Veterans matter.
Teams lacking quality veteran players come up with clichés to explain away why a deep, experienced roster isn’t of great value. But it is.
The Bucs are one of those experienced clubs, especially on defense.
Bucs rookie fifth-round pick defensive tackle Elijah Roberts sees it. In fact, he told The Sports Web that he’s working on developing a personal routine, and there are a load of players worthwhile studying as he goes through the process.
“I really don’t have one set [routine] for myself, just trying to pick up parts of everybody and kind of see what works for me,” Roberts said, noting “there’s no shortage of actual dudes on the team.
One thing Roberts said he was looking forward to was asking newcomer edge rusher Haason Reddick about how he managed his rookie year.
Yeah, routines are important for players. Recently on Get Got Pod, iconic Bucs left tackle Donald Penn reflected on his Bucs years.
Penn was one of Joe’s favorites, and he was a stud, never missing a game in his seven seasons on the roster at left tackle with a Pro Bowl appearance (2010) mixed in.
Penn reflected on his rookie season of 2006, when he was only a practice squad guy who did not see the field. Penn said Derrick Brooks asked him about his offseason plan, and Penn admitted to the legendary linebacker that he didn’t have one.
Per Penn, Brooks replied that he needed one.
The next day, Penn said, Brooks placed a thorough, handwritten development plan in Penn’s locker. Hell of a story.
Roberts and his fellow Bucs rookies have veterans like that on this roster, ones that will go the extra mile to help young players. They might not handwrite anything, but take the necessary steps.