FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

• Not only did the Miami Dolphins lose starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a torn ACL during training camp, they’ve also lost a starting cornerback Tony Lippett to a torn Achilles tendon this week. Former Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler, who has a history with Dolphins head coach Adam Gase dating back to their time together with the Bears, has come out of retirement to sign a one-year, $10-million deal to be Miami’s starting quarterback.

The last time the Bucs played Cutler it was in a 36-10 rout over the Bears last season. Cornerback Brent Grimes and safety Chris Conte each picked Cutler off, with Conte returning his interception for a touchdown. Cutler was 16-of-30 for 182 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and also was sacked four times, including once for a safety by defensive end Robert Ayers, Jr.

Rookie linebacker Raekwon McMillan, Miami’s first-round pick, tore his ACL during the Dolphins’ first preseason game. Miami was already down a starting linebacker as Koa Misi was placed on injured reserve prior to training camp with a lingering neck injury.

Facing a Dolphins team at less than full strength only increases the Bucs’ chances of scoring a road win in Miami to start the 2017 season.

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• Our @PewterReport Twitter account continue to grow at a rapid rate and we are closing in on 27,000 followers. Thank you for your support! If you aren’t following us on Twitter for practice videos and live tweets from practice and press conferences in addition to live game tweets and story updates from PewterReport.com, you can join the legions of Bucs fans out there in Pewter Nation that follow @PewterReport by clicking here. And if Facebook is your social media platform of choice, you can follow us by clicking here.

• While Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has been dominant in training camp practices and in the preseason games, especially against the run, defensive tackle Clinton McDonald, a three-year starter at nose tackle from 2014-16, is thriving as a reserve, backing up McCoy and new nose tackle Chris Baker. Through two preseason games McDonald has four tackles and a tackle for loss.

“I’m enjoying playing both positions,” McDonald said. “You never take camp for granted because it’s a hard grind, but at the same time, to be able to work the nose and to work the three, it makes you more versatile in the scheme of football. I don’t mind it at all. I’m having fun out here.”

McDonald has gained 10 pounds this offseason and is up to 300 pounds. The addition of Baker will likely keep McDonald fresher and less banged up during the season. McDonald has missed at least three games due to injury since his arrival in Tampa Bay in 2014. McDonald had five sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception in his first season with the Bucs, playing in 13 games. McDonald missed 10 games with a season-ending injury in 2015, but came to record 3.5 sacks in 12 games last year.

• PewterReport.com is excited to partner with Fanatics.com, the leader in sports apparel and fan gear. You might have seen the red Bucs Gear tab on PewterReport.com’s menu bar at the top of the website. Clicking on that link or any Fanatics.com banner on PewterReport.com, including the one to the right, will give PewterReport.com a commission on any sale you make.

Whether it’s purchasing Bucs gear or any merchandise from any team in any sport on Fanatics.com, when you buy anything through clicking the Bucs Gear tab or banner ads on this site first you’ll be supporting our efforts here at PewterReport.com. Now you know where to visit if you are looking to purchase a new DeSean Jackson or O.J. Howard Bucs jersey. And remember this when it comes to the holiday shopping season, too. Visit PewterReport.com first then click on the Bucs Gear tab.

We appreciate your support, Pewter Nation. It’s help like this that continues to fund our efforts to provide you with the best Bucs coverage on the Internet and improve our website.

• Tampa Bay defensive end Will Gholston has also added a few pounds in the offseason in an effort to better hold up better against the run, despite being the team’s best run stopper along the defensive line.

“I’m not 300 pounds yet,” Gholston said. “I’m close to the same weight I was last year. I’m about 290. You know I like to play at 285, but it depends on what the coaches want. I feel more comfortable though. It’s not like I lost anything with putting on a few pounds.

“I was smaller before under [former head coach] Lovie [Smith], but I think they like big guys around here now and Coach [Jay] Hayes has showed me how to use my leverage and use my strength because he is a big guy.”

