Tampa Bay Buccaneers Amp Practice Between Preseason Games

Bucs’ head coach Raheem Morris cranked up mid-week practice by getting vocal in the mix while pushing all to max during rotating snaps. It was his way of addressing seven penalties and mental mistakes against Miami last week.

Morris was quoted on www.Bucaneers.com after the vigorous workout.

"We're a hungry, talented team out there competing, and today I wanted to up the tempo in order for us to think when we get a little tired," said Morris. "They came into the game playing smart like you have to do, but once you get tired you start to do silly things. So I upped the tempo a little bit today with these guys, and they did a great job doing that, putting them into a game and making them have to think. We really coached a lot about tempo today."

Some fans have complained that Morris has been too soft in training camp. The increased tempo drained players at a point when they were fatigued. Defensive tackle Carlton Powell said, "Now, that was a practice."

Fans have been critical too of not playing Josh Freeman more to get valuable experience in preseason games. Some are stuck on throwing quarterback Freeman and the starting offensive line into early fire and late flames too. They want him taking snaps behind the second team in preseason games. 

It’s still preseason. The points don’t count. Reps count, but it is foolish to expose starters in preseason when it’s simply not needed. Tossing starters in with many rookies that won’t be playing on that first real game day is simply not prudent. It’s common for NFL teams to avoid unnecessary injuries to starters during the preseason.

So until the next snap counts, don’t count on the first-team being over worked except during practice days. 

The remaining preseason games are crucial to the evaluation of the 80 man roster that has to be reduced to 53 for the Sep.12 game, when the Bucs face the Browns for the first snap that counts. 

"It's decision time all the time," said Morris. "They're graded on every practice tape, they're graded on every game film, they're graded on everything. If you want that position, you'd better go out there and take it this week and next."

Key rookies to watch over the preseason period:

Defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price, who had a hamstring injury, but practiced well this week. If both get double-teamed, look for other defensive players to have big impact. 

Wide receivers Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams have had a good camp and could bring an extra dimension to the passing game led by Freeman.

Look to the next practice to see how Morris responds to play this week.