SR’s Fab 5 is a collection of reporting and analysis on the Bucs from yours truly, Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds. Here are four things that caught my attention this week, plus some random tidbits in my Buc Shots section at the end. Enjoy!

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FAB 1. Gabbert’s Last Stand With The Bucs?

Is this Blaine Gabbert’s last stand with the Bucs?

Or is it a new beginning?

Bucs QB Blaine Gabbert – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After Tom Brady retired on January 29, former Bucs head coach Bruce Arians was prepared to roll with the 32-year old Gabbert and second-year QB Kyle Trask this year.

If Tampa Bay couldn’t acquire a better starter in free agency or via a trade, that is.

But as fate would have it, Brady opted to un-retire after 41 days and return for one more season as the Bucs’ starting quarterback.

That meant that Gabbert would have to wait one more year for another – and likely last – chance to prove he can be an NFL starter.

Gabbert re-signed with the Bucs for a third time this offseason, and he’s staved off a challenge for the backup job by Trask. Both quarterbacks have had good moments in practice during training camp. Gabbert has made a few more plays than Trask, and Trask has made a few more mistakes than Gabbert.

Both have benefitted from increased reps with Brady taking some personal time off during August, in addition to some veteran rest days.

Gabbert has only played in a total of four series in two preseason games, but has completed 8-of-10 passes (80%) for 69 yards with one touchdown. By design, Trask has seen far more action, completing 36-of-57 passes (63.2%) for 363 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He’s also fumbled three times, losing one of those.

Arians retired from coaching and turned the team over to defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, but he is still around as the senior assistant to general manager Jason Licht. Known as “the QB whisperer,” Arians has called Gabbert “the most underrated player in the league” and believes he’s been the NFL’s best backup the last few years.

“Everybody’s got a ton of confidence in Blaine,” Arians said. “He’s been in the offense now for five years and he knows it inside and out. He has to watch getting bored sometimes because he knows what he’s doing. He’s a tremendous talent and reminds me of Kelly Holcolmb. I had Kelly in the system, and every time he played he would throw for 400. I have a ton of confidence in Blaine. He won two big games for us in Arizona. We beat Tennessee and Jacksonville. They were both really good. The players know he knows the offense and that he can do it.”

Gabbert has appreciated Arians’ support over the years as he’s developed in his system.

Bucs QB Blaine Gabbert – Photo by: USA Today

“I love that,” Gabbert said. “Jason is a great general manager, too. We all know that. But he’s a great person and a great friend. I can’t say enough great things about Bruce and Byron [Leftwich]. Those guys have been with me now for like five years. Not only that, but playing against them since I was in San Francisco. So that goes back to 2014 and having those relationships built for almost a decade now. It’s been super fun to kind of see the growth. I’ve been in this system now for five years. That was a gap when I was in Tennessee, but seeing how this system has evolved and how we’ve made it – in my eyes – the best offensive system in the NFL history.

“What we’ve done the last two years is unprecedented. We’ve averaged 30 points per game and Tom has thrown for over 10,000 yards in two years. The numbers speak for themselves and we’ve won a ton of football games. We won the Super Bowl and we’ve gone deep in the playoffs. I mean, we were a play away from going back to the NFC Championship Game last year. It’s been a lot of fun working with Tom and all these guys and building this culture here that is sustainable – not only for this year, but for the next 10 years. I hope to be a part of that.”

Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans confirmed Arians’ point about the players having trust in Gabbert should anything happen to Brady this year.

“I have a lot of confidence in Blaine,” Evans said. “He helps the receivers all the time. He’s helped Tom tremendously. He’s a great teammate and a great guy. I’ve played with him a couple plays and he did really good that game. I have the utmost trust and confidence in Blaine.”

Does Bowles Believe In Gabbert?

Yet, the big question is whether Bowles has confidence in Gabbert. Not as Brady’s backup, which will be his role this year. But whether Bowles views Gabbert – and perhaps Trask – as legitimate contenders for the starting job after Brady leaves or retires. That could be as soon as next year.

Gabbert had a strong ally in the building in Arians, and still has one in Licht, who is obviously in a position of power. But the quarterback position was Bowles’ undoing as the Jets head coach from 2015-2018. New York started five different quarterbacks in Bowles’ four years there. That’s never a recipe for success. Bowles will want to have a QB he can win with after Brady’s gone.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s been good,” Bowles said of Gabbert after the second joint practice with Tennessee. “It’s been great for him mentally. You know, the plays might not be there all the time, but the mental reps and what he’s getting in making the right play is very important. Not just making a wow play – but making the right play. So it’s been great to have him there.”

