The Bucs are in the middle of phase two of their offseason workout program, with phase three set to begin next week with OTAs. These workouts are not mandatory and completely voluntary for every participant, so not every player is in Tampa at the moment. With that said, head coach Todd Bowles is more than pleased with the participation of all the Bucs showing up.
“I think it’s been great, I think it’s been outstanding,” Bowles said after rookie mini-camp. “People [are] coming in the building and everybody for the most part is pretty much here. There’s some in and out, but on any given day, you can have up to about 93 or 94% of the guys here – which has been very good. You’ve got to learn a new offense, obviously. Obviously, it’s voluntary but for those guys to come in has been great.”
Todd Bowles Weighs In On Dave Canales
As Todd Bowles stated, an important part of having everyone here — at least on the offensive side of the ball — is to start digesting the new offensive system. It’s been a firsthand opportunity to work with a new coach who they’ll be together with for the next eight months.
“[He’s] very efficient, very detail-oriented, he includes everybody,” Bowles said of Canales. “All-inclusive, everybody has a role – he has a vision for everything he does, from individual period drills to team drills to how he wants it and how he sees it. But he’s not too smart to take advice from his coaches or his players and I think he’ll fit in well here.”
Players such as Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask, Chris Godwin and Rachaad White have already been in Tampa, but more and more players are arriving in Florida by the day. Mike Evans, who spends a lot of his offseason training in his hometown of Galveston, Texas, was practicing this week as the Bucs promoted on their social media.
Todd Bowles Gives Update On Devin White
One player who most likely won’t be at OTAs is inside linebacker Devin White.
The stories been told over and over by now, but White is unhappy with his contract and requested a trade earlier this offseason. White doesn’t have any leverage, though, and the Bucs not only don’t plan on trading him, but plan on having him start the season.
Bowles was asked if he’s talked to White this offseason or if he expects him at OTAs, which Bowles mentioned he did not.
“No more conversation but the offseason is all voluntary,” Bowles said. “So it’s not really a big deal right now. I have not (talked to him) but our coaches have and I understand where we are at this point.”
This always has the possibility of changing. White was active on Twitter this morning (for the first time in a few weeks), expressing love and appreciation to his fans and also fellow inside linebacker Lavonte David. He posted this picture earlier:
What does it all mean? Did White change his mind and will attend OTAs? Is he still going to sit out of mandatory mini-camp and training camp? At this point, only White can answer that question. Until then, the saga rolls on.
More must-reads: