Bucs Rookie Mini-Camp Insider – Day 2

Tampa Bay finished its 2023 Bucs rookie mini-camp on Saturday with hot and humid weather at the AdventHealth Training Center once again. Defensive back Josh Hayes, outside linebacker Jose Ramirez, inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis and wide receiver Trey Palmer spoke to the media prior to practice.

The Bucs officially announced the addition of undrafted free agent Sean Tucker, a running back from Syracuse. Tucker was not at practice yesterday and is not medically cleared to participate as he recovers from an undisclosed heart condition that was detected at the NFL Scouting Combine. Yet he was at practice observing the action and not participating while wearing a No. 44 jersey.

Offensive lineman Silas Dzansi also participated in his first Bucs rookie mini-camp practice on Saturday. Dzansi, who has some swing tackle potential, was absent from Friday’s practice.

Todd Bowles Missed Day 2 For A Very Good Reason

Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles was absent from the second day of Bucs rookie mini-camp, but he had an excused absence. Bowles graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University last fall, and honored a promise he made to his mother after leaving Temple 37 years ago without his degree as he pursued a career in the NFL with the Washington Redskins.

Bowles graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Youth and Community Development and wanted to walk with his graduating class in Frederick, Maryland. He will also be making short remarks to the graduating class during the ceremony.

In his place, assistant head coach Harold Goodwin ran Saturday’s Bucs rookie mini-camp practice with co-defensive coordinators Larry Foote and Kacy Rodgers running the defense, and of course offensive coordinator Dave Canales running the offense.

Bucs Rookie Mini-Camp Notes – Offense

• Bucs run game coordinator Harold Goodwin spoke after practice in place of Todd Bowles, and raved about rookie right guard Cody Mauch, the team’s second-round pick.

“I like it, I like it,” Goodwin said of Mauch’s progress. “He’s still trying to figure out a couple of things but you can tell he’s overanxious. Trying to get him to calm down and let him know it’s a long way until September. But we’ll get him there. … The biggest thing for him is that there’s probably a lot of new talk and new terminology. Just getting comfortable.

That way when Luke [Goedeke] and him are out there playing on the grass they can feel confident in each other and communicate and kick butt together. … There is no Cliff Notes or like a pre-draft class to go against Vita [Vea] every day. You’ve just got to wing it as you go, and it will work itself out. We just have to coach him up and be patient with him. Hopefully we don’t do him like Luke where he saw like four or five Pro Bowlers in a row.”

• New Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales continues to buzz around the practice field full of energy and a noticeable bounce in his step. When there was a 25-minute kick coverage special teams period at the start of practice Canales worked with all three tryout quarterbacks – Lindsey Scott, Kaylan Wiggins and Kyle Vantrease. It certainly would have been okay if Canales spent time observing some of his draft picks and undrafted free agents that will be on offense while they are practicing special teams.

But Canales is a quarterbacks coach at heart, and more importantly, hasn’t worked with new quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis before. Canales spent 25 minutes running various throwing drills and giving Lewis a perfect picture of exactly what he wants the drills to look like. Assistants have to be an extension of the coordinator, broadcasting the same message to the players. Canales time spent with Lewis and those tryout quarterbacks will be time well spent as the Bucs transition into OTAs next.

• Bucs rookie interior offensive lineman Chris Murray has quite a build. At 6-foot-1, 294 pounds, Murray has a squatty, compact frame and plenty of strength. Murray is transitioning from playing guard at Oklahoma to playing center in the NFL.

“I like him and he’s enthusiastic,” Goodwin said. “He’s an eager beaver as well. He’s just got to settle down and make all the calls. Today, he was swimming a bit, but it wasn’t too bad because we don’t have that much stuff in. Going to be fine in the long run.”

• Wide receiver Trey Palmer, a sixth-round pick, addressed the media and honestly believes he’s not fast. This, despite him clocking a 4.33 at the NFL Scouting Combine. Palmer is plenty fast, and it showed on an end-around in 11-on-11’s.

• Undrafted running back Ronnie Brown’s hands are as good as advertised. He catches everything thrown his way and shows good explosiveness through the holes. On one play in particular he displayed good vision to burst through the hole for a big gain.

• Rookie tight end Payne Durham continues to make it look easy with his big frame plucking the football out of the air. He had several nice grabs during Saturday’s Bucs rookie mini-camp practice, bouncing back from a shakier day on Friday.

Bucs Rookie Mini-Camp Notes – Defense

• Undrafted free agent Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks’ closing speed was on full display today as he rifled in on tight end Payne Durham to tip a pass up in the air that was caught by fellow undraftee Iowa safety Kaevon Merriweather.

• Don Gardner, a 2022 undrafted cornerback cornerback, continues to impress. After an interception in Friday’s practice he had a near pick again on Day 2 of rookie mini-camp. Gardner spent all of last season on the practice squad after an impressive showing in training camp.

• First-round defensive tackle Calijah Kancey has a rare get off which was in full display in positional drills but especially during on 11-0n-11’s. Kancey flew into the backfield on a low snap and had a would-be sack on a try out quarterback.

• Inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis, one of the team’s fifth-round picks, made a spectacular one-handed grab while backpedaling during individual drills. Dennis made an interception in Friday’s practice.

• There was Wildcat-on-Wildcat crime towards the end of practice in 11-on-11 drills when a pair of former Kansas State players squared off against each other. Wide receiver Kade Warner lined up in the slot against nickelback/safety Josh Hayes.

Warner took a step inside and then cut outside hard, but it was a route that Hayes seemed to recognize instantly from practicing against him at K-State and blanketing him step for step. With Warner covered, the ball had to go to a different receiver.

• Undrafted defensive back Christian Izien, whom Todd Bowles compared to Antoine Winfield Jr., will get a crack at the starting slot corner position. The Rutgers safety rotated at the position over the two days of mini-camp with Hayes and looks to be firmly entrenched in the competition.