Does that sound like Bowles is convinced Gabbert, whom he has seen every day in practice for three years, could be a potential starter in Tampa Bay in 2023?

I’m an admitted Gabbert supporter and the conductor of the “Blaine Train.” I’m curious as to what Gabbert 2.0 could be like over a whole year after developing behind the scenes in this offense for five seasons. But I don’t get the sense that Bowles is sold on that notion.

Not yet. It would probably take an injury to happen to Brady and for Gabbert to step in and play well to sell Bowles on the 32-year old first-round pick.

And nobody wants to see that scenario happen.

Maybe Gabbert returns to Tampa Bay next year as a backup, or perhaps he follows Byron Leftwich elsewhere if he becomes a head coach in 2023 to contend for a starting job.

I’m just not sure Bowles is as big of a supporter as Gabbert as Arians is. We’ll see.

Gabbert Is Ready To Become A Starter Again

But Gabbert is thinking about starting next year – with the Bucs or another team.

“You always think about that,” Gabbert said. “As a quarterback, whether you are a first- or second-string guy, you have to prepare as a starter. You have to be locked in Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – even more so as the No. 2 because you are not getting the practice reps. You are getting scout team reps. So early on, I learned when you are doing the scout team reps, you call the plays in our language, which also helps the team and the young guys learn our language. That helps trigger your brain to say, ‘We’re staying fresh, we are running our system’ even though you might be running the Atlanta Falcons system on the cards. But you are putting it in our terminology, so that’s how you have to steal reps during the week. That’s always in the back of your mind – you are going into practice as the starter.”

Bucs QB Blaine Gabbert – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Gabbert is fighting his past reputation. He was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by Jacksonville, where he lasted just three years, going 5-22 as a starter. That was followed by three years in San Francisco, where he went 4-9 and eventually beat out Colin Kaepernick for the starting job. After going 2-3 as an emergency starter in Arizona in 2017, Gabbert spent the next year going 2-1 as a starter in Tennessee, filling in for Marcus Mariota.

Gabbert has quite possibly had the most unstable start to his career than any other QB to ever play in the NFL. That has contributed mightily to his underwhelming statistics. Gabbert has completed 56.3% of his passes for 9,273 yards with 50 touchdowns and 47 interceptions over his NFL career.

“It’s crazy, I’ve had maybe eight OCs and nine head coaches in eight years,” Gabbert said. “It was wild. It’s not a recipe for success. It would be like you having to write articles in a different language year after year. It’s hard and it’s tough. It’s not an excuse or a crutch. But it is what it is. It’s a fact.

“I would like to think that’s made me a better player, now being able to process all this information and hope it translates to the field instantly, but we know football is not an instantaneously successful sport. It takes time, it takes repetitions and it takes learning guys year after year. So you see the sustained success with guys that have been together year after year. You know what they’re going to do before they’re doing it. They know where you’re going to put it. That’s the type of camaraderie you want to see on the team and keeping things consistent from a coaching standpoint and a front office standpoint. We’ve built that here.”

Evans played with four different starting quarterbacks in his first six seasons in Tampa Bay. So, he can understand the struggle that Gabbert has gone through with a lack of consistency around him.

“It’s been tough for Blaine,” Evans said. “He’s not been put in good situations. But if you give him All-Pro receivers, a really good line and a good offensive coordinator, he would probably be thriving in the league and putting up some crazy numbers.”

No One Knows Bucs Offense Better Than Gabbert

Ever the Gabbert supporter, Arians agrees with Evans.

“In Tom’s absence, he’s gotten a ton of reps with the No. 1s,” Arians said. “To put him out there with Mike, Chris [Godwin], Julio [Jones] and Russ [Gage] – that’s lethal. I think this has been his best camp and his most consistent camp he’s had.”

Gabbert’s strength is his experience in Arians’ offense, which Leftwich is now running. With Brady missing so much time during camp, Gabbert has thrived when he’s been surrounded by a better starting cast.

