Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ten Things We Learned on Day One of Training Camp
Adrian Clayborn is off to a fast start, Peyton Hillis is in great shape and sometimes the Bucs do catch a break in the weather...Those and the rest of our camp-opening observations.
Of the four main veterans who are returning from 2012 season-ending injuries, DE Adrian Clayborn appears to be the farthest along. Clayborn admitted to being nervous about his first practice in 10 months, but he had little trouble getting back into the mix. Head Coach Greg Schiano said the third-year end did "a little bit of everything," though his reps in each drill were limited.
Like Clayborn, CB Darrelle Revis was anxious about his first real football work in almost a year, even having a bit of trouble sleeping on Wednesday night. But he participated in 11 of the 24 practice drills, felt good afterward and said he believes he could do more on Friday. Revis is itching to go a little faster in his return from a knee injury but is committed to following the path laid out by the team's medical staff.
The Buccaneers traded for Revis and drafted Johnthan Banks in the second round in April, and those two could very well end up as the team's two new starters at cornerback. However, two young players who saw a lot of action last year during a season of secondary upheaval aren't going to quietly take their seats. Gorrer and Johnson saw most of the first-team reps on Thursday and Gorrer even snared a big interception during team drills.
During any given drill at training camp, it can often be difficult to tell which side has prevailed, as practice etiquette still suppresses tackling. Not so when the receivers and tight ends go one-on-one with the corners and safeties. To be sure, this drill favors the offense, so it is with a nod of understanding to the DBs when we say the most thrilling part of practice is when one of the pass-catchers puts a slick move on his opponent and gets open for a deep bomb.
Last summer, then-rookie RB Doug Martin took training camp by storm. Installed as the starter on Day One, he not only held onto the job but made the decision look like a no-brainer. Martin was an obvious standout nearly every day of practice, and he was able to take that dominance onto the stadium grass when the games arrived. On Thursday, Martin looked as if he plans on storming his way through camp again, with sharp cuts and jukes that drew "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd.
Speaking of Buccaneer running backs, there's a new one in town and he might be the most imposing Buc back since a certain #40, with the possible exception of LeGarrette Blount. Hillis reportedly set a blistering pace in Wednesday's conditioning test – a set of 16 110-yard sprints – and even without the pads he stood out in the Bucs' backfield on Thursday. Hillis later said he is perfectly fine with a complementary role and willing to take on any duties, including fullback and short-yardage situations.
The Hall of Fame-bound defensive tackle – he gets his gold jacket a week from Saturday in Canton – was on hand for the Bucs' first day of camp Thursday, on assignment for NFL Network. Sapp provided commentary on practice while it was going on then spent several hours debating various Buccaneer issues with the rest of the NFLN crew. Upon his arrival at the practice field, Sapp was immediately serenaded by hundreds of appreciative Bucs fans in the nearby bleachers.
Such Northern implants as Steven Means and Darrelle Revis were supposed to get their first exposure to the outdoor sauna that is a typical Buccaneers' training camp practice on Thursday, but the team as a whole caught a huge break from the weather. After some early-morning rain, there was a total cloud cover during the entire practice as well as a light breeze. The sun did peak out just as the players were leaving the field, but by then a much more bearable practice was already in the books.
He may also have a lead in the competition at strongside linebacker if Thursday's practice was any indication. Watson spent much of the full-team drills running with the first team, completing the LB trio with entrenched starters Lavonte David and Mason Foster. Watson is still sure to get serious competition from the likes of Jonathan Casillas and Adam Hayward, but after Coach Schiano spoke highly of the fourth-year player during the offseason it appears that those words carried some weight.
Okay, we didn't really learn that one on Thursday. That's always been true and surely always will be. But the first open practice of the summer was definitely a reminder that one of the main attractions of training camp is the chance for fans to meet the players up-close and personal. On Thursday, the entire team went straight from its post-practice stretch to the edges of the bleachers to give their John Hancocks to anyone who asked. That practice-ending season is a staple at Buccaneer training camp practices.
