Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris weighed in on which players have impressed him lately after Monday morning's training camp practice. Morris said that going back to Saturday night and the most recent practices there were two players that were standing out for exemplary play.
"The individuals that have stuck out the last couple of practices really are Reggie Brown had a nice breakout evening, and Sabby [Piscitelli] played really well that evening and today they continued to play well," said Morris. "I wanted to mention those guys as guys that are on the come and guys that are doing good things for us."
Brown caught two long touchdown passes on Saturday night, and has been competing with a number of receivers for playing time. Piscitelli is in a battle with veteran free agent addition Sean Jones to remain as the starting strong safety. Morris was hopeful that that the competition for the starting spot would push Piscitelli to raise his level of play from the 2009 season.
"I really hope so, I really love when you bring competition amongst people and people standup and go about his business," said Morris. "There has been no pouting and no complaining. I told the team after practice we have a bunch of tweeks and my arm hurts and my leg hurts and we've been physical all week. Nobdoy cares. Bottom line is you have to go out there and make plays because nobody cares. You have to go out there and do your job. The writers, the coaches, your parents, your mom, the other players it doesn't matter. You have to do your job that day. That is what I went out there and told those guys. You have coaching and competition on your back. Nobody cares how good you feel that day."
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The Buccaneers are looking forward to getting started with their preseason games. On Saturday Tampa Bay will travel to play the Miami Dolphins in South Florida, and right now head coach Raheem Morris and his staff are formulating how much the starters are going to play against the Dolphins.
"They'll get a little work, hopefully a series or so for the offense and defense," said Morris. "You want to get them about 12 snaps a piece and then get them off the field."
Morris said that he was unsure whether two injured rookies would be playing in the Bucs preseason opener. Defensive tackle Brian Price has missed a number of practices with a hamstring injury and cornerback Myron Lewis has been out with a hamstring as well. Price returned to practice somewhat on Saturday and Monday while Lewis was observing both sessions. Otherwise Morris said the team is very healthy and he is pleased.
"We are easing Price back into the mix in practice," said Morris. "Lewis is still day-to-day. I have to go talk to the trainer but we'll see where he is going to be as far as being put in the mix. We are very fortunate men with our injury situation. We have a bunch of tweeks here and there, but I'm very fired up about how the camp is going especially with how physical it has been. We've tackled a lot that first week, and to get out of it considerably healthy is a great job by our training staff and our players."
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On Monday Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris said he is happy with the progress of QB Josh Freeman. Morris says the signal callers' accuracy and decision-making is better. Freeman says he can improve and is working on developing more chemistry with the Bucs young wide receivers.
Buccaneers' second-year quarterback Josh Freeman is almost halfway through his first training camp as a starting quarterback in the NFL, and Freeman's head coach is pleased with the progress that has been made. Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Greg Olson have been looking for Freeman to improve his accuracy, ball security, and decision-making in 2010.
"I always feel like I can get better and improve and I am still working and trying to be the best quarterback I can be," said Freeman. "I will go out and try to manage these games and get some wins."
Last season Freeman led rookie quarterbacks with a completion percentage of 54.5 percent, but that mark is not where the Kansas State product wants it to be. After practice on Monday morning, Morris said he has seen much improvement. Morris was able to take advantage of the Buccaneers' off day on Sunday to see how much better Freeman is compared to this time last year.
"I'm really fired up with where they are," said Morris. "I was looking at the tape. I went back and started looking at Josh Freeman's easy throws that he had last year. Whether it was check down, a shallow cross, or something where he looked deep and came down and dropped it off somewhere. To see the accuracy of where it was and the placement, he wasn't bad last year. But I'm so impressed because I did the same thing in this training camp and look at all his throws and watch the check downs, and not forcing things downfield, and getting it to the back or the crossing route. He is getting better and better.
"What we are trying to preach to him is that is what all the great ones do. Drew Brees beats you with an 80-yard bomb once in a while, but a lot of time he dinks-and-dunks you."
In nine starts last season Freeman and the Buccaneers produced a 3-6 record. The 6-foot-6, 248-pound threw for 1,855 yards with 10 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 59.8. Freeman, 22, has made a conscious effort this training camp to take what the defense is giving him and work throws to his check down receivers.
"Yes no doubt, you want to get into a rhythm and catch the defense doing something they are not normally doing, and that's when you take advantage of it," said Freeman of checking the ball down and then going downfield.
The Buccaneers front office made it a point to upgrade the wide receiving corps this offseason. The Bucs traded for veteran Reggie Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles, and drafted Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams. With holdovers Sammie Stroughter and Maurice Stovall, Tampa Bay envisions a more productive unit in 2010. As the Buccaneers get into their preseason games Freeman feels continuing to develop chemistry with his receivers is an ongoing process.
"Yes, I mean we are still working with the young guys but I am trying to develop chemistry with all the guys. As route runners they are starting to understand where I put the ball in certain situations," Freeman said. "You can definitely tell Reggie has been around the game for a while, the new guys are learning from that. I can tell that these young guys are learning from the old guys."
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