Bucs QBs Blaine Gabbert and Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I know the system and where every piece should fit,” Gabbert said. “And once you have that level of mastery of a system, it helps. But we’re always learning as quarterbacks. We screw up constantly because football is such an imperfect sport. As QBs, we’re so OCD – we’re perfectionists. It needs to be perfect. We’re never going to reach that level, but we can always strive for it. Doing it consistently, day in and day out and play in and play out. The quarterback position is played with your brain.

“Everybody has physical talent. You wouldn’t be a first- or second-string quarterback for 12 – or 23 – years. Griff’s (Ryan Griffin) been in the league 10 years. This is Kyle’s second year. You wouldn’t be in these positions if you didn’t have the physical tools. Where you separate yourself from the pack is doing the right things on and off the field, which is upstairs (points to his head) and being able to think and process information on the field. That’s where you see guys make that step to the levels of Tom or Aaron [Rodgers] or guys like that.”

Will Gabbert ever get a shot at starting again? Or has the NFL already made up its mind about the Missouri product?

Gabbert has completed 16-of-27 passes for 210 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in mop-up duty in Tampa Bay. But he’s only appeared in 10 games due to Brady starting every game since he’s been with the Bucs.

“When the opportunity presents itself, you just have to run with it,” Gabbert said. “I was a starter early on and I’ve been a backup for five years and I haven’t started since 2018. Being a starting quarterback for a franchise – those opportunities don’t come around very often. You are one of 32 on the planet. I don’t care what anybody says. There are 32 starting quarterbacks and they are the best QBs on planet Earth. Those opportunities don’t come around very often, so you have to take advantage of them.”

Ready For Gabbert 2.0?

Not only has Gabbert had the luxury of learning the system for five years. He’s had the experience of a lifetime learning from Brady, the greatest QB of all-time, for the past three seasons.

“The key word is operate – how he operates,” Gabbert said of Brady. “Not only on the field, but off the field. How he takes care of himself, how he treats his body on and off the field. Knowing not to take hits like some of these young quarterbacks are taking. And it’s knowing how to manage a game and the situations when he does need to force a ball and when not to force a ball. Check-downs are great plays. Seeing how he manages the game with the ball in his hand the last few years. It’s been special. It’s been invaluable for everyone to see that.

“It’s all about risk-reward in the red zone, and that’s how you have to look at it. Does this risk outweigh the reward, or does the reward outweigh the risk? As a quarterback, that’s the ultimate battle you have to fight. Naturally, I like to try to cram it in there and it gets me in trouble sometimes. But Tom does a great job of discerning when and when not to take risks and he sees the field so well. That’s where he’s so special.”

Bucs QB Blaine Gabbert – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If Gabbert could back in time to Jacksonville in 2011, what would he tell the younger version of himself based on what he’s learned so far?

“Just be yourself,” Gabbert said. “There’s going to be a lot of things if I’m talking to myself as a 20-year old kid, there are going to be a lot of things that are out of your control. You have to focus on the things that you can control and make the most of the opportunity the best you can with the pieces that you have and let the chips fall where they may. That’s what I didn’t realize as a young player. You have to think that at age 21, you’re the savior of the city. One year, you’re in college. The next, you’re the face of a franchise. For one reason or another, it didn’t work out. There are a lot of external factors, a lot of internal factors. I didn’t play well and we all know that. Just worry about the things you can control because there are going to be factors that are going to impact your personal life and your job that you have no control over.

“You can’t control if the owner sells the team. You can’t control if your head coach gets fired in Week 8. It’s just part of the business, which sucks about the NFL. There are a lot of turnover and there is a lot of change. For a young player, in order to have sustained success, there needs to be consistency at the quarterback position, but also the people surrounding the quarterback. The head coach, the offensive coordinator and the front office – they have to be in sync with one another. It’s hard for any young quarterback to have a new system year in and year out.”

So, if we get a chance at Gabbert 2.0 at some point where he gets to run a team as a starter in the second phase of his career, what will we see?

“I think the best version of me,” Gabbert said. “I’m a fiery guy and super competitive. The switch goes on when you go on the field. Football takes you back to your younger self. It’s where you can be yourself on the grass. If I’ve learned anything these past 12 years, it’s to be yourself 24/7. Yourself is plenty good enough. You’re here for a reason and the guys appreciate that if you’re authentic. They know who they’re going to get day in and day out. The locker room sees through all the B.S. They see through it instantly if you’re not who you say you are. That’s the biggest thing and the guys love me for that. They know what they’re going to get.”

