Pictures from the Bucs' OTA practice on Thursday.
3 QB Jameis Winston
80 TE O.J. Howard
34 RB Charles Sims
44 RB Russell Hansbrough
25 RB Blake Sims
46 FB Austin Johnson
22 RB Doug Martin
14 QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
87 WR Derel Walker
18 WR Bernard Reedy
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
94 DE George Johnson
Buccaneers' OTAs
Buccaneers offensive linemen
68 C Joe Hawley
73 G J.R. Sweezy
69 OT Demar Dotson
59 LB Devante Bond
43 RB Peyton Barber
94 DE George Johnson
93 DT Gerald McCoy
94 DE George Johnson
93 DT Gerald McCoy
92 DE William Gholston
96 DE Sealver Siliga
3 QB Jameis Winston
84 TE Cameron Brate
Head Coach Dirk Koetter
Buccaneers' OTAs
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves and #80 TE O.J. Howard
85 WR Bobo Wilson
80 TE O.J. Howard
80 TE O.J. Howard
90 DE Chris Baker and #74 C Ali Marpet
90 DE Chris Baker
80 TE O.J. Howard and #90 DE Chris Baker
92 DE William Gholston
18 WR Bernard Reedy
80 TE O.J. Howard
17 WR Donteaa Dye
41 CB Jonathan Moxey and #85 WR Bobo Wilson
22 RB Doug Martin
Buccaneers offensive huddle
68 C Joe Hawley and #60 G Jarvis Harrison
Head Coach Dirk Koetter
71 DE Channing Ward
53 LB Adarius Glanton
59 LB Devante Bond
49 LB Riley Bullough
18 WR Bernard Reedy
49 LB Riley Bullough
25 RB Blake Sims and #4 QB Ryan Griffin
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
44 RB Russell Hansbrough
53 LB Adarius Glanton
59 LB Devante Bond
Buccaneers' OTAs
Buccaneers' OTAs
36 RB Quayvon Hicks
46 FB Austin Johnson
22 RB Doug Martin
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
84 TE Cameron Brate
1. Vernon Hargreaves is coming on strong.
In the three days the Buccaneers have held OTAs, Vernon Hargreaves has finished two with interceptions. Practice was closed to the media on Wednesday, but highlights captured from practice revealed an interception from Hargreaves. He got his hands on another pass during Thursday's workout, as did linebacker Adarius Glanton. "We challenged Vernon to take the ball away more this year and he's done that these first couple of days here," Head Coach Dirk Koetter said after Thursday's practice.
WATCH: THURSDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCES2. The Buccaneers are extremely deep at the wide receiver position.
The Bucs added two pass-catchers, O.J. Howard and Chris Godwin, in the draft. The team also added one of the league's top deep threats through free agency when they signed DeSean Jackson. The Bucs struggled at times with their depth at wide receiver last season, but don't expect that to be a problem in 2017. "Our No. 1 guy all the way down to our No. 11 guy – I think if you watch our routes versus air, (Coach Monken) does a great job really coaching us hard and making us do it the right way," Adam Humphries said. "I think our entire depth is very strong. It's exciting to watch those guys make plays."
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- Chris Baker was in the building.**
OTAs are optional, so a player isn't required to be in attendance. Baker was not at One Buc Place on Tuesday for the team's first OTA practice but was at team facilities on Thursday. He was on the field with his teammates throughout practice.
4. A few kicks could be the difference in the kicking battle.
There is no contact during OTAs, so its' difficult to gauge where an offensive or defensive lineman is. For skill players it's a little easier, but for the specialists there is almost no difference between practice in May and training camp in pads. The Bucs have two kickers vying for one spot, and Koetter said that the decision could be swayed by just a few kicks. "When you think about how many kicks a guy gets in a year, really the difference between an 85 percent kicker and a 75 percent kicker is probably a couple of kicks," he said. "They all matter. The competition has definitely started. I know everybody feels it. There's a little tension going through that but that's a good thing. This is pro football. There's supposed to be competition."
NEWS: BUCS, JAGS TO HAVE JOINT PRACTICES5. Charles Sims was back out on the field.
Wide receiver isn't the only position on the Buccaneers' offense with some serious depth. Sims was cleared by doctors to return to practice on Thursday and had a promising first day back. The Bucs have four viable options out of the backfield with Sims, Doug Martin, Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Jeremy McNichols, among others. McNichols has yet to take the practice field as he recovers from an injury, but expects to be back for training camp.
