Pewter Report’s Bucs Camp Diary, a popular training camp feature on PewterReport.com, returns in 2024. We are excited to have two very intriguing players to profile in veteran outside linebacker Markees Watts and rookie running back Bucky Irving, the Bucs’ fourth-round pick.

Watts was fifth on the depth chart at outside linebacker last year and a roster spot is not assured in 2024. But he has the talent to make the team once again – and shoot up the depth chart with a great camp and preseason.
 
Irving will take readers through the experience of rookie life in his first training camp in Tampa Bay in Liam Coen’s new offense. The small, shifty, tackle-breaking runner and receiver is expected to back up Rachaad White and earn carries and playing time based on his camp and preseason performance.
 
Look for Watts’ and Irving’s Camp Diary installments each week throughout training camp and the preseason.

Markees Watts was an undrafted free agent and the all-time leading sacker at Charlotte. He made the team last year with a sack, a forced fumble and a team-high nine pressures in the preseason. He wound up leading the team with a 23% pass rush win rate last year as a situational pass rusher and is in the most crowded and competitive training camp battle at outside linebacker.

Watts was a guest this summer on the Pewter Report Podcast and gave Bucs fans some incredible insight in his interview.

Joint Practices Have A Lot Of Tension

By Markees Watts As Told To Scott Reynolds

Bucs OLB Markees Watts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In my one year of NFL experience, joint practices have a lot of tension in them. I expect to see some type of steam that’s been built up from that game last year (the Bucs’ 30-12 win over the Jaguars on Christmas Eve). I absolutely expect it. Those guys (the Jaguars) have some pride, and they remember that game. The coaches will be reminding them of it, too.

I expect some tension with the Jaguars. Guys always get fired up for joint practices. There will be a lot of passion and enthusiasm over the next couple of days. We absolutely ruined their Christmas last year, and we’re two teams in the same state – and they are talented.

I need to get back on my horse as a pass rusher. I’ve made a name for myself as a speed guy who is going to bend and run around you. But now that the secret is out of the bag, guys are setting for that now. It’s getting more difficult to do that. I need to change up my game, change up what I’m doing and do something different. That’s what I’m focusing on this week [in the joint practices]. I’m still going to use my speed, though. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I don’t like leaving games without a sack. It feels like a loss to me.

Markees Watts Was Excited For The Win In Cincinnati

Bucs RB Bucky Irving and C Graham Barton – Photo by: USA Today

It was a tight game when we wanted it to be a blowout. That’s just how competitive we are. If there is something to be won, we want to win it. It was fun to go out there and compete, but also to get the win.

With our running backs, if you don’t take the right angle you’re screwed. You better make sure you pick the right hip to tackle and you better be doing your job when you play against our guys. Sean Tucker showed off his speed. You can see he’s a different animal this year. He’s more confident in his playing style and who he is as a player. Just seeing him dominate was fun to see. Bucky Irving, with him coming in as a rookie, he did great in his first NFL experience. It was so much fun seeing those guys have a ball and seeing them smile.

It felt natural to play the run, it didn’t feel forced. I didn’t have to overextend myself to set the edge. I played hard in that aspect of my game. That’s something I’ve been working on in the run game – setting the edge – and it felt natural to me.

Keenan Isaac got a nice interception [versus the Bengals]. I’ve always known Keenan to be a hard worker whether we’re doing sprints, team [drills] or install. He’s always going to be the guy with the iPad in his hand, going over practice film, going over plays. Seeing him get another pick in practice [on Monday against Baker Mayfield] is just the result of his hard work.

Bucs Need To Do A Better Job Rushing The Passer vs. The Jaguars

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When it came to rushing the passer [against the Bengals], for me personally, it wasn’t the best feeling in the world. We got some pretty good rushes out of our group. The effort was there, but it was just a game where we didn’t have enough time – not just enough time, but we needed to get faster in our pass rush. It’s something that we can fix. The growth is there, and the effort and execution are there. We just have to be faster to the quarterback.

As every good coach would, we didn’t show our best stuff in the preseason opener. Good coaches hold their cards until the right time in the regular season. So we didn’t do any games or stunts [in Cincinnati]. Doing games with Vita Vea and Will Gholston – those huge, massive guys – attracts so much attention because of the threat they are on the inside. If you get to twisting and wrapping with those guys it’s an absolute ball. I can literally hide behind Vita Vea. So when we do certain twists and I can literally bend down and get so low that a guard can’t see me until it’s too late just because Vita takes up so much space. I try to use that to my advantage.

It felt good to see Jose [Ramirez] have success. Practicing with Jose you see that he puts his best foot forward every day. He never comes in with a negative attitude or anything like that. He just works. To see all the work he put in pay off, and him having an absolute blast out there – it was fun to watch and be a part of.

New Kickoff Coverage Is More Fun

It felt good covering the new kickoffs. It felt good because the play itself is shorter. You don’t have to run 30-40 yards downfield like the old kickoffs. The first two or three seconds you were sprinting down the field just trying to get to the play. Now, the play is on top of you right away. So it speeds up the game and gets to the play faster. It also saves us some energy from not having to run those extra 30-40 yards a couple of times each game.

I like it. It makes the game more exciting. But you really have to be disciplined because if a guy out-leverages you he could be gone. We almost had one get out at the end of the game on us. No one knows who is going to do what on kick returns this year, so I think it’s exciting. I think it’s a ball.

Follow Markees Watts On X: @ilovemarkees

Follow Markees Watts On Instagram: @iammarkeeswatts

Previous Markees Watts Camp Diaries

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