FAB 2. Final Bucs 53-Man Roster Prediction

Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen is going to be the X-factor in the Bucs’ 53-man roster construction. In order for Tampa Bay to have a chance at bringing Jensen back later this season, the team has to place him on short-term injured reserve. That can’t happen until the final roster cuts come down after the final preseason game on Saturday night in Indianapolis.

That means Jensen must be included in the Bucs’ final 53 after roster cuts. If Tampa Bay were to place Jensen on injured reserve prior to the final roster cuts, he would be out for the entire season. That will be the case for guard Aaron Stinnie, outside linebacker Cam Gill and running back Kenjon Barner. All three are out for the year.

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jensen might be able to return this season, but it won’t be for months. With him being placed on short-term injured reserve, Jensen is eligible to return after four games, but it will be longer due to his knee injury.

But by keeping Jensen on the 53-man roster through the roster cuts on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 4:00 p.m. ET, that means Tampa Bay will have to let a player go that it may want to keep. In fact, Jensen can’t be placed on short-term injured reserve until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31. So, the Bucs will have to keep him on their active, 53-man roster an entire day past roster cuts before they can make that move and replace him with another player.

All NFL teams can begin claiming players off waivers at noon ET on Wednesday, Aug. 31 and filling out their practice squads at that time. In those precious four hours between noon and 4:00 p.m. ET, Jensen must be on the roster. That may prohibit the Bucs from making a key waiver claim because their roster will include 52 healthy bodies and Jensen, a player who is likely months away from returning.

With that being said, here’s a 53-man roster projection prior to the Bucs’ preseason finale vs. the Colts – and the final roster cutdowns next week.

Bucs’ 53-Man Roster Prediction + Analysis

Quarterbacks = 3
Tom Brady
Blaine Gabbert
Kyle Trask

Analysis: The Bucs had hoped that Trask, a former second-round pick, would beat out Gabbert for the No. 2 job this year. But that hasn’t happened yet. Trask gets his last shot on Saturday in Indianapolis, likely playing the second half, to make a favorable impression.

Running Backs = 3
Leonard Fournette
Rachaad White
Ke’Shawn Vaughn

Analysis: The Bucs’ initial 53-man roster may include just three running backs. Giovani Bernard might be a veteran who can be cut and then re-signed a day later in order to get Jensen on the short-term injured reserve. Or Tampa Bay may just ride with three backs this year and add one to the practice squad.

Bucs WRs Julio Jones and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Wide Receivers = 7
Mike Evans
Chris Godwin
Russell Gage
Julio Jones
Tyler Johnson
Jaelon Darden
Deven Thompkins

Analysis: The Bucs will likely wind up keeping six receivers. But don’t rule out seven receivers because Godwin is still not 100% cleared to practice in a full-contact capacity. While Julio Jones remains healthy, his hamstrings could be a ticking time-bomb. The danger in keeping only six receivers is that if Godwin is limited and Jones’ hamstrings flare up, then all of a sudden, the Bucs are down to four healthy wideouts. To combat that scenario, the Bucs wind up keeping seven receivers, including two that can be return specialists in Darden and Thompkins.

Tight Ends = 4
Cam Brate
Kyle Rudolph
Cade Otton
Ko Kieft

Analysis: Tampa Bay keeps four tight ends – two veterans and two rookies. Otton has shown promise and is a future starter, while Kieft is a great blocker in-line or as a fullback. Another rookie, J.J. Howland has shown promise and might wind up on the practice squad.

Offensive Line = 9
Tristan Wirfs
Shaq Mason
Robert Hainsey
Luke Goedeke
Donovan Smith
Nick Leverett
Josh Wells
Brandon Walton
Ryan Jensen

Analysis: The Bucs typically keep nine offensive linemen, but the final roster cuts include only eight healthy bodies. When Jensen goes on short-term injured reserve on Aug. 31, the Bucs could possibly add another offensive lineman to the roster. It might be rookie offensive tackle Dylan Cook, who has shown some promise. If he’s not signed to the active roster, Cook may land on the practice squad. Goedeke wins the starting left guard spot as long as he has a solid showing in Indianapolis. Leverett is the backup guard-center, Wells is the backup tackle and Walton can play guard and tackle.

Bucs NT Vita Vea and DT Logan Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Defensive Line = 6
Akiem Hicks
Vita Vea
Will Gholston
Logan Hall
Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Pat O’Connor

Analysis: O’Connor makes the cut due to his play on special teams and the pass rush he can generate. His 1.5 sacks are tied for the team lead in the preseason. Deadrin Senat, Mike Greene, Willington Previlon and Benning Potoa’e might be candidates for the practice squad.

Outside Linebackers = 5
Shaquil Barrett
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Anthony Nelson
Carl Nassib
Genard Avery

Analysis: Gill would have made the team after a great camp and hot start to the preseason. But a Lisfranc injury will cause him to miss the season. In place of Gill, Nassib returns. This quartet may be just as good as the unit the Super Bowl Bucs had in 2020 if Tryon-Shoyinka develops into a high-quality starter.

Inside Linebackers = 4
Devin White
Lavonte David
K.J. Britt
Olakunle Fatukasi

Analysis: In a tough move, Fatukasi makes the team over Grant Stuard because of his ability to be a factor on defense and special teams. Stuard is a liability on defense and has had problems staying healthy. He might return on the practice squad. Fatukasi is also a better athlete than Britt.

Bucs CBs Sean Murphy-Bunting, Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Cornerbacks = 5
Carlton Davis III
Jamel Dean
Sean Murphy-Bunting
Zyon McCollum
Don Gardner

Analysis: The Bucs will wind up keeping five cornerbacks, especially after so many injuries at the position a year ago. The final spot could come down to Dee Delaney vs. Rashard Robinson vs. Gardner in the preseason finale. We’re going to take a chance and go with the playmaking rookie in Gardner for the upset over the vets.

Safeties = 4
Antoine Winfield, Jr.
Mike Edwards
Logan Ryan
Keanu Neal

Analysis: The Bucs keep four safeties, but might end up being forced to keep five if rookie Nolan Turner has a great finale at Indianapolis. If Turner doesn’t make the team and isn’t claimed off waivers, he could be back on the practice squad. Although Winfield is a safety in base defense, he’s a slot cornerback in nickel coverage. All four safeties will play a good deal of football this year.

Specialists = 3
LS Zach Triner
K Ryan Succop
P Jake Camarda

Analysis: Jose Borregales had a great camp, but Succop’s consistency won out. Despite turning 36 in September, Succop is a veteran with experience and has missed just one postseason kick in his career. The Bucs keep him for Brady’s final season.

FAB 3. What We’ve Learned From Bucs Backup QB Battle

Ultimately what the Bucs have learned from their backup quarterback battle is that once Tom Brady is gone, there is no clear-cut successor in-house. Tampa Bay spent the preseason games giving unproven second-year QB Kyle Trask the opportunity to prove he could be the backup and perhaps position himself as Brady’s heir apparent in 2023.

That didn’t happen. But Trask has shown improvement and could wind up as the No. 2 next year depending on if Brady and or Blaine Gabbert decide to return to Tampa Bay in 2023. Both will be free agents.

Bucs QB Kyle Trask and OC Byron Leftwich – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I think Kyle has been improving drastically,” Leftwich said. “Obviously, the results and the numbers from the [Tennessee] game – I think he was a few plays away from you guys thinking he may have had a big game that game. That’s not how it goes, I see him getting better every day though, so he’s improving on things you guys can’t notice, that’s all about playing the game at quarterback.

“When you have the turnovers, those are things that you guys notice and things that you guys grade. Other than those types of things – we have to protect the football – but other than that, this kid has been getting better every day also. It’s just a repetition thing. It’s hard to play quarterback in this league, right? You compare everything to Brady, everything looks bad, right [laughs]? That’s what he’s facing right now. I’m glad that he’s in that room with Thomas because he gets to get better and gets to hear it from Tom also. So, I think the kid has been improving as much as you can improve given the reps that he’s been getting.”

Gabbert Likely Beats Out Trask For The Backup Job

The only problem with Trask is that he has had a history of being a slow-developing QB. That was the case in high school and at Florida, where he didn’t finally emerge as the starter until he was an upperclassman. The problem is that he’ll be entering his third season in the league next year and the Bucs won’t have a lot to go on in terms of making a projection about his trajectory outside of the 2021 and ’22 preseason games.

That’s because Gabbert, a 12-year veteran, figures to be the backup again this season while the Bucs’ Super Bowl window is still open. So, if any QB other than Brady takes snaps under center this year, it will likely be Gabbert.

