Bucs Camp Insider 8-11: Brady Absent, Dolphins Win The Day

In their final practice before Saturday’s preseason opener at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs and Dolphins went at it again on an overcast Thursday morning. The news of Tom Brady’s extended absence overshadowed anything that happened on the field, but the two teams got their work in before meeting again under the lights in two days. Miami may have won the day, but Tampa Bay still had its share of standouts.

Bucs’ Offense Takes The Field Short-Handed Due To Injuries, Days Off

Brady’s absence was the big one on Thursday. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said after practice that he won’t return to the team until after its game against Tennessee on Aug. 20, noting that this time off was planned well before camp for the 45-year-old quarterback to deal with “personal things.” He said that he’s “pretty confident” Brady will be back and ready to go for the season opener against Dallas on Sept. 11, but he couldn’t provide any more details about the situation.

In addition to Brady being gone, Tampa Bay’s offense was pretty thin on starters for the second joint practice against Miami. Mike Evans, Breshad Perriman and Russell Gage were all sidelined with their injuries, while Julio Jones and Leonard Fournette also received days off. Bowles told Pewter Report’s J.C. Allen after practice that Gage tweaked his hamstring and is considered day-to-day, though the team’s primary focus is getting him healthy for Week 1.

Tampa Bay Running Backs Have Their Best Day Of Camp

The Bucs largely kept it simple in terms of the passing game on Thursday. Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask took the reps in Brady’s place while the team’s running backs took center stage. Giovani Bernard, Rachaad White, Kenjon Barner and Ke’Shawn Vaughn all chipped in with receptions in the short passing game. Later on during 11-on-11s, each back impressed on the ground. Bernard broke free for about a 35-yard touchdown, running between Robert Hainsey and Aaron Stinnie while getting a key block from Cade Otton. Vaughn and White both came through with chunk runs, while Barner got in on the action as well.

It was the best day so far for Tampa Bay’s backfield, even with Fournette getting the day off. Fournette said after Wednesday’s practice that any of the Bucs’ running backs could be a starter, and each guy was out to prove that on Thursday. Of course, the vision and burst shown by each guy stood out. But the Tampa Bay offensive line did a great job opening running lanes for them, which was a good sign after so many pass-heavy practices.

Things Get Heated Once Again Between Bucs And Dolphins

Tyler Johnson was in the mix of a few scuffles on Wednesday. On Thursday, things continued to escalate between the Bucs and Dolphins. Only this time, Giovani Bernard got into it with the Miami defense on a few different occasions. He was on the receiving end of a couple of big hits from Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker. He also jawed with Christian Wilkins, who at one point snatched his towel and threw it. It makes sense, then, that Bernard was so fired up after his long touchdown later in the period.

Luke Goedeke predictably found himself in the middle of it all as well. He said after practice that the team took friendly bets on who would get in the first fight of joint practices and collectively settled on him. Of course, the nasty guard out of Central Michigan often found himself pushing and shoving when it was just Bucs-on-Bucs early in training camp. And now, with another team in town, his aggression escalated. He went back and forth a few times with linebacker Duke Riley, who he said called him out first. After some talking back and forth on Wednesday, it went to another level on Thursday. That includes the biggest scuffle of the day down in the end zone:

Rashard Robinson Shines In Tough Day For The Defense

The Miami offense got the better of Tampa Bay’s defense on the day. Devin White won his share of reps in coverage, while Carlton Davis traded wins with Jaylen Waddle. Waddle beat him badly early on in 1-on-1s before Davis later responded with a couple of pass breakups in coverage. But for the most part, it was the Waddle and Tyreek Hill show during 11-on-11s. The Dolphins scored multiple touchdowns on the Bucs with very little resistance.

However, one major standout on the day was cornerback Rashard Robinson. He won all three of his reps during 1-on-1s, coming up with two pass breakups and an interception. Then, during 11-on-11s, he came flying in on a blitz for what would’ve been a sack on rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson. Depth at cornerback proved to be a major need in 2021, so Robinson stepping up like he did on Thursday can only help.

Struggles Added Up For Bucs Defense In Passing Game

Outside of Robinson and White stepping up in pass coverage, everyone else on the defense struggled. Tua Tagovailoa connected often with Waddle and Hill, threading it through the Bucs’ defense. Though Davis was up and down against Waddle, Logan Ryan, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Zyon McCollum all lost on reps.

When they moved to 7-on-7s, even Lavonte David was seen a step behind tight end Tanner Conner in the end zone, but Conner dropped the pass on the play. In 11-on-11s, Antoine Winfield Jr. was beaten by Mike Gesicki on a bootleg play for at touchdown.

Probably the biggest culprit in pass coverage was linebacker Grant Stuard. He was beat consistently throughout practice on the day. The worst was losing track of Conner for a long touchdown catch down the field. Conner was wide open as Stuard tried to follow after him, but it was too late and it wasn’t even close.

Shaq Attack

For the most part it was a practice that the Bucs’ defense shouldn’t be happy with. At the end though, it was team leader Shaq Barrett that really stepped it up. After some completions for the Dolphins in a two-minute drill, Barrett had two sacks to end the drive in it’s tracks. This is the second practice in a row where Barrett has looked impressive against the opposition.

Following practice, Barrett credited the Dolphins for not making it easy on them.

“They do a lot of misdirection stuff, making you have to have great eyes,”Barrett said. “If you’re looking in the wrong spot, you get out of position, they use that to their advantage. The run game, the reaches and wide runs, then with all the motions in the run game and the passing game too is the same.

“It’s like nothing is straight forward so you got to be on [your] P’s and Q’s and on your assignments and on your keys. I think they are going to have us prepare for the season this year because we got to be so disciplined and be able to go against them and have a good game against them.”

Bucs Receivers Continue Their Audition Process

With Evans, Jones, Gage and Perriman all out and Chris Godwin still not involved in team drills, Tampa Bay’s depth receivers got yet another chance to shine. There are only two or three remaining receiver spots and plenty of guys vying for them. Deven Thompkins had a nice day in 1-on-1s, fighting through hands-to-the-face from Noah Igbinoghene and catching a touchdown.

Thursday’s 1-on-1s weren’t as lopsided for the Bucs’ receivers as they were on Wednesday. But plenty of guys still made some impressive plays. Scotty Miller made a great catch in the back of the end zone from Blaine Gabbert, while Kaylon Geiger Sr. made a phenomenal move to get open for a touchdown from Kyle Trask.

A Perfect Day For Succop In The Kicking Game

There’s been little separation – if any – with Tampa Bay’s kicking competition throughout camp. Ryan Succop took the kicking period on Thursday and had a perfect day. The Athletic’s Greg Auman had him 7-of-7 on the day, including a kick from 53 yards out that just cleared the crossbar.

After practice, we were greeted to one more highlight on the day. Bucs nose tackle Vita Vea did another one of his infamous Gatorade shotguns, this time with former Bucs reporter, now with The Draft Network, Carmen Vitali.

The Bucs have Friday off before Saturday’s preseason opener. Tampa Bay and Miami are set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium.