Sorry if this is a duplicate topic, I'm having issues posting this as the topic isn't appearing.
Training Camp schedule: Training Camp Link
Rookies report on Tuesday July 25th with Vets reporting two days later on Thursday July 27th.
I've been on the PR boards for probably close to 20 years now and I can honestly say that this year there is a very different feel from years past. When the Bucs got to 10-6 under Morris, fans were excited, but most of the board was leery of the prior record. There was excitement, but a lot of apprehension about the team. Most fans knew that the record was more about luck than talent, but we wanted a winner, so we went to camp with the hope that the wins that we got with smoke, mirrors and effort could be a turning point. However, along with that record came too much pre-season media attention and the players that played above their heads the prior year fell back to earth as mostly under average talent.
This year, I sense difference though. There is the media hype, but the players, while excited, don't seem to be buying it. Maybe the lessons learned from the prior seasons that wins take a lot of work has taken hold, but I see players working hard on their game and game knowledge over the off season. Also, if the newly drafted players can contribute the way we hope, falling back to a 4-6 win season is unlikely. There seems to be not only more depth on this team, but a strong commitment to be better.
Also, no player drama. No players in trouble, no players with legal issues and only a few with injury concerns that appear to be fine for the start of camp.
When you look at the other teams in our division, you can see that our team can measure up. Last season we split with Atlanta and New Orleans and beat Carolina twice. None of those were 'lucky' wins. WE CAN compete, we can beat those other teams, we can win this division.
I'm excited for this year. I'm not expecting a 15-1 season record, I'm not even expecting to win the division, but I am expecting to make the playoffs and I am expecting us to compete for that division title.
Yes, there are questions about some units on the team. We don't know if the teams faith in the offensive line will be met. We don't know for certain if the defense can be the defense we saw the last half of last year or not. We don't know if the running game will go back to the 2015 level or be the 2016 level. But indications are that players believe that their will be better and they KNOW that they did play at higher levels for stretches last season. The key for this years team will be consistency.
Can't wait! Almost here, GO BUCS!