While Bruce Arians has been a big believer in Gabbert for some time, he also had a hand in drafting Trask with the final pick in the second round in 2021. He’s been pleased with his development, too.

Bucs QBs Kyle Trask, Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Kyle has shown a lot of improvement, too,” Arians said. “It’s been a great competition. Kyle learns every day and has a bright future.”

The competition for the backup job has not only raised Trask’s level of play, but Gabbert has also had his best training camp thus far. Despite being 32, Gabbert has plenty of tread left on his tires because he hasn’t started a game since 2018.

“It’s fun to see guys play older and older, and I’m in that conversation now,” Gabbert said. “There have been so many advances in not only medicine, but how we treat ourselves off the field with therapy. TB12 is right down the street. Alex [Guerrero] is here. Just doing that day in and day out just helps elongate careers. Back in the day, the average career was less than three years. I think as these guys take care of their bodies better and train better and as you get older, you’re going to see these careers lengthen out. It’s really fun to play quarterback now. I feel great.”

Gabbert Has High Praise For Trask

Gabbert has the reputation of not only helping Brady learn the offense, but even Trask, who is his primary competition for the backup QB spot.

“He’s a good football player,” Gabbert said. “He’s young. We were all young at one point. He’s learning. It’s a constant process. You want to be perfect from the get-go, but you’re not. It’s a matter of fact. You can’t be. It’s impossible. Now, some guys have done it early on in their careers, but those guys are few and far between. But it’s fun to see Kyle grow and learn.

“We’re talking at a PHD level in our QB room. He’s coming in at a college level. He’s hearing these higher-level conversations, and he’s very fortunate to be in a room like that. Having the ability to take his time and learn, get into the system, learn the players and not be forced – ‘Hey, Kyle, you’re starting Week 1 of your rookie year.’ You’re a deer in the headlights then. So it’s kind of fun to see him take the growth and the maturation process and go from there. Somebody always wants your job, but sometimes competition is the best thing because it gets you to elevate your level of play to a level that you didn’t know you could get to.”

The good news is that Bucs’ cupboard won’t be bare at QB next year with Trask back for his third season. And perhaps Gabbert comes back to challenge for the starting job or the backup if Brady departs. While both have improved this preseason, neither quarterback has put themselves into strong consideration to ultimately replace Brady.

The Bucs will bring another QB into the mix in 2023 if Brady leaves. It’s just unknown if that will be a free agent, another draft pick or a QB acquired via a trade.

FAB 4. Gabbert Always Helping Young Bucs WRs

Blaine Gabbert hasn’t been re-signed in Tampa Bay in each of the last three years just because of his strong arm and his knowledge of the Bucs’ offensive system. He’s also one of the best teachers on the team. Quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen has lauded how Gabbert helped get Tom Brady up to speed when he arrived during the COVID-19 season in 2020. Christensen has even called Gabbert a de facto assistant QBs coach.

But it isn’t just Brady that Gabbert is assisting. He has his own unique way of helping the Bucs’ young receivers. As previously mentioned, when he runs the scout team, Gabbert converts what is on the cards into plays within the Bucs offense. So, if there is a play that Dallas runs which features a double post, Gabbert will call a similar double post play in Tampa Bay’s offense. That helps the young, scout team receivers hear the Bucs’ terminology and actually get reps within the system while giving Tampa Bay’s defense a good look.

Bucs WR Jaelon Darden – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“You see the picture and translate that into our language and you call the play with our protection, our formation, our combination,” Gabbert said. “It helps me and it’s a great learning tool for the young players because they are hearing it over and over again. That may not be in our game plan that week, but they’re still hearing – conceptually – what we call it. And they are running our stuff. You give our defense a great look on scout team, and our offensive guys are learning our system at the same time. You are going through your progressions regardless if it’s in the game plan that specific week.”

When asked to single out which young wide receiver has stood out to him the most in camp, Gabbert named all of them – Jaelon Darden, Deven Thompkins, Kaylon Geiger and Jerreth Sterns.

“Just helping the young guys is so much fun,” Gabbert said. “The Jaelon Darden example last year and seeing his growth – working with him day in and day out and teaching guys is my biggest strength. Knowing where they should be and putting it in terms as a football player that you can understand. If you’re in the meeting room, it’s very rigid. It’s by the book – ‘this is the play.’ But when you’re on the field, it’s fluid – it’s an evolving organism. Teaching those guys how to feel things and where the ball is going to be versus certain looks – that’s what I enjoy the most, especially in the summer because you have time to sit down with those guys and help them see the game through a quarterback’s eyes. Most of them have never been taught to see the game that way coming through college.”

