What We've Learned Through Week 1 of Training Camp

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: What We've Learned Through Week 1 of Training Camp By Luke Easterling Aug 7, 2015 Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Despite the valiant attempts of severe thunderstorms to wash out their first round of practices, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gotten their 2015 training camp underway over the past week.Fans and coaches alike are getting their first look at what they hope to be a much-improved team this year, having finished with a league-worst 2-14 record in 2014.Despite last year's poor finish and failure to meet high expectations, there's plenty of hope to be found around One Buc Place. Much of that hope rests on the shoulders of Jameis Winston, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft and the team's new franchise quarterback who will be counted on as the starter from Day 1.With the first week of training camp in the books, let's take a look at what we've learned so far about this year's Tampa Bay team.Winston Is Promsing, but Still Just a RookieChris O'Meara/Associated Press Jameis Winston has had some impressive moments so far in his first NFL training camp, but as the team has moved into full-pad practices, he's also starting to show he's still a mere mortal.As PewterReport.com pointed out, Winston has struggled at times during full-team drills, as he did during Tuesday's practice:“ The team then moved into the first 11-on-11 portion of the day, and Winston struggled. His first pass, intended for Jackson on the sideline, was poorly thrown and picked off by Alterraun Verner. Then, following a short completion, Winston threw another pick, this time into the hands of Lavonte David, who undercut tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins slant route in the middle of the field. Winston ended the drill 4-for-8, including the two picks.”Winston understandably seems far more comfortable during seven-on-seven drills, but it's important to remember any rookie quarterback should be expected to have growing pains in his first NFL practices. With preseason games fast approaching, Winston will soon get his first chance to take his lumps in live competition, during which fans should expect a few mistakes.Mid-Round Draft Picks Could Contribute Plenty EarlyChris O'Meara/Associated Press It's not too common for rookies to come out of the fourth or fifth round and make an instant impact, but it looks like the Bucs have a couple of players who could do just that this season.A fifth-round pick out of Nebraska, receiver Kenny Bell has already put together an impressive training camp. Bell has rarely dropped a pass, making a few highlight-worthy grabs along the way, and seems to be developing a strong chemistry with his new quarterback, Jameis Winston.Head coach Lovie Smith noted Bell stood out in Sunday's practice, per Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger:“ He was productive in college. His speed, you are able to see some of it on some of the passes that he caught. Kenny can also do some things in the kicking game, whether it is returning punts or a gunner on our special teams. …We always talk to our players about doing something to be noticed and we noticed Kenny (Sunday).”Bell isn't the only mid-round pick who has turned heads, however. Linebacker Kwon Alexander—whom the Bucs traded up to grab in the fourth round—is already showing the kind of athleticism and versatility Tampa Bay's coaching staff covets.Bucs linebackers coach—and a former star at linebacker for the team himself—Hardy Nickerson says they're giving Alexander a chance to show where he fits best, per Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com:“ He's a really good football player with really good range. The main thing for us is we want guys that are versatile. We're just seeing where he fits best. Initially during the offseason he was at SAM, then he played some MIKE in the nickel package. The move was to see where he fits in best, so he's been playing some MIKE linebacker so far.”It's clear the Bucs have big plans for both Bell and Alexander, and they'll be given every opportunity to deliver from Day 1.Doug Martin Is the 'Lead Back'Chris O'Meara/Associated Press Coming into training camp, many expected the Bucs to have a committee situation at running back, with Doug Martin and Charles Sims challenging each other for the most touches, while Bobby Rainey and others fought over the scraps.But head coach Lovie Smith has already made it clear Martin will be the team's lead back, per Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times:“ Definitely a key for us. We talked about being able to establish the run. Doug will be the lead guy doing that, so it's very important that we open up some holes and let him do his thing.I don't know about 2012 and, last year, none of us performed the way we needed to. I just know Doug has been great through the offseason program. Seems like he is running hard out there right now. No complaints. Again, he, like the rest of us, plans on performing a lot better this year and he'll get an opportunity to.”After a Pro Bowl rookie season that saw him rack up nearly 2,000 total yards, Martin has been slowed by injuries over the past two seasons, all while running behind a struggling offensive line. It looks like he'll be given every chance to recapture his 2012 form this season, which will be key for an offense run by a rookie starting quarterback.Johnthan Banks Leads the SecondaryKim Klement-USA TODAY Sports When the Bucs signed Alterraun Verner in free agency last year, he was expected to fill the void as Tampa Bay's top cover man, left empty by the departure of Darrelle Revis.But it was second-year pro Johnthan Banks who established himself as the team's best corner last year, and that trend has continued into this year's training camp, says defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, per Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger:“ Johnthan really came on for us late in the season. He's kind of picked up where he left off over the offseason program and here in training camp as well. We're hoping and expecting big things from Johnthan as he takes another step in the maturation process. He's doing some good things, and we'll just see how he continues to develop.”Banks led the team with four interceptions last year and brings the size necessary to hang with the league's bigger receivers at 6'2", 185 pounds. It looks like the second-round pick out of Mississippi State will again be counted on by the Bucs to shut down the likes of Julio Jones, Roddy White, Kelvin Benjamin and Marques Colston this year.An Indoor Practice Facility Must Happen FastKim Klement-USA TODAY Sports After a persistent barrage of thunderstorms forced the Bucs to delay and eventually move their first scheduled practice of training camp, the clamoring for an indoor practice facility grew to a deafening degree from fans.But team co-chairman Bryan Glazer says the team has already been making progress toward building such a facility, per Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune:“ We actually are working on that right now. The architects are drawing that up. It’s a work in progress but that is going to happen. As soon as we get the drawings done we’ll give you further details.Over the years we haven’t missed too many practices. But we have been talking about this for a while now. The architects are actually drawing that up right now.”Tampa is known for routine afternoon thunderstorms throughout the summer, so an indoor facility has always made plenty of sense for the Bucs. It looks like the impact those storms have already had on this year's practice time will help move that process along.link