FAB 2. Cappa Has Been Dominant In Practice

In January, Bucs general manager Jason Licht gambled that the problems with Tampa Bay’s back-to-back 5-11 seasons were the coaches not getting enough out of their players rather than the fact that the Bucs might not be that talented. An hour before being fired by Licht, head coach Dirk Koetter said in his final post-game press conference that talent wasn’t the issue in Tampa Bay.

When Licht hired new head coach Bruce Arians in early January, Arians said talent wasn’t the issue in Tampa Bay.

Now with Arians and his upper echelon assistants, coaching is no longer an issue in Tampa Bay.

Bucs RG Alex Cappa – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

How do we know that Licht was probably right and that the problem was the previous coaching staff instead or the players? The fact that so many players that were labeled as “question marks” at best and “busts” at worst, have done a 180-degree turn and look like legit, competent NFL players thanks to the most legit Bucs coaching staff since the days of Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden.

Players like cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, outside linebacker Noah Spence, running back Ronald Jones II, and inside linebacker Devante Bond have made huge strides in training camp under the watchful eye of these new assistant coaches. Add second-year right guard Alex Cappa to that mix, too.

Cappa has essentially been given the starting right guard spot. The Bucs’ brass will tell you that Earl Watford is also in competition, but the only player I’ve seen line up at right guard with starters this August has been Cappa.

I usually don’t like players being handed starting roles without legitimate competition because it usually ends up not working out. Back in the day Kyle Moore was given a starting defensive end job. Sabby Piscitelli was also given a starting strong safety job. So too was kicker Roberto Aguayo.

But I have to admit that Cappa has been a huge surprise during training camp. The strides he’s made from his rookie season to his second year have been just as impressive as those made by RoJo, except that Cappa is an offensive lineman so he doesn’t get noticed nearly as much.

And that’s the way it should be for offensive linemen. Not getting noticed is typically the sign of a competent, good offensive lineman. It means the lineman isn’t giving up drive-killing sacks or penalties.

Bucs RG Alex Cappa and DT Ndamukong Suh – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

So far, so good for Cappa, who punctuated his good start to camp with a great showing in the Bucs’ preseason debut against Pittsburgh.

“It’s been a good camp for me and it’s been good to be with the same group the entire time,” Cappa said. “We’re getting a lot of reps and everyone’s communicating well and working together. It’s been fun.”

With how he’s performed in training camp thus far, Bucs head coach Bruce Arians sees no reason why Cappa shouldn’t be the opening day starter in Tampa Bay.

“Right now he’s the starter,” Arians said. “He’s doing a heck of a job. He’s gotten better and better every practice. He’s going against some studs in there, so yeah, he’s holding his own.”

The defensive linemen that Cappa is facing every day in practice from Ndamukong Suh to Vita Vea to Will Gholston to Rakeem Nunez-Roches are taking note.

“Big guy, and he’s definitely gotten smarter with the game,” Nunez-Roches said. “I can tell. He’s picking up blitzes and checks. Everything else as far as his strength and communicating, it’s coming along well. He’s making big strides.”

Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston said Cappa has had a “dominant” training camp, and that phrase is also being whispered upstairs at the AdventHealth Training Center by the team’s coaches and scouts after watching days of practice film.

“It’s been awesome – everyone on our line has played a lot, so I can learn a lot from those guys – and I am learning,” Cappa said of playing between veteran center Ryan Jensen and veteran right guard Demar Dotson. “Playing right next to those guys is friggin’ awesome. I love it. It’s been great for me.”

Dotson has marveled at how quickly his come in just one offseason working with new offensive line coaches Harold Goodwin and Joe Gilbert.

Bucs OL Alex Cappa – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Cap is smart and he’s a hard worker,” Dotson said. “The guy is doing everything it takes to solidify that right guard spot. The sky is the limit for him. He’s busting his tail out here just learning that position. He was a tackle in college and coming in here he got a few reps last year. But this year he’s been given the job and he’s taking on that responsibility. I thought he did a phenomenal job at Pittsburgh. He’s getting better day-by-day. There are a lot of things he had to learn. I can’t wait to see him again this Friday.”

Cappa, last year’s third-round pick, admits that there was a big transition not only from Humboldt State to the NFL, but also from playing left tackle in college where there was more space to block and wheel defensive ends around the quarterback, and playing guard at this level where the defenders are bigger and the action happens much faster with less room to operate.

“It truly is a big difference, but I’ve adjusted now,” Cappa said. “It’s bigger bodies and stuff happens faster inside for sure. It’s just different, but it’s been fun. I really like playing inside now.”

The big, long-haired, 6-foot-6, 305-pound brute looks like he wins in the trenches with brawn, but according to Dotson, it’s been Cappa’s brain that has allowed him to quickly pick up the right guard position and nail down the starting job.

“When it comes to being smart he’s way ahead his time,” Dotson said. “Guys like rookies or second-year guys, they get in the mode where they don’t like to talk. They get nervous and quiet, but he’s not like that. He communicates and he likes to talk. He’s like an old vet in there now, which is kind of crazy because this is really his second year doing it and his first year starting. He’s a great communicator and he’s ahead of his time.”