Buccaneers HC Sets Tone for the Offseason

Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. hasn’t taken long to win over the coaching staff. Bowles praised his intelligence and communication skills: “I feel like he’s been here forever. He and SirVocea Dennis have a great rapport.” The pairing could be key in the center of the defense.

With just seven absences (five due to minor physical issues), the attendance at these OTAs reinforces the locker room’s commitment. “The group had a great turnout. The more reps now, the better adaptation to the system in July,” Bowles explained. Regarding Haason Reddick, he simply said:  “I’m sure we’ll see him one of these days.”

Regarding Chris Godwin, Bowles was succinct: “He’s working hard. We expect him to be ready for Week 1, but nothing’s changed.” Regarding a cryptic Instagram post from Rachaad White about a “last ride,” Bowles responded humorously: “I don’t have Twitter. That sounds like The Magnificent Seven to me.”

Sir Vocea Dennis shined with an interception in practice, and Bowles wants to take advantage of his full health: “If he’s healthy, we have a great player.” The coach also explained that Tykee Smith will alternate between safety and nickel: versatility and power.

The competition for the nickel corner spot is heated: Tykee Smith, Christian Izien, Jacob Parrish, JJ Roberts, Zyon McCollum…  “We have four or five real options. Let’s see how the deck shakes out.”

Regarding his now-famous “Eureka moment,” Bowles clarified that it wasn’t a specific tactic: “It was about defining what we want to do this year, how to attack the season, and what kind of defense we want to be.”

No more improvised plays for now: the first few days are focused on fundamentals. “The most important thing is that they understand the scheme and do their job with knowledge. When training camp comes, we want fair competition.” On new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard: “He’s coming along well. He’s calm. The staff has been together for a while, and that helps a lot.”

Center Graham Barton showed maturity in his second year. He reviewed his 2024 workouts and noticed significant progress: “I’ve got some tricks down now. This time is key for learning and fine-tuning details.”

The offensive line remains united with Tristan Wirfs, Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke, and Ben Bredeson:  “We already have chemistry. Now it’s time to refine and improve.”  And on his relationship with Baker Mayfield:  “From day one, he gave me confidence. This year, it’s about seeing the game through the same eyes.”

Cornerback Zyon McCollum, in a contract year, doesn’t hide his motivation: “I want to win it all again.” Regarding rookies Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, he was blunt: “Morrison is very methodical. Parrish is a dog: he works without complaint and learns quickly.”

With new faces, the level of demand has risen: “The intensity is noticeable. We all want to reach the next level.”

Bowles revealed that Lavonte David was close to leaving before the current staff arrived, doubting the 3-4 scheme: “We talked, I explained to him it wasn’t that different. He ended up adapting and he’s a great player.” And what about Lavonte taking plays away from him? Bowles laughed: “I’ll give him the finger [laughs]. It was a joke, just in case they put it out there.”

Regarding the secondary’s work, Bowles was blunt: “Breaking up passes is fine. But I want more interceptions.” And that’s even though they’re still in “jersey and shorts” mode.

The OTAs have kicked off with commitment, experience, and enthusiasm from the rookies. Competition is in the air, and although the pieces are still moving slowly, the Bucs are already fine-tuning their machinery for a training camp that promises to be high-voltage.