Just over one week into training camp and we are already starting to get a pretty good feel for this Buccaneers team. Coach Koetter has said that the the defense is ahead of the offense so far, and that is kind of the normal for the first week or so of training camp. Coach has not been real pleased with the offense. On more than one occasion Koetter has said that the offense needs to be much sharper and have better execution if they are to have the kind of success that is expected for the 2017 season.
WR Chris Godwin continues to impress. Koetter has said on more than one occasion that Godwin does not look like a rookie, has great practice habits and is all business when it comes to football. I think Chris Godwin will be a big playmaker for this team and down the road possibly take over for DeSean Jackson as the No. 2 receiver. This kid has that kind of potential.
TE OJ Howard is another rookie that is turning heads at Bucs camp. Howard was drafted with a lot higher expectations than was Godwin, but still Howard has been as advertised and even better. Howard gets open downfield, makes the tough catches, and can also line up on the line of scrimmage and be a very good run blocker. Not many TE’s can do both extremely well. Howard has that ability
JR Sweezy who missed all of last season is back and having a good camp. He brings a little bit of an edge and some nastiness to that Bucs line which is needed.
On the defensive side of the ball, DT Gerald McCoy is having a great camp. He has disrupted so many plays in the backfield that Koetter has said that they thought he was jumping off-sides. McCoy earlier this year said that he needed to and wanted to crank it up a few notches and that he wanted to improve his game. It appears he is on his way. Now all he has to do is transfer that quickness to the regular season games.
S Keith Tandy is another player having a very good camp. Tandy really came on the second half of last season, and had some key interceptions in games against San Diego, and Carolina. Tandy has continued his progress during the OTA’s and moni-camp and is now showing everyone what he is capable of doing.
It looks like K Roberto Aguayo is a little bit ahead of Nick Folk in the battle for the PK job. On Friday Aguayo was a perfect 7/7 on FG attempts and overall has been near perfect this camp. Now we will see if that translates over to the games. I think this battle will probably go to the final cuts and right now it looks like Aguayo has the edge.
Next Friday night the Bucs will be in Cincinnati to play the Benagals in the first pre-season game at 730PM
