Pewter Report’s Bucs Camp Diary, a popular training camp feature on PewterReport.com, returns in 2024. We are excited to introduce two very intriguing players: veteran outside linebacker Markees Watts and rookie running back Bucky Irving, the Bucs’ fourth-round pick.
Watts is not guaranteed a roster spot in 2024 after being ranked fifth among outside linebackers last year, but he has the talent to make the team again and should skyrocket up the ranks with a strong camp and preseason.
Irving will walk readers through his rookie experience in Tampa Bay’s first training camp under coach Liam Cohen’s new offensive line. A small, agile, tackle-evading runner/receiver, he is expected to earn carries and playing time as the backup to Rachad White based on his performance in camp and preseason.
Check back each week throughout training camp and the preseason for camp diaries for Watts and Irving.
Marquise Watts was an undrafted free agent who was Charlotte’s all-time leading sack pick. He made the team last year after recording one sack, one forced fumble and a team-high nine pressures in the preseason. He led the team as a situational pass rusher last year with a 23% pass rush win rate and has been one of the most crowded and competitive outside linebackers in training camp.
Watts this summer, Pewter Report Podcast And during the interview, he gave Buccaneers fans some great insight.
Facing off against Luke Goedeke is nothing but work.
By Marcus Watts, speaking to Scott Reynolds
Buccaneers RT Luke Goedeke – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
Playing against Luke Goedeke is just hard work. It takes hard work to play against him. Hard work, hard work, hard work. If you try to sit out a practice against Luke in an NFL practice, you’re going to lose. And you’re going to lose badly. I’m just glad I get to practice against Luke every time.
Against Tristan [Wirfs]I have to play my best game and make my best moves. I have to execute everything perfectly or Tristan will heal and get you. I have to stay low and duck. [the arc] He’s so big, so I get nervous when I race against him. I saw Tristan on the ground a few times today, which was unusual. But he’s just getting started. He’s just starting to ride horses now, and he’s going to ride this year.
Yaya Diaby’s confidence is a lot more now. He’s taken his game up a level. He’s playing well against the other guys. In the second year, everybody is more confident in what they’re doing. We’re now seeing the game as it is. There’s nothing new. So you can have more fun, not think too much, play faster. Seeing Yaya playing faster and having fun, he’s more aggressive and becoming a really good guy.
We’ve been doing stunts with all the fake fronts we’re running, making everything look the same at first so the offense doesn’t know what’s coming. It’s the same execution-wise, but it’s a lot faster this year because we have faster guys up front. It’s always fun doing TE (tackle end) stunts with Vita.
Our defense is faster this year. We have guys flying to the ball, running down screens and RPOs. It’s always fun to see your team sprinting to the ball. When you’re running to the ball, you never know who’s going to be running right next to you. It could be KJ Britt, it could be Will Gholston. Everybody’s flying to the ball, and I think that’s going to be a big advantage for us this season.
Markie Watts slanders Devin Culp
I slimed Devin Culp after practice today. [on Sunday]I got to vote on who got to be slimed. There were four of us, and he was the rookie. As the slimer, I got a green “certificate” from Nickelodeon. It was an honor to be slimed. Nickelodeon was here for Back Together Weekend, celebrating