Tag: buccaneers training camp

Gil Brandt says the Bucs have one of the best offensive-defensive duos in the NFL

See which two Buccaneers players Gil Brandt named to his list of the top 10 offensive-defensive duos in the NFL in 2020.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers know that this is the year to make a run at a championship. With 43-year-old quarterback Tom Brady still winning his battle against Father Time, the Bucs have to like their chances of getting back to the postseason for the first time since 2007.

And unlike last year when Brady struggled to find offensive weapons in New England, he’ll have a plethora of talent on the Bucs roster in 2020, headlined by Pro Bowl receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as tight end Rob Gronkowski.

But the Bucs defense is also expected to turn some heads this year, especially after finishing last year with the top rush defense. The addition of safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and continued maturation of linebacker Devin White should make Todd Bowles’ defense one of the top units in the league. And leading that group will be the old guy, himself, linebacker Lavonte David, who is entering his ninth season.

Gil Brandt over at NFL.com had David and Mike Evans at No. 6 on his list of the top 10 offensive-defensive duos in the NFL in 2020.

Per Brandt:

“Not since Randy Moss has Tom Brady played with a receiving target who possessed the size-skill ratio of the 6-foot-5, 231-pound Evans, who has topped 1,000 yards in each of his six NFL seasons to date. David is a former two-star high school recruit who has since proven himself to be a five-star talent, accumulating 1,008 tackles in eight seasons. He’s been incredibly reliable as a pro, missing just seven games thus far while switching between five different coordinators (including interim Mark Duffner in 2018).”

I love that David is finally getting some recognition after years of being overlooked. Evans should have another big season with Brady under center. Another 1,000-yard receiving year would make it seven-straight for Evans to begin his career, breaking his tie with Randy Moss for most all-time.

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How you can still experience Buccaneers training camp during COVID-19

Find out how you can tune in to watch the Buccaneers at training camp this year.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have begun training camp, and despite the heralded arrival of Tom Brady, the global coronavirus pandemic has made this offseason and subsequent camp one of the most unusual ever.

With preseason games cancelled and the league taking things day by day, it might be hard for fans to stay excited. Fortunately, the Buccaneers have found a way to let fans experience training camp without having to attend in person.

Fans can tune in to Training Camp Live with the Bucs starting on August 17 when they begin padded practices.

Check out the schedule for Training Camp Live and how to tune in below:

Live Programming: Catch a live update show each day of padded practices on Buccaneers.com, the official app, Facebook and YouTube.

-Bucs Training Camp Live Schedule

  • Day 1: Aug. 17 9 a.m.
  • Day 2: Aug. 18 9 a.m.
  • Day 3: Aug. 19 9 a.m.
  • Day 4: Aug. 20 9 a.m.
  • Day 5: Aug. 21 9 a.m.
  • Day 6: Aug. 23 9 a.m.
  • Day 7: Aug. 24 9 a.m.
  • Day 8: Aug. 25 9 a.m.
  • Day 9: Aug. 26 9 a.m.
  • Day 10: Aug. 27 9 a.m.
  • Day 11: Aug. 28 9 a.m.
  • Day 12: Aug. 30 9 a.m.
  • Day 13: Aug. 31 9 a.m.
  • Day 14: Sept. 1 9 a.m.

*Information courtesy of Buccaneers.com.

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Watch Mike Evans, other veterans roll into training camp to get tested

Buccaneers veterans returned to Tampa today to begin the process of getting tested for COVID-19 ahead of training camp.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reporting to the team facility today to be tested for COVID-19 ahead of training camp.

Tom Brady recently got tested and was given the all-clear to enter the facility, but for other veterans, today was the day to head back to camp to get the process underway.

Take a look at some Bucs players returning today.

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Tom Brady (and his watch) are ready for the next chapter

Bucs QB Tom Brady took to Instagram today to show his excitement for the start of his Tampa Bay career.

While training camp is set to get underway next week for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, today is the day rookies and quarterbacks will report, which means Tom Brady’s career in Tampa will officially be underway.

