FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

• Tampa Bay running back Peyton Barber has had just a few highlights to start the season, and they have come on touchdowns – just not his. Barber was instrumental in blitz pick-ups in DeSean Jackson’s first touchdown at New Orleans and on his 75-yard touchdown to start the game against Philadelphia.

“It’s kind of like being an O-lineman,” Barber said. “They don’t get all the attention in the world but at the same time they play a key part in big plays. It definitely makes me feel good. It’s something that I have to continue to do. It’s still early in the season and I feel like I still have a lot to prove.”

Barber is one of the most humble Buccaneers in the locker room and is taking the fact that some of his highlights have come in pass protection thus far in stride.

“I feel like one thing that’s been good about this team is being unselfish,” Barber said. “I know my time’s coming when it comes to having that big game, or having those big games, but to me it’s all about winning. As a running back you live for those kind of games. I know my time’s coming. I’m just staying patient and I’m not getting frustrated.”

• Bucs tight end Cameron Brate feels the same way as Peyton Barber does. He knows his time is coming despite not catching a pass in the first two games of the season and getting half of the playing time that O.J. Howard has received through the first two games of the season.

Bucs TE Cameron Brate – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

Tampa Bay head coach Dirk Koetter has gone to Brate and to wide receiver Adam Humphries, who also has had limited opportunities in the passing game, and let them know their day to shine is coming.

“I look at that as something I’m really conscious of – that’s part of my job,” Koetter said. “Everybody wants to win, but everybody also wants to win and get their touches. Don’t kid yourself. I’m always trying to be on the lookout for that as far as guys that aren’t playing as big a role right now for one reason or another. Sometimes it’s just nothing more than luck. Sometimes the ball is supposed to go one place and it goes another because it goes based on where the defense says it should go.

“I’m sure those two guys are a little disappointed in the number of times they’ve been targeted. But that’s unfortunate and the bottom line is we’ve got to do whatever it takes to win. We also know that’s it a long season and usually that has a way of working itself out.”

• Bucs football season is here and if you want to buy a new Tampa Bay jersey – or college football apparel – there is only one place to turn and that’s Fanatics.com. PewterReport.com has partnered once again with Fanatics.com to provide our readers with the best online shopping experience and widest array of team merchandise and apparel found on the Internet.

The best part about it is that when you click on the Fanatics.com banners or links on PewterReport.com a portion of the sale goes to PewterReport.com to help pay for operating costs of the website you’ve come to love and trust for your Bucs news. So whether it’s NFL, college football, college basketball, NHL or MLB gear you are looking for, you’ll find it at Fanatics.com where they have the retro Starter pullover jackets now in stock. Click here and shop today.

• PewterReport.com’s new video channel, PRTV, debuted this week. Trevor Sikkema kicked things off on Monday with his weekly video segment, The Score which was taped live at Raymond James Stadium following Sunday’s huge 27-21 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

My new PRTV segment titled Reynolds On Record usually appears on Wednesdays, but because of the Bucs schedule change this week for Monday Night Football, it came on Thursday night. Click here to view that segment and let me know what you think. These new PRTV segments are produced by our newest Pewter Repoter Andrew Scavelli and will be weekly features on PewterReport.com.

Mark Cook’s PRTV show called What’s Cooking? will debut on Friday to preview Tampa Bay’s big game against Philadelphia on Sunday.

Mark Cook’s PRTV show called What’s Cooking? debuted last Friday with special guest Tampa Bay tight end Alan Cross and was a comedic hit! If you haven’t watched Cook’s train wreck of a show, be sure to check it out. Somehow What’s Cooking? got green-lighted to produce a second show – this time with Tampa Bay quarterback Ryan Griffin. Can’t wait to watch it Friday night.

DRAFT DIAMOND – WISCONSIN RT DAVID EDWARDS
PewterReport.com is the undisputed leader in Bucs draft coverage each year. During the 2018 draft, we accurately forecasted the selection of three Tampa Bay draft picks as defensive tackle Vita Vea, offensive lineman Alex Cappa and wide receiver Justin Watson were all Bucs’ Best Bets.

