If you pay close enough attention (or even if you didn’t) you can pick up a lot from the Tampa Bucs Mini Camp. Here’s what I’ve gathered.
Camp atmosphere is more relaxed-
When practice was over, break time was called. Players SPRINTED to the water cooler, because thats how it was under former HC Greg Schiano. So while Lovie Smith told them to relax, that was just one big difference that showed during camp.
Things are back to normal, and Tony Dungy is actually on the sideline offering up some coaching when asked. Dungy was the king of preparation. Schiano preached accountability, but as we saw from game one last year, and the rest of the season, the Bucs were NOT prepared or accountable for their actions.
QB is a position of stark contrast to last year-
One year ago we were asking whats wrong with Josh Freeman, and Fran Tarkenton was trying to tell us. It didn’t take long to see the problem, and since then two other teams have asked the same question. This year, the Bucs will open with one clear QB, Josh McCown, getting all the No.1 reps. Opening Day should not be a hot mess like it was last season.
Carl Nicks is still a mystery- Though it sounds like everyone is expecting Nicks to be ready for Camp next month, most people refuse to bet their house on it. Word is rookie Kadeem Edwards is a name you will hear for some time.
2014 could be the year the Bucs become an offense team-
What type of offense are the Bucs going to run under new OC Tedford? Few know for sure, the media are holding it back as requested by Lovie Smith. But some have said, we could need some serious records analysts because we may be breaking offensive records in droves next year. The Bucs sound modest, but some analyst like Pewter Report and JoeBucsFan have said it could be quite innovative. Should the Bucs come out and surprise the NFL like gangbusters, that could include a win over the Panthers Falcons and Saints, whom the Bucs all play in the first 5 games of the season.
Bucs have the players to re-ignite the “Tampa Two”-
- Warren Sapp-Gerald McCoy
- Derrick Brooks- Lavonte David
- Dashon Goldson to John Lynch
Now the Bucs will try to match Shelton Quarles to Mason Foster, Mark Barron to Dexter Jackson. Then theres the new-comers; Will Michael Johnson be Simeon Rice? Can Banks and Verner become Barber and Kelly? Which left defensive end will become “The Crane” Spires?? We’ll see, but if the coaching is anything like it was under Tony Dungy, bet your money on YES.
Blackouts are a thing of the past-
The economy has recovered quite a bit, but more importantly, the Bucs have been losing for so long, that the return of the Dungy tree has the fan base energized like it hasn’t been since the early 2000’s. Training camp has more PM games than ever, meaning fans can go see practices after work. Back in the days of Camp at University of Tampa, I remember going to night practices where full crowds greeted the Bucs. Sure some got rained out, mental indoor reps ensued.
Single tickets are gone for the Packers game. Expect every game to be on TV this year too, but the Glazers won’t have to buy any tickets. Tampa Bay has the 85% variance, so a full sellout is not required for blackout prevention.
No team has won the NFC South two years in a row. The Saints showed they are human last year, and the Falcons Took a major turn for the worst in 2013. The South is ripe for the Bucs to rise and take over.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
