony package deal that former offensive coordinator Liam Coen utilized in 2024. Robinson and Coen are finest associates and deploying extra Pony package deal has already been talked about between the play-callers this offseason.
QUESTION: What do gamers do between mini-camp and coaching camp? Are gamers required to trace their weight, meals and actions each day?
ANSWER: No, the Bucs gamers are on trip till they report for coaching camp on Tuesday, July 27 and aren’t obligated to do something team-related till then. Any weigh-ins will occur when the gamers after coaching camp. Now some gamers will elect to remain in Tampa for the summer time and proceed to work out on the workforce facility, and that’s their prerogative.
There’s been some discuss that Baker Mayfield will manage a couple of throwing periods with the vast receivers, tight ends and working backs which might be round city this summer time. However in any other case, the gamers will spend time with their family and friends and doing a little touring over the six weeks between mini-camp and the beginning of coaching camp.
Talking of summer time break, there are loads of Bucs questions that want solutions over the approaching weeks earlier than coaching camp and the beginning of the season – questions on Baker Mayfield, Vita Vea, the Bucs Ring of Honor, the Buccaneers uniforms and even Gene Deckerhoff. Take a look at my ideas on these matters and what I believe may occur in a brand new Pewter Pulse video on our PewterReportTV YouTube channel.
