Bucs rookies turning heads at training camp
We are just three days into training camp and the pads have not even come on yet. But two players have stood out and gotten attention for their play.
Undrafted FA Shaun Wilson of Duke has been turning heads in the return game. The Bucs have not had a legitimate return game in years and Wilson has shown explosivness and the ability to break some long returns.
Wilson is being used in both punt and kick returns right now and if he proves that he can be the return guy the Bucs have been looking he will get a coveted roster spot.
it remains to be seen if Wilson can be the pass rceiving threat that the Bucs need, or if he can pick up the blocking schemes, but Wilson is off to a very good star. He will be one to watch as training camp moves forward.
MJ Stewart is also getting attention for his play at CB. Stewart and Carlton Davis were both drafted to improve the porous pass defense. Stewart has been very aggresssive in his approach to coverage so far and as the ability to cover the bigger taller receivers in the NFC south AKA Julio Jones.
I wrote earlier that Davis and Stewart would press Hargreaves for the starting role opposite Brent Grimes and I still think that Davis has a very good chance of winning that starting spot. Hargreaves who missed paractice today with a lacerated leg is battling for a starting spot at outside corner in he base defense and inside at nickel in the nickel defense which the Bucs played over 60% of the time last season.
I think it will be a tall order for the rookie Jordan Whitehead to make this team. Whitehead would have to beat out Chris Conte, Keith Tandy, and Josh Robinson and I don’t see that happening.
Another rookie that may have trouble making this team is WR Justin Watson. Watson who missed most of the OTA’s and off season workouts is in competition with Bobo Wilson, Bernard Reedy, and Freddie Martino. If Bernard Reedy makes this team it will be because of his ability in the return game.
Vita Vea is working with Mitch Unrein on the second unit at DT behind McCoy and Beau Allen.
Kendall Beckwith is the only Buccaner that is not practicing with the team as he recovers from his off-season auto acccident.
Demar Dotson returned to practice and was splitting reps with Leonard Wester at RT. Dotson is just four months removed from surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