The future Hall of Famer is looking to prove doubters wrong this season, and show that he can win without mastermind Bill Belichick on the sidelines. Brady seems ready for the challenge, as he’s been putting in countless hours over the past few months working out at a local Tampa prep school with some of his teammates.

Today, Brady took to Instagram to show off his excitement for the next chapter in his career.

Take a look.

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5 Bucs players hurt most by no preseason games

With the NFL cancelling all preseason games, find out which Buccaneers players are hurt most by this.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to kick off training camp next, and for the first time in ages there is genuine excitement and expectations for this team heading into the regular season.

The signing of Tom Brady will easily go down as the greatest free agent signing in franchise history, but Brady’s six Super Bowl rings and three regular season MVPs are part of the New England Patriots’ legacy, not the Bucs’. Hopefully, though, Brady can help bring respectability and stability back to this Tampa Bay franchise.

But the craziness of the 2020 offseason also included something no one saw coming: a global pandemic.

The coronavirus shut down team facilities this offseason and the NFL has decided to cancel all preseason games in an attempt to combat the spread of the disease and keep the regular season on track.

A lack of preseason games could hurt several players looking to get some on-field reps in before the season starts.

With that, let’s look at five Bucs players hurt most by no preseason games.

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What’s the most important position battle heading into training camp?

See why Jelani Scott over at NFL.com believes safety is the biggest position battle heading into Bucs training camp.

With training camp scheduled to get underway next week for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the biggest question facing this team is whether they have what it takes to make a legitimate run at a Super Bowl.

The offseason signing of quarterback Tom Brady and the acquisition of tight end Rob Gronkowski have Tampa Bay sitting pretty heading into 2020. But while the offense certainly appears ready to take the league by storm, the defense will have to play just as well if the Bucs want to be successful.

That’s why Jelani Scott over at NFL.com thinks safety will be the biggest position battle during training camp.

Per Scott:

“Dang, Tampa. Back at it again with the subpar secondary? Many of the concerns from a year ago remain as the pass defense again underwhelmed, surrendering the second-most completions per game (25.5), third-most pass yards per game (270.1) and tying for the seventh-most pass touchdowns allowed (30). A strong second half from the cornerbacks provides some sense of optimism, and while promising options exist at safety, the competition for playing time at the position could be intense. Andrew Adams, Mike Edwards and Jordan Whitehead will return after combining for 18 pass deflections and two interceptions while seeing starting duty in 2019. Whitehead’s 25 career starts position him for first-team reps in a relatively inexperienced back end, but that’s not necessarily set in stone.

“Versatile rookie Antoine Winfield Jr., whom management is rightfully high on, will also be vying for playing time. The same goes for 2017 second-rounder Justin Evans — a starter in Years 1 and 2 who missed the 2019 season due to injury — and 2019 camp darling D’Cota Dixon, who also spent last season on injured reserve. Given all the moving parts, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will likely have some tough decisions to make when it comes to sorting things out at this position.”

The secondary is certainly a concern for the Bucs, considering they finished near the bottom of the league last season in pass defense. The good news is that the secondary finished strong last season, so hopefully that progress carries over into 2020.

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Buccaneers move rookie report date to Thursday

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced that rookies will report on Thursday the 23rd instead of Tuesday the 21st.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are scheduled to open training camp with their full roster next Tuesday, July 28, assuming the NFL remains on track for teams to report. Several players took to social media yesterday to voice their concern about returning given the lack of safety protocols in place during the coronavirus pandemic.

But as of now, the Tom Brady era in Tampa will officially get underway next week when the entire team (hopefully) assembles.

Today, though, the Bucs announced that they’ll move their rookie report date to Thursday, July 23, the same day quarterbacks are scheduled to arrive. The rookie report date was originally slated for Tuesday, July 21.

Per Buccaneers senior writer Scott Smith:

“There are 20 rookies on Tampa Bay’s 90-man offseason roster, which actually has three open spots at the moment. That rookie group includes the team’s seven-man 2020 draft class: tackle Tristan Wirfs, safety Antoine Winfield Jr., running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, wide receiver Tyler Johnson, defensive tackle Khalil Davis, linebacker Chapelle Russell and running back Raymond Calais.”

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