After the most unpredictable opening weekend in franchise history, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got back together on Tuesday night for a 64-play walk-through. On Wednesday morning, the Buccaneers practiced at full speed for the first time in a week.
After that practice, with some sense of normalcy returning to the Buccaneers' routine after Hurricane Irma's track across Florida, Head Coach Dirk Koetter took a moment to reflect on that welcome development and how it contrasted with the ongoing struggles of many Floridians.
"Obviously, it's great to get back to thinking a little bit about football," said Koetter. "We know that a lot of people got it worse than we did and we were very fortunate here to have as little misfortune in this area as we did in some other parts of the state and the region. But, we're thinking about those people. We are thinking about those still hurting [and] still inconvenienced, but at the same time it's good to get back to football."
And maybe the Buccaneers getting back to football can help in some way for those who had a tougher time with Irma, at least by providing something around which everyone in the Bay area can rally. Buccaneer players would certainly like to turn Sunday's opener at Raymond James Stadium into a community celebration.
Pictures from the Buccaneers' practice on Wednesday.
QB Jameis Winston
RB Russell Hansbrough, S Chris Conte, DE William Gholston, DT Sealver Siliga, DT Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, and DB Ryan Smith
DE Will Clarke
DT Gerald McCoy
HC Dirk Koetter
DT Clinton McDonald and G/T Kevin Pamphile
DE Will Clarke
C Ali Marpet
QB Jameis Winston, LB Kwon Alexander, and SS T.J. Ward
SS T.J. Ward and CB Brent Grimes
TE Luke Stocker
TE O.J. Howard
S Chris Conte
S Justin Evans
CB Josh Robinson
SS T.J. Ward
WR Freddie Martino
WR DeSean Jackson
S Keith Tandy
S Chris Conte
S Isaiah Johnson
DT Gerald McCoy
DT Clinton McDonald
DE Robert Ayers
RB Peyton Barber
QB Jameis Winston
OT Donovan Smith
OT Donovan Smith
OT Demar Dotson
OL Caleb Benenoch
OL Michael Liedtke
P Bryan Anger
DT Clinton McDonald
RB Russell Hansbrough
DE Will Clarke
DE Will Clarke and RB Jacquizz Rodgers
G J.R. Sweezy and DE Will Clarke
DE Jacquies Smith
DE William Gholston
RB Peyton Barber
HC Dirk Koetter
Bucs practice
Bucs practice
G/T Kevin Pamphile
RB Jacquizz Rodgers
QB Jameis Winston and RB Jacquizz Rodgers
QB Jameis Winston
HC Dirk Koetter
DE Ryan Russell
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
DE Jacquies Smith and OT Donovan Smith
C Evan Smith
QB Jameis Winston
LB Cameron Lynch
WR DeSean Jackson
WR DeSean Jackson
P Bryan Anger, K Nick Folk and HC Dirk Koetter
LB Lavonte David and RB Russell Hansbrough
SS T.J. Ward
DB Ryan Smith and WR DeSean Jackson
QB Jameis Winston
WR Mike Evans
CB Brent Grimes
CB Brent Grimes
CB Brent Grimes
SS T.J. Ward
TE O.J. Howard
DT Gerald McCoy
DE Will Clarke
LB Kwon Alexander, LB Devante Bond, LB Lavonte David, LB Adarius Glanton, and LB Kendell Beckwith
"Can a city rally around football? Yeah, we're not us without our city," said defensive tackle and team captain Gerald McCoy. "I think everybody is just excited to see football in Tampa again. We're excited, fans are excited and it's a getaway. I know for me, football is a getaway from my everyday life. It's my escape, even though it's stressful at times because you've got to focus [and] your body is hurting sometimes, mentally you know nobody cares what you're dealing with, they just want to see you perform. When you've got all that on your mind it gets stressful, but it's still my getaway."
The Buccaneers didn't find out for sure that they would be playing at home on Sunday until Tuesday, when it was announced that the game would remain at Raymond James Stadium. Obviously, had Irma hit Tampa with the ferocity that many were anticipating earlier in the weekend, the stadium could have sustained damage that made it unfit for a game, much as Hurricane Katrina forced the New Orleans Saints to leave the Superdome in 2004. McCoy was thrilled that his team's home was still in good shape, and would have wanted to stay there this Sunday even if there were some technical glitches.
"I think for everybody, fans, maybe people who were affected – we've got a game coming to town," he said. "I believe the power is on at the stadium. If it's not, we've got smart phones – somebody can keep score on their phone."
For those who did get hard by Irma, there are issues more important than a football game on Sunday, and McCoy is working to pinpoint how he and his teammates can help in a substantial way. "We're going to make some moves," he said. "I love my city."
Helping those in need will be an ongoing effort, just as it is in Texas after the even more destructive impact of Hurricane Harvey. In the grander scheme, that's more important than football. But Buccaneer players are back at work now, and their job is to get ready for Sunday. They hope to do so in a way that brings comfort to their fans and fellow Floridians.
"Sporting events bring people together, brings the city hope, brings a lot of people hope," said wide receiver Mike Evans, another team captain who has been involved in the efforts to organize hurricane aid. "We're excited to get out there and give our fans something good to watch.
"We want to win no matter what, but I guess this will be good under the circumstances for us to win."