Gholston came to the Bucs as a 282-pound defensive end out of Michigan State in 2013, but shed 15 pounds and got done to around 265 pounds for Smith, who wanted lighter, faster defensive linemen. Now that he’s gained 25 pounds over the last two years, Gholston feels more powerful.

“It’s Year Five and I’m trying to do something I haven’t done,” Gholston said. “I’m trying to get more sacks and have the body type that will last the whole season.”

• The popularity of the Pewter Nation Podcast continues to grow thanks to YOU, Pewter Nation! After hour-long podcasts during the offseason we are now producing two shorter podcasts (30-40 minutes) during football season – one mid-week and another one immediately after the Bucs preseason and regular season games.

Make sure to visit PewterReport.com this weekend for our post-game analysis of Tampa Bay’s preseason win at Jacksonville in a new Pewter Podcast Podcast, featuring Mark Cook, Trevor Sikkema and myself. In addition to listening to the Pewter Nation Podcasts on PewterReport.com you can also subscribe to the free podcasts at PodBean by clicking here and on SoundCloud by clicking here.

• College football season is almost upon us. That means the 2018 draft season starts in earnest for draftniks like me – and perhaps you. It’s never too early to take a look at Bucs mock drafts, is it?

CBSSports.com has the Bucs picking eighth (?!) overall and selecting Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. While that’s a great fit because of Barkley’s skill set as a runner and a receiver, I think eighth is way too high for Tampa Bay to be picking.

Former PewterReport.com writer Charlie Campbell, who now works for WalterFootball.com, has Tampa Bay picking 20th overall, which is more reasonable, and selecting Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey in the first round. Campbell’s second-round pick for the Bucs is Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard.

Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com has the Bucs with the 22nd overall pick and selecting Kansas defensive end Dorance Armstrong in the first round. Cherepinsky’s second-round draft choice for Tampa Bay is USC running back Ronald Jones.

• You may have seen the banner ads for When I Say Maid on the website and wondered what a maid service is doing advertising on PewterReport.com. You don’t have to be rich to have a maid. Between my wife and I working full-time and having four kids that are active in youth football and cheer after school and on weekends – especially during football season – we don’t have time to keep our house clean. And trust me when I say that a household of six can dirty up a home rather quickly.

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Call owners Ian and Charissa today at (727) 216-8816 to schedule a cleaning, or log on to the WhenISayMaid.com website and schedule your cleaning there and receive 10 percent off your first cleaning. Why waste your precious weekend cleaning your house when you could be out enjoying your time off? Better yet, enjoy your clean home courtesy of When I Say Maid. I’ve become a When I Say Maid customer and I strongly encourage you to do the same and support the businesses that help support PewterReport.com.

• And finally, PewterReport.com is hosting a PR Meet & Greet with Bucs fans and PewterReport.com readers, @PewterReport followers and Stick Carriers this Saturday, August 19 at 12:30 p.m. ET at the Brew Bus Brewing Co. tasting room following Bucs training camp. Training camp at One Buccaneer Place on Saturday is from 9:45 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Meet the Pewter Report staff at the Brew Bus

The PR Meet & Greet event is free, and for the first 25 fans that mention PewterReport.com to publisher Scott Reynolds upon arrival so is their first beer!

Brew Bus Brewing Co. is located at 4101 N. Florida Avenue in Tampa just 2.5 miles (8 minutes) from One Buccaneer Place by I-275 and offers 20 different beers on tap. Stop by after practice and meet Reynolds, PewterReport.com editor-in-chief Mark Cook and PewterReport.com Bucs beat writer Trevor Sikkema, ask Bucs questions and get the latest scoop from training camp in a truly happy hour at Brew Bus!

Mention PewterReport.com at the bar and receive 10 percent off your beer on Saturday. If you’re hungry after training camp place an order at the bar for The Eatery, the on-site kitchen at Brew Bus, although food will not be complimentary. Click here for The Eatery menu.

There will also be a drawing for PewterReport.com swag and Bucs door prizes at 1:30 p.m. ET. Winners must be present to claim their prize.

Are you going? Click on our Facebook Event Page and let us know. Let’s have a beer and talk Bucs football!