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Bucs coach Todd Bowles thought the offense and the defense battled to a draw today.
Though Bucs coach Todd Bowles thought it was an evenly matched practice, from Joe’s viewpoint the defense had a strong day, though the Bucs’ offensive line dominated in the run game. The Bucs’ offensive line is the passing game?
Well, Joe is starting to wonder. Way, way too often, Joe sees Bucs pass rushers always in the backfield. Is this because Tristan Wirfs is sidelined? Have Rueben Bain and David Walker awakened a sleeping giant on defense?
Today was “Legends Day” at One Buc Palace, where several former Bucs legends attended practice. Among the former Bucs players included Chidi Ahanotu, Donnie Abraham, Tony Chickillo, Rich Clements, Anthony Davis, Steve DeBerg, Jorge Diaz, Parnell Dickinson, Donnie Elder, Dan Godspeed, Dave Green, Odie Harris, Adam Hayward, Andrew Jordan, Charles Lee, Tyrone Legette, Reggie Lewis, Juan Long, Jaydon Mickens, Yo Murphy, Jason Odom, Breshad Perriman, Pete Pierson, Quinton Pointer, Rickey Reynolds, Jakanda Riggins, Gregory Roberts, Council Rudolph, Dwight Smith, Johnny Ray Smith, Mo Stovall, Richard “Bat Man” Wood and (not that) Steve Young.
\* What worked yesterday may work today: Devin Culp yesterday wore green fluorescent shoes. He made a play. So he wore them again today.
\* First pass play: Rueben Bain blows it up. Baker Mayfield never got a pass off.
\* Bucky Irving runs past left guard.
\* Sean Tucker runs wide right.
\* Dean Patterson (Georgia Tech) the last few days is really coming on. With all the receivers dinged up, Patterson is getting more touches on the second team and a few snaps on the first team. This morning he made a helluva catch down the right sideline from Jake Browning. But the big question is, did he get two feet inbounds?
\* No referees for the second-straight day.
\* Browning looks to the right. Then he looks downfield. And pumps. And pumps. But he never got a pass off as Chris Braswell was prowling in the Bucs’ backfield.
\* Joe typed the following yesterday, but it bears repeating: Joe has typed Braswell’s name more in the first eight practices of Bucs training camp this season than he has the previous two seasons combined. Joe’s not suggesting he will replace YaYa Diaby but for the first time in any training camp, Joe has noticed that Braswell is actually on the roster.
\* Mayfield to Godwin over the middle.
\* Mayfield throws to Bucky to the right. Damarion Williams tried to jar the ball loose, to no avail.
\* Josiah Trotter tackles Sean Tucker for a loss.
\* Browning connects with Kameron Johnson down the left sideline.
**Goal line**
\* Mayfield tries for Ted Hurst in the back of the end zone, no.
\* Showoff: Cade Otton makes a one-handed grab of a Mayfield pass for a touchdown. Tykee Smith had tight coverage on Otton.
\* PICK! Browning tries to throw to the right and it is Josh Hayes who picks him off and houses it for a long pick-six. The ball was tipped by Christian Rozeboom.
\* Mayfield has a coverage sack as there were several defenders surrounding him. What’s going on with the pass blocking?
**11-on-11**
\* Mayfield launches a deep pass down the left sideline for Emeka Egbuka and the pass was too long. Jacob Parrish may have gotten away with a hold.
\* Bucky squirts through wide left.
\* Mayfield for Cade Otton near the right sideline and Otton hauls it in after battling Antoine Winfield for the ball.
\* Schiano Man: Browning throws over the middle for Kenny Fletcher (Rutgers) and he takes it to the house. TOES ON THE LINE!
\* DENIED! Ayden Garnes battles with Emeka Egbuka for a ball and he knocks the ball away from Egbuka on a deep pass from Mayfield.
\* Eric Rivers runs a route to the right and he comes back for a pass from Browning.
\* It’s the shoes! Culp catches a pass over the middle from Jalon Daniels.
\* Rivers catches a pass from Daniels to the right.
\* The Bucs worked a lot on the run game today. A lot. Joe’s not going to bore you with “(insert name) runs up the middle” — Joe can only type that so many times before getting punchy — but Joe can tell you the Bucs run blocking was really solid if not strong today. The pass blocking? Joe’s beginning to wonder.
\* Practice ends on a high note for the defense. Mayfield launches a ball for Egbuka and both he and Zyon McCollum go up for the jump ball. The ball appears to be tipped by McCollum who comes down with the pick.
The Bucs are off tomorrow, Saturday. The Bucs return to practice Sunday, which is currently scheduled as the final practice open to fans this summer. After Sunday’s practice, it is off to the Garden State.