Sterns, White Shine On Offense

The second day of Bucs rookie mini-camp occurred on Saturday underneath sunny skies and warmer circumstances on the AdventHealth Coaching Heart. That is the ultimate apply that’s open to the media. Tampa Bay will conclude its three-day rookie mini-camp on Sunday in a closed apply. Listed here are some key observations from the Pewter Report workers.

Bucs Offensive Rookie Report

Tampa Bay’s trio of undrafted large receivers stood out throughout Saturday’s apply – none greater than Jerreth Sterns. The 5-foot-7, 183-pound Sterns was the nation’s main receiver at Western Kentucky final 12 months and it’s straightforward to see why. Sterns caught 150 passes for 1,902 (12.7 avg.) and 17 touchdowns in 2021 and confirmed distinctive arms for the second straight day.

“He’s fast,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles stated. “He caught plenty of balls in school – he’s fast. He’s obtained excellent arms, so he flashes in apply.”

Bowles is impressed with Sterns, whose compact construct resembles that of former Panthers and Ravens Professional Bowler Steve Smith. Like Smith, Sterns performs larger than his measurement.

“Yeah, he does,” Bowles stated. “You’ve obtained to be fairly sturdy to play and make that many catches.”

Deven Thompkins and Kaylon Geiger, Sr. additionally confirmed nicely on Saturday. Just a few minor accidents knocked the Bucs down to simply 4 receivers by the top of apply. Sterns, Thompkins and Geiger made it by the two-hour exercise.

It was an excellent day for the tight finish group through the crew scrimmage portion of apply. J.J. Howell, a tryout tight finish from Yale, reeled in a couple of good receptions on the day for additional yards. Undrafted signing Ben Beise additionally made a couple of good grabs. Ko Keift was left on their own in the midst of the sector for a brief dump off that he became a giant acquire in the direction of the top of apply. Tryout participant Sean Dykes additionally had a couple of catches, constructing on a strong first day.

Cade Otton, the crew’s fourth-round decide, continues to be out as he recovers from ankle surgical procedure. He advised the media he’s operating and doing a little reducing on his ankle, and hopes to be again by coaching camp. Otton continued to ask questions and keep concerned within the huddle. He took loads of psychological reps for the second straight day.

Working again Rachaad White continues to impress on day two of rookie mini-camp. He simply has easy motions, and it actually does seem like he’s gliding on the sector. Throughout crew interval, White caught a ball out of the backfield and turned it up discipline with ease.

It’s straightforward to inform that tryout operating again Patrick Laird is a veteran and has achieved this earlier than. He catches the ball effortlessly and has definitely confirmed up on tape. Jordan Jace, the tryout participant out of West Georgia, has explosive toes. He will get out and in of his breaks simply with very fluid motion. Jace has additionally achieved a pleasant job catching the ball. – J.C. Allen and Scott Reynolds

Bucs Defensive Rookie Report

Saturday’s apply noticed higher and extra constant play than on Friday. Todd Bowles stated that the most important factor he needed to see out of rookie mini-camp was who might be coachable and proper the errors that they’ve had. Bowles stated that your complete group regarded extra like a soccer crew at the moment, in order that’s a step ahead.

Cornerback Zyon McCollum was a kind of gamers that discovered the right way to bounce again into it by making a play on the subsequent snap. McCollum and nook J.T. Wahee had some miscommunication throughout particular person drills when engaged on masking the “decide play” crossing routes.

Then in crew drills, McCollum allowed a cross to a receiver on a play to the surface. Proper after although, McCollum performed tight press protection and obtained his arms up on the receiver on the subsequent play, displaying that he wasn’t going to permit something like that once more. The rookie was dwelling and studying on the fly.

“He’s very good,” Bowles stated of McCollum. “He’s a heady ball participant. He’ll be requested to play what he can play as soon as we get going. However out of pads and every little thing proper now to chop down on the collisions, we’re engaged on plenty of off approach.”

One other participant that was actually soaking in all the data was security Nolan Turner. It appeared like safeties coach Nick Rapone was teaching him up typically on Saturday. There have been instances the place Rapone stopped a drill that Turner was engaged on simply to appropriate it, however then obtained it collectively. It labored as a result of Turner had a cross breakup in crew drills on a throw to Deven Thompkins.

The opposite security that was making performs was Jordan Happle, who was beat by tight finish Sean Dykes earlier. Although Happle rebounded with a cross breakup and an nearly interception on a separate play the place there was an errant throw.

On the defensive position, Mike Greene had a rep the place he drove proper over the offensive lineman that was making an attempt to dam. Each gamers hit the bottom because the play went on.

Defensive sort out Logan Corridor, the crew’s second-round decide, labored on his approach as soon as once more. He confirmed good hand placement and footwork. Corridor had one very entertaining play the place he jumped and put his arms up trying to knock down a cross. However the quarterback hadn’t but obtained the throw off but, so he needed to maintain onto it and the play primarily was over. I can’t watch for Corridor to make use of his measurement to get a few PBUs this 12 months.

Pewter Report did an in depth write-up for Corridor’s first apply throughout Friday’s report.

Edge rusher Andre Anthony, the crew’s seventh-rounder, was working loads on his approach as nicely. He lined up a few instances in units the place he would get a chip from the tight finish after which need to go one-on-one with the sort out. The competitors had some good battles all through apply on this outing. – Matt Matera

Bucs Particular Groups Rookie Report

On particular groups there have been a number of drills ran within the early portion of apply the place Kieft and White proceed to face out. Jake Camarda didn’t do any punting at the moment, though, he spent intensive time with Jose Borregales as a holder. Camarda later labored with specialist coach Chris Boniol in apply. – J.C. Allen