Draft season for the PewterReport.com staff starts in September as we do a great deal of scouting during college football season. I’m starting a new SR’s Fab 5segment this week called Draft Diamond where I focus on a different draft prospect each week.

In last week’s Draft Diamonds section, I profiled Kansas State right tackle Dalton Risner, who is a potential first-round draft pick, and will fill an area of need for the Bucs long-term as Demar Dotson will turn 33 next month. This week I’m going to profile Wisconsin right tackle David Edwards, who is battling Risner for the right to be the first right tackle selected in next April’s draft. This is a video of Edwards against Nebraska from last year.

At 6-foot-7, 319 pounds, Edwards has elite size and an NFL-caliber wingspan. I’d tell you that Edwards is big, smart, tough and strong, but I’d rather let Bucs rookie linebacker Jack Cichy who played with Edwards up in Madison, Wisc. for years give you the scouting report.

“He’s very athletic, he’s still very raw at the position, but I think that’s only a good thing,” Cichy said. “He’s developed so much in this past year and a half or two years. It’s interesting to see him keep developing but he’s really what you want. He’s smart. He’s a very smart player, but he’s also extremely athletic so when he keeps improving on his technique and everything that he prides himself on in the offseason and training camp he really has the tools to have it all.”

Cichy believes that Wisconsin’s pro-style running game and play-action passing attack allows Wisconsin offensive linemen to excel at the NFL level.

“That’s one thing that Coach [Paul] Chryst really does a good job of trying to simulate,” Cichy said. “He obviously came in with kind of a West Coast style, but he still brings that kind of Wisconsin-style power run game. I think that tied together is what you’re seeing now in the NFL, so I think that’s really helpful – especially with the responsibility they give the linemen with picking up blitzes and making calls. The O-line at Wisconsin does a really good job at that and I think that’s preparing them well, because I’m assuming most, if not all of them, want to continue their job of football. I really think the culture they’ve created, and I was a part of it at Wisconsin, really gives them a good platform to succeed.”

• Speaking of Bucs rookie linebacker Jack Cichy, he has made quite an impression on Tampa Bay’s special teams through the first two games. Cichy has two special teams tackles, which trails only cornerback Ryan Smith’s three special teams stops.

“Jack is a baller,” Smith said. “Even in practice he’s just playing with high energy and he’s very vocal. I remember one time in preseason the call didn’t get in and he was in there calling the defense. He just plays with a high motor. He’s a headhunter. That’s just what he does and that’s what you want on your defense and on your team, period. People with that high energy and just looking to hit somebody.”

• The 2-0 Buccaneers aren’t the only hot things right now in Tampa Bay. So are the Pewter Nation Podcasts, which come out twice per week on PewterReport.com. Trevor Sikkema, Mark Cook and I previewed the Bucs vs. Steelers game, and I made a very bold prediction in Episode 96: Vea’s Back, Tell A Friend. You can listen to Pewter Nation Podcast Episode 96 right here.

Our post-game Pewter Nation Podcast from Sunday chronicled the Bucs’ big win over the Eagles and was our most-listened-to post-game podcast ever, which means it was really, really good. Which means you need to listen to it if you haven’t already. Click here to listen to Episode 95: Oh, Oh, Oh Fitzmagic today on your drive home from work or tomorrow while doing some chores around the house or running errands this weekend. The next Pewter Nation Podcast will be taped Monday night after Tampa Bay hosts Pittsburgh on ESPN, so stay tuned for the post-game thoughts from Sikkema, Cook and yours truly as the Bucs try to start 3-0 for the first time since 2005.

The popularity of the Pewter Nation Podcast continues to grow. 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. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode.

• And finally, if you are looking for a great burger (and milkshake) before, during or after a Bucs game – or any time during the week – make sure you visit BurgerFi. They do a great job with some very tasty gourmet burgers and french fries. I like The CEO burger, which is double Wagyu and brisket blend burger with homemade candied bacon-tomato jam, truffle aioli and aged Swiss cheese. It’s a delicious as it sounds (and I like it with beer – followed by a milkshake).

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