Buccaneers OTAs: Head coach Todd Bowles points out a pleasant surprise he didn't see coming
OTAs and minicamp are all about laying the groundwork for training camp and getting an idea of who is progressing when it comes to the mental side of things. It's also a chance for players to bond and create the much-needed chemistry required to win games in the NFL.When it comes to the trenches, however, […]
OTAs and minicamp are all about laying the groundwork for training camp and getting an idea of who is progressing when it comes to the mental side of things. It's also a chance for players to bond and create the much-needed chemistry required to win games in the NFL.
When it comes to the trenches, however, it's hard to get a full evaluation (as with most positions, but the trenches are their own) because of the fact that offensive and defensive linemen can't really show what they're about until the pads come on in camp.
Still, there are things to look for, such as sharpness, technique, and chemistry. Are guys lining up in the right spots and firing off the ball at the same time? Is the cohesiveness tangible, or is still a goal to be reached in the coming months?
For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers it sounds like things are ahead of schedule when it comes to the offensive line, specifically.
"When they're coming off the ball, they're in-sync early-on," Bowles told reporters Tuesday. "This is real early for them to be in-sync, for me. I thought that would take a little bit of doing but [offensive line coaches] Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci have done a great job of getting those guys ready. Obviously, we're out of pads, right now, but the chemistry is coming in pretty good. And that's what I like about it."
We all know how important cohesiveness is when it comes to the offensive line
A big reason the Bucs won the Super Bowl in 2020 is because the offensive line caught fire after the bye week. That bled into the 2021 season, as well, and Tampa Bay won its first division title since 2007 and tied the Green Bay Packers for the NFL's best record, as a result.
When including the fact that Tristan Wirfs is currently absent from OTAs, it makes Bowles' comment all the more intriguing and honestly, encouraging. Considering that, on top of the competition at center and left guard, it's refreshing to hear that things are ahead of schedule, so to speak.
There's obviously still a long way to go, but what happens up front will certainly be something to keep an eye on, next week during mandatory minicamp, and throughout the summer.