“It’s my 12th year. I’m 32, but it’s fun to teach the young guys. It’s fun to see the growth year after year. Watching Jaelon this year and the strides he’s made compared to last year. Now he’s hitting the ground running in OTAs, the mini-camp, training camp. It’s super fun and kind of rewarding to take that next step in their careers. It helps to have guys who will work their ass off every day. They are hungry for the ball and they’re making plays every day. This is a special group of receivers.”

Gabbert On Bucs WRs: “We’re So Deep, It’s Crazy”

Bucs Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans has taken note of Gabbert’s willingness to help the young guys.

“This is like his 12th year in the league and he’s a true pro,” Evans said. “Blaine always helps the young receivers. He wants to help them make a lot of plays and make a lot of money in this league. He gets them on the right track to do that. That’s awesome.”

Bucs WRs Julio Jones and Russell Gage – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It isn’t just the young backup receivers who have caught Gabbert’s attention. Gabbert has taken plenty of reps with the starters this offseason during Tom Brady’s multiple absences.

“We’re so deep, it’s crazy,” Gabbert said. “Julio [Jones] and Mike are Hall of Famers. Chris [Godwin] has everything he needs to be a Hall of Famer. There are potentially three Hall of Famers at the top of our receiver depth chart. And Russell Gage has been phenomenal. His skill set is so unique. You can’t teach the ability he has.”

Going against Todd Bowles’ defense in practice every day is no piece of cake, as Gabbert has learned over the years.

“It’s really hard,” Gabbert said. “Everybody is really good in the NFL. Everybody in the NFL was practically an all-star on their college team. That’s a harsh reality a lot of guys have to learn. You’re not the top dog. There are 90 guys that were top dogs on their college teams in training camp each year. That’s the beauty of it. That makes it so much fun to compete against these guys – throwing against [Jamel] Dean, and Carlton [Davis III] and [Sean Murphy] Bunting. Those are some of the best corners on planet Earth. But we’ve got some good receivers, so let’s see where we stack up.”

FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

• WHITE IS MAKING ‘EM MISS: Bucs rookie running back Rachaad White is proving to be quite elusive in the preseason thus far.

• THANK GRUDEN: According to UFC president Dana White, Jon Gruden blew up a deal that would have sent QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski to Las Vegas to play for the Raiders in 2020. Instead, Brady landed in Tampa Bay and helped the Bucs win their second Super Bowl in franchise history. Thanks, Jon.

THIS WEEK’S PEWTER REPORT PODCASTS

• BUCS-COLTS COVERAGE ON THE PEWTER REPORT PODCAST: The Pewter Report Podcast is energized by CELSIUS and broadcasts four live episodes each week. Next week’s schedule will feature PR Podcasts on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as the Bucs begin preparations for the season opener at Dallas in Week 1.

***There will be a NEW Pewter Report Podcast this Saturday night, approximately 45 minutes following the Bucs at Colts preseason game.

Scott Reynolds and Bailey Adams talk about Tom Brady’s return to practice this week.

Reynolds, Matt Matera and Kasey Hudson each pick three Bucs bubble players to keep on the 53-man roster.

Matera and J.C. Allen discuss the starters for the Bucs vs. Colts game and what to look for in the preseason finale.

Watch the Pewter Report Podcasts live on our PewterReportTV channel on YouTube.com and please subscribe (it’s free) and add your comments. We archive all Pewter Report Podcasts. So, you can watch the recorded episodes if you missed them live.

There is no better time to listen to or watch a new Pewter Report Podcast – energized by CELSIUS – than Friday afternoon on the way home from work. Or early Saturday morning during your workout or while running errands.

The popularity of the Pewter Report Podcast continues to grow. In addition to listening to the Pewter Report Podcasts on PewterReport.com, you can also subscribe to the free podcasts at PodBean by clicking here and on SoundCloud by clicking here. And of course, the Pewter Report Podcast is also available on iTunes and YouTube. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode.

FINAL VIDEO

• SCOTTY’S LAST SHOT? Bucs wide receiver Scotty Miller might need a great game in Indianapolis to make the final roster. Here’s a look at his best season in Tampa Bay, which came during the team’s Super Bowl LV run.