Sooner in Tampa
7/6/2007, 10:25 AM
http://www.buccaneers.com/media/photos/misc/Joseph07_06_07_1_b.JPG
Jul 06, 2007 -
There was quite a bit of difference between Davin Joseph’s first NFL offseason and the next one, and not in the way we usually summarize the development of a second-year player.
Yes, there have been the usual elements of growth for Joseph. He has “a year under his belt now.” He is, indeed, “more comfortable in the system.” Unlike in his draft year, he isn’t “playing catch-up” behind veterans who have been at it since the beginning of the year. He is less prone to “rookie mistakes.”
All of that is true, and also applicable to just about any second-year player who is in a fairly prominent role. You’ve seen that story before, probably right here on Buccaneers.com. What is a bit more of a concern – and, at the same time, a very promising situation – is how much is different around Joseph.
Joseph is the Buccaneers’ starting right guard, just as he was for all parts of his rookie season for which he was healthy. Around him, there are changes both dramatic and planned. How dramatic? Just 15 months after he was drafted, Joseph is part of the foundation on which much of the rest of the offense is being rebuilt.
Start with this: He may be protecting a new quarterback. Jeff Garcia is the leader in the battle to be this year’s opening-day starter, a job that went to Chris Simms last September. Simms’ frightening spleen injury in Week Three then led to 11 starts for rookie Bruce Gradkowski and two for veteran Tim Rattay. The play-calling could have some added wrinkles given Garcia’s mobility, and the team is even considering using the shotgun.
“We’ve got a different mix of quarterbacks right now, so it’s [a matter of] getting used to everybody,” said Joseph. “The cadence, the play-calling, the style – it’s all different.”
" In general, we’re starting to bond a lot better. We’ve got some new guys in the mix right now, we’ve got some older guys back, so it’s looking good right now. We have a lot of confidence."
Joseph will recognize the returning right tackle, fellow ’05 draftee Jeremy Trueblood, but to his immediate left on the line could be a new starter. John Wade is the incumbent at center and very much in the mix to retain his job, but he will be challenged heavily by Dan Buenning, a possible conversion from guard, and free agent acquisition Matt Lehr. Moving on down the line, there could be a new starter at left guard (Arron Sears or Anthony Davis, perhaps) and there will be a new starter at left tackle, Luke Petitgout.
The backfield appears to be a mote of stability behind Joseph and Garcia, but is it? Cadillac Williams returns for his third year as the starter, but there will be renewed emphasis on getting his production back to his rookie-season baseline, and above. Williams is fully healthy and eager to add a significant amount of pass-catching to his game. Even if Garcia is as prolific as he was down the stretch for Philadelphia last year, the Bucs almost certainly need more than the 994 combined rushing and receiving yards they got from Williams last year in order to improve significantly as an offense.
Joseph believes Williams is primed for a big year.
“He’s doing really good,” said Joseph, the Bucs’ first-round choice in 2006 after Williams was plucked in the opening round of 2005. “He keeps the tempo up in practice. Right now we’re focusing on getting yards on first down and everything else will work out for itself.”
Even the opposition in practice has a drastic new look. Pumping up the pass-rush was a priority for the Buccaneers this offseason, which meant team brass was essentially trying to make things as difficult as possible for Joseph and his mates. That involved an infusion of both youth and proven veterans to the defensive line. Now Joseph has to contend with the likes of Kevin Carter, Ryan Sims, Greg Peterson and – perhaps on stunts – Gaines Adams and Patrick Chukwurah.
Of course Joseph, quick with a smile and slow with any negativity, was impressed with last year’s D-line opposition.
“You know, I never thought those guys slowed down anyway,” he said. “To say that, I wouldn’t know the difference. I think they’re bringing a great attitude, great work ethic. [Chris] Hovan comes to work every day and we’ve got some new guys, so it’s good.”
So how is Joseph responding to all of that change? Well, he couches his responses in team terms, but he feels quite good about the offensive line’s progress during the offseason.
“In general, we’re starting to bond a lot better,” said Joseph. “We’ve got some new guys in the mix right now, we’ve got some older guys back, so it’s looking good right now. We have a lot of confidence.
“The biggest difference is our attention to detail right now is really on point. The coaches are getting on us, the players are getting on one another. Our attention to detail is really good right now.”
