on thursday Bucks I attended the 3rd and final practice of the 3-day mandatory mini-camp at the AdventHealth Training Center. The practice was held in the hot and humid weather. All the players on the roster, including inside linebacker and team captain Devin White, participated and worked hard on the team’s voluntary training and OTA (organized team activities).
Bucks not practicing
ILB Devin White – Staying in shape or not?
WR Russell Gage – Injured during offseason training
C Ryan Jensen – Participated in individual training separate from team training
G Aaron Stinney – Participated in individual training separate from team training
OLB Shakil Barrett – was not allowed to practice due to Achilles tendon and was training with a trainer
RB Sean Tucker – out of practice due to heart disease
LB Ulysses Gilbert – No injuries announced
CB Don Gardner – No injuries announced
Bucks wide receiver Mike Evans practiced Tuesday and returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday.
Todd Bowles on ending Bucks offseason program
Bucks Head Coach Todd Bowles – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucks ended up shortening their final minicamp practice after head coach Todd Bowles cut practice time by an hour to get the summer off early.
“It was short and sweet,” Bowles said. “I think we’ve worked out some things that need to be worked on in the red zone and improved.”
Bowles spoke about the progress the team made during the minicamp.
“It’s more of a mental thing,” Bowles said. “This is really an extension of OTA, just more meetings. So from that perspective nothing has changed. I tried to decide, but I thought it was done, there’s a fair amount of concepts installed, and as far as combinations and things to do, we’ll be finishing up at the training camp.
“It’s hard to really get into the running game without pads, but the concept is done. So we’re happy with that.”
Bowles said he was happy with the Bucks’ dynamic for the 2023 version.
“They work hard,” Bowles said. “I know they’re working hard and coming together. Once the pads are in, everything else is automatically resolved.”
The Bucks have made a concerted effort over the past two years to get faster, especially on defense. Bowles said the team isn’t the pad, but the speed shows up on defense as well. The Bucks’ defensive tackle Kariya Kansi and outside linebacker Yaya Diaby were two of the fastest players at their respective positions in this year’s draft.
“You can see that on the defensive front,” Bowles said. “Obviously, they’re more athletic, so you can see the speed showing up significantly.”
Bucks practice notes
Bucks WR-KR-PR Deven Tompkins – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
• The biggest offensive play in the shortened final minicamp practice was made by the team’s smallest player, the wide receiver. Devon Tompkins. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw a jump ball to the 5-foot-7, 163-pound Tompkins who pulled it past safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and cornerback Anthony Chesley. .
Tompkins has a nearly 40-inch vertical jump despite his lack of size, and was beautiful when he mopped two defensive backs for a touchdown in the back of the end zone. Tompkins was one of the fastest backs on the roster, and he ran the ball to the high points to try and score.
• Baker Mayfield returned to the starting lineup on Thursday after Kyle Trask took over on Wednesday. And after Nick Leverett started at center on Wednesday, Robert Haingey resumed starting at center.
• The Bucks have three defensive backs competing for the Nickelback spot vacated by Antoine Winfield Jr.’s return to free safety. Veteran Dee Delaney has been a starter all offseason and has seen games at the nickel, outside cornerback and safety.
Josh Hayes, one of the team’s sixth-round picks, is in contention for the job despite playing in safety and nickel last year at Kansas State, cross-training at nickelback and outside corner. is recieving. Hayes began his college career playing as an outside cornerback at North Dakota State University. Undrafted free agent Chris Izien has cross-trained nickels and safety this offseason.
• The Bucks start Logan Hall and first-round pick Kariya Kansi in the Bucks’ 3-4 base defense, making defensive tackles opposite Vita Vair. That’s no surprise, as Hall was the team’s No. 1 pick in the second round of last year’s draft. As the Bucks turned to the Nickel defense, Cansey left the field and was replaced by Nickelback Dee Delaney as Tampa Bay went up four.
Bucks ILB KJ Bullitt – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
• Bucks reserve inside linebacker KJ Britt was overshadowed by rookie Savosia Dennis during the offseason. The Tampa Bay fifth-round pick made several high-profile plays in the press, including breaking two pick-sixes and two passes during the rookie minicamp and OTA practice open to the press.
But the Britt fought back in Wednesday’s shortened practice, leaving a good impression on the coaching staff as the summer break begins. Britt ended practice in dramatic fashion when he smashed Baker Mayfield’s pass across the line of scrimmage early in practice. Mayfield made a pass downfield into the end zone for undrafted rookie and free-agent tight end Tanner Taura, but the Brits followed him with all his might and was ready for the Bucks’ 2023 minicamp. Scored a pass on the last play.
Britt and Dennis are battling for the role of No. 3 linebacker behind Labonte David and Devin White, and the battle is just getting started and will continue through training camp.
