Your in your brand new 2012 Ford Mustang with a 5.0 and your at a red light. You look over and you see a car you have no clue what make or model it is, save from the Chevy stickers that are faded on the windows, and the primer grey color that sort of has the car resembling one solid color. The light turns green, and the car that looks like its held together by duct tape and string blows your doors off.
That is what is known as a sleeper, and this time of year, every team in training camp has a few of them. They aren’t well known, you may not have even heard of them, but the starters better look out, because they are going to steal some reps, and a few positions too!
Jacob Curera- Linebacker: Officially listed as the backup to Lavonte David, Cutrera has been great in practice on pass defense. He has surprisingly quick side to side moves, and gets to the sidelines with amazing speed as well as having solid coverage.
Signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent in 2010, he played college ball at Louisiana State. The Bucs signed him last October off the Jaguars practice squad, he is going into his first Tampa Bay training camp.
Leonard Johnson- Cornerback: Former Largo and Iowa St. corner came to the Bucs as a rookie free agent, but that hasn’t stopped him from making a show during practices. But for the time being Johnson is making his name heard at camp, along with some other sounds like crack, bam, and BOOM! He has been a ‘John Lynch’ at corner kind of guy, laying out anyone he can, whenever he can. For a team that was never really accused of playing too physical a brand of defense last year, it’s a breath of fresh air to Bucs defensive coaches.
Tiquan Underwood- Wide Receiver: Simply put, Underwood makes plays just about every practice. On a team where a top WR was recently cut, he is pushing the envelope, as well as the more veteran Wide Outs for the teams No. 3 or 4 spot.
Last week he hauls in a deep pass, and gets nailed by safety Ahmad Black, yet hangs onto the ball. Each year you hear about a WR who is impressing the coaches, like Preston Parker. Don’t be surprised as Underwood’s name is still being mentioned after the first rounds of cuts.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