Hopefully, that’s something that won’t change.
Jul 06, 2007 -
There was quite a bit of difference between Davin Joseph’s first NFL offseason and the next one, and not in the way we usually summarize the development of a second-year player.
Yes, there have been the usual elements of growth for Joseph. He has “a year under his belt now.” He is, indeed, “more comfortable in the system.” Unlike in his draft year, he isn’t “playing catch-up” behind veterans who have been at it since the beginning of the year. He is less prone to “rookie mistakes.”
All of that is true, and also applicable to just about any second-year player who is in a fairly prominent role. You’ve seen that story before, probably right here on Buccaneers.com. What is a bit more of a concern – and, at the same time, a very promising situation – is how much is different around Joseph.
Joseph is the Buccaneers’ starting right guard, just as he was for all parts of his rookie season for which he was healthy. Around him, there are changes both dramatic and planned. How dramatic? Just 15 months after he was drafted, Joseph is part of the foundation on which much of the rest of the offense is being rebuilt.
Start with this: He may be protecting a new quarterback. Jeff Garcia is the leader in the battle to be this year’s opening-day starter, a job that went to Chris Simms last September. Simms’ frightening spleen injury in Week Three then led to 11 starts for rookie Bruce Gradkowski and two for veteran Tim Rattay. The play-calling could have some added wrinkles given Garcia’s mobility, and the team is even considering using the shotgun.
“We’ve got a different mix of quarterbacks right now, so it’s [a matter of] getting used to everybody,” said Joseph. “The cadence, the play-calling, the style – it’s all different.”
" In general, we’re starting to bond a lot better. We’ve got some new guys in the mix right now, we’ve got some older guys back, so it’s looking good right now. We have a lot of confidence."
Joseph will recognize the returning right tackle, fellow ’05 draftee Jeremy Trueblood, but to his immediate left on the line could be a new starter. John Wade is the incumbent at center and very much in the mix to retain his job, but he will be challenged heavily by Dan Buenning, a possible conversion from guard, and free agent acquisition Matt Lehr. Moving on down the line, there could be a new starter at left guard (Arron Sears or Anthony Davis, perhaps) and there will be a new starter at left tackle, Luke Petitgout.
The backfield appears to be a mote of stability behind Joseph and Garcia, but is it? Cadillac Williams returns for his third year as the starter, but there will be renewed emphasis on getting his production back to his rookie-season baseline, and above. Williams is fully healthy and eager to add a significant amount of pass-catching to his game. Even if Garcia is as prolific as he was down the stretch for Philadelphia last year, the Bucs almost certainly need more than the 994 combined rushing and receiving yards they got from Williams last year in order to improve significantly as an offense.
Joseph believes Williams is primed for a big year.
“He’s doing really good,” said Joseph, the Bucs’ first-round choice in 2006 after Williams was plucked in the opening round of 2005. “He keeps the tempo up in practice. Right now we’re focusing on getting yards on first down and everything else will work out for itself.”
Even the opposition in practice has a drastic new look. Pumping up the pass-rush was a priority for the Buccaneers this offseason, which meant team brass was essentially trying to make things as difficult as possible for Joseph and his mates. That involved an infusion of both youth and proven veterans to the defensive line. Now Joseph has to contend with the likes of Kevin Carter, Ryan Sims, Greg Peterson and – perhaps on stunts – Gaines Adams and Patrick Chukwurah.
Of course Joseph, quick with a smile and slow with any negativity, was impressed with last year’s D-line opposition.
“You know, I never thought those guys slowed down anyway,” he said. “To say that, I wouldn’t know the difference. I think they’re bringing a great attitude, great work ethic. [Chris] Hovan comes to work every day and we’ve got some new guys, so it’s good.”
So how is Joseph responding to all of that change? Well, he couches his responses in team terms, but he feels quite good about the offensive line’s progress during the offseason.
“In general, we’re starting to bond a lot better,” said Joseph. “We’ve got some new guys in the mix right now, we’ve got some older guys back, so it’s looking good right now. We have a lot of confidence.
“The biggest difference is our attention to detail right now is really on point. The coaches are getting on us, the players are getting on one another. Our attention to detail is really good right now.”
Hopefully, that’s something that won’t change.