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.

It’s Absolutely The Dog Days Of Camp Right Now

By Markees Watts As Told To Scott Reynolds

This week has been tough. The first day in pads didn’t turn out well – just getting adjusted to the pads. The inside run period really got ahold of me there. But the next day, I came back out and got better. It’s an uphill battle, but I’ve got this. I just need to make sure I’m physical and hold my ground.

The coaches want somebody that can do it all – rush the passer and set the edge and play the run. There are a lot of people that can pass rush, but having somebody that can do everything – that’s very valuable. Playing all the days – that’s valuable. The best ability is availability. They want to see me do because I’ve done it before. I’ve had flashes where I’ve set the edge. I held my own. They just need to see consistency and I understand. In order for me to show consistency it has to be me mastering my technique and being comfortable with my technique so I can do it over and over again.

It’s absolutely the dog days of camp right now. I thought practice was over at one point because we were taking a break, but then we had another period after that. This is definitely the dog days. We’re getting sick of going against our teammates now. We’re ready to go against somebody else. A couple more practices next week and then we will.

Markees Watts Has His Best Practice Of Camp On Friday

[On Friday], I made a really nice play against the run. It’s always good to switch it up. It was a disguise where I was doing something completely different than what Luke [Goedeke] thought I was doing. I made it look the same and it caught him off guard. I switched up my technique and got in the backfield and got [Rachaad White for a loss].

As much as I love to pass rush and as much as I value sacks, it’s not the only thing you need from your edge rushers. Tackles for loss are just as important. You need guys who can transition from the pass to the run and set the edge and get into the backfield and chase down running backs. I had a great time today doing that.

[On Friday in one-on-one pass rush drills] I went against Justin Skule and they know that I like to get upfield and rush the passer from the edge and stay low. It’s always a mind game. Does he expect me to do that, or should I go inside instead? Once we line up, I have a plan in my mind about what I’m going to do. If he sets in a certain way where he’s expecting that, what’s going to happen next? How do I counter that? Do I go inside?

On that rep, I stuck to what I do best and he did exactly what I expected and he set for that, so I countered back inside. I also had a rep against Luke [Goedeke] and I did the same thing – get up-field around the arc, and get around the turn.

Our tight ends are doing a better job blocking this year. They are showing aggression. They are a challenge, but we as outside linebackers, we have to establish our dominance. They are going to keep trying to do it, but it’s our responsibility as outside linebackers to show who’s on top and who’s the dawg.

More Opportunities To Capitalize On With Yaya Diaby Out

Yaya [Diaby] was having a great camp. He was an absolute dawg. He was on another level – just mowing people over, getting on the edge, setting the edge, dropping in coverage – he was doing it all. Looking at what happened to him we all knew he was fine because he’s Yaya Diaby. I wasn’t really worried. I knew he was going to be fine and he’ll be back.

Now we have to capitalize on our opportunities. There will be more opportunities now, and there were more today. We all got more reps and I took advantage of it. It’s going to be harder because you get more reps and it’s hot outside. You just have to have a strong mind because you are going to get more fatigued with more reps. My reps were higher and my fatigue was also higher. That was a challenge today, but I took advantage of it.

Despite it being hot, I’ve been weighing in and out around the same weight – 250. It’s natural and it feels good. It doesn’t feel like I’m carrying a bunch of weight when I’m out there.

It’s Time To Chill Out

This thing [the BRZ40 cool-down trailer] is magical. I wish we could get in it during practice. It’s an icebox. It’s freezing cold and it almost puts you to sleep the moment you get in there. You can’t fall asleep in there because you’re done if you do. You’ll die. It’s below freezing, and if it’s not below freezing it’s maybe 33 or 34 degrees. It’s beautiful.

When you walk in the door and you sit down the first thing you do is exhale. It’s immediate relaxation and recovery. The minute you sit down it’s instant recovery. Ten minutes in there feels like five hours of recovery time.

The most impressive thing about Chris Braswell is how he’s picked up the defense. He understands the defense and you don’t see him too much on the ME (mental error) list. He picked it up way better than I did last year. He’s on top of his game and he understands the role he has to play. He learned another valuable lesson in that when somebody goes down you may have to play their position.

It feels great to understand what I’m actually doing out there. Last year I was just picking up the defense. I was new to it. I was just trying to understand my job and what I’m supposed to do. This year I understand more than just what my job is. I understand why I’m doing my job. I understand where my help is when I drop in coverage – inside versus out, single high versus double high and things like that. It’s huge for me.

Follow Markees Watts On X: @ilovemarkees

Follow Markees Watts On Instagram: @iammarkeeswatts

Previous Markees Watts Camp Diaries

Markees Watts Camp Diary: I’m Definitely More Powerful This Year

Markees Watts Camp Diary: Facing Luke Goedeke Is Nothing But Work