Tuesday was the last training camp practice for the Bucs before their first preseason game in Miami this Thursday — can you believe the first Bucs game is already here?

Though the thought of the game getting closer is exciting, the Bucs will be without a handful of players for that contest.

Defensive end Will Gholston, linebacker Devante Bond, and of course defensive tackle Vita Vea, linebacker Kendell Beckwith and cornerback Brent Grimes will all likely not be suiting up, as they were held out of Tuesday’s practice.

Of the defensive players that were out there at practice on Tuesday, they seemed to be turning up the pressure before their first game.

Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul continued to get work from the defensive tackle spot as the Bucs plan to use him on third downs and other obvious passing situations next to Gerald McCoy.

Speaking of, McCoy was up to his old tricks on Tuesday, getting the better of newcomer Ryan Jensen in the clip above.

We’re excited to see how far along the defensive line really is come Thursday night. Even though it won’t be a Week 1 of the regular season type of urgency, we’ll likely be able to notice some of defensive line coach Brentson Bucker’s teachings even in preseason.

Scott Reynolds has talked extensively about the need for the Buccaneers to blitz more with their linebackers. He’s referenced the fact that Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David having zero sacks each last year just cannot happen again, and it seems like that thought process has entered the mind of defensive coordinator Mike Smith as well.

There wasn’t just one but two sacks via A-gap blitzes right up the middle during the Bucs scrimmage period on Tuesday.

Could we see more of that on Thursday?

We hope so.