What we realized in regards to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ pass-catchers, Tom Brady at minicamp – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Weblog

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers convened for his or her first necessary minicamp underneath new head coach Todd Bowles on Thursday. It was the primary time all veterans and newcomers took the sector collectively this offseason earlier than a six-week break that can precede coaching camp.

And whereas quarterback Tom Brady might have launched a clothes line, signed a profitable TV deal, starred in two films and went via a 40-day retirement this offseason, he did not present any indicators of rust. The ball placement was there, the trademark footwork was glorious, and he was in good bodily situation. At one level, Brady wasn’t proud of the tempo of apply and shouted, “Come on, guys. We do not have all day!”

“We’ve acquired apply scheduled for 2 hours, and we get out in an hour and half-hour. … It speaks volumes,” left deal with Donovan Smith stated of Brady pushing the tempo. “It ain’t gonna do something however make us higher.”

Brady was stable, even with some gamers on offense lacking, regardless of being picked off twice in the course of the three days of apply — first on a go over the center that went into the palms of security Mike Edwards after which on a route Jamel Dean jumped on to intercept a go meant for Tyler Johnson.

“He picked up the place he left off at,” Bowles stated of Brady. “He acquired to see issues on the primary day. The second day he was sharp as a tack, and [Thursday] he was sharp. So you possibly can’t say sufficient good issues about him — his work ethic and what he brings to the group.”

With broad receiver Chris Godwin recovering from knee surgical procedure, the Bucs will probably be relying on newcomer Russell Gage, who came to visit from the Atlanta Falcons in free company, to step into the No. 2 receiver position behind Mike Evans. Whereas Gage did catch passes from Brady when he was warming up, he didn’t partake in any group durations.

“He has to have a giant 12 months,” Brady stated of Gage. “That could be a crucial position for an offense that throws the ball as a lot as we do. … Russ, when he’s on the market, there may be quite a lot of work that wants to enter the subsequent six weeks to be prepared. We’re challenged proper out of the field this 12 months. We’ve acquired actually good groups [on our schedule].”

With Gage sitting out, Jaelon Darden and Johnson acquired quite a lot of seems, together with Cyril Grayson and Breshad Perriman. Johnson’s incapacity to create constant separation when pressed into motion was an issue final season, one thing the Bucs are hoping Gage might help with.

As for Darden, the chemistry isn’t fairly there with Brady — there have been timing points with the deep ball early on in minicamp, and that was additionally a difficulty final season — but it surely improved over the three days of minicamp, with Darden making a leaping seize behind the protection on Day 2 throughout 7-on-7s that drew loads of “Oooohs!” He made one other leaping seize shortly after within the two-minute drill.

Grayson had a pleasant catch-and-run off a Brady go on Day 2 in 7-on-7s as properly. Grayson’s edge over the others — and that is uncommon for a transformed monitor star who didn’t play a down of school soccer at LSU — is being very bodily, versus Johnson, who acquired pushed round final 12 months.

As for Godwin, he has begun working, but it surely’s too early to inform the place he’ll be six weeks from now when gamers report back to coaching camp. Scotty Miller additionally was on the sector however didn’t participate in camp. The teaching workers feels Miller disappeared final season as a result of his foot damage lingered for much longer than folks realized.

When requested if there was an under-the-radar participant who stood out, Bowles famous broad receiver Deven Thompkins, an undrafted free agent out of Utah State. At 5-foot-8 and 167 kilos, he’s undersized however made an impression together with his velocity. He recorded a 4.35-second 40-yard sprint.

“I’d like to see what Thompkins does in coaching camp,” Bowles stated. “He’s fast, he’s quick, he’s explosive off of the ball, and he’s made some good catches. So, we wish to see how he continues to study and the way he does in coaching camp and preseason. I’ll be him.”

As for Brady’s safety blanket, free-agent tight finish Rob Gronkowski, the quarterback stated he will not strain him into returning, saying it is “completely as much as him.” The 2 have gotten collectively for some throwing classes this offseason. There are additionally members of the teaching workers and entrance workplace who’re optimistic he’ll return.

Proper now, they’ve little or no expertise at tight finish outdoors of Cameron Brate. Codey McElroy has only one profession catch, and he’s joined by rookies Cade Otton, who’s recovering from ankle surgical procedure, and Ko Kieft.

Kieft was in a position to seize a couple of passes in minicamp, and for as a lot as his blocking prowess has been praised, he confirmed he is acquired some constant palms, though he is not working by anyone with a 4.98-second time within the 40-yard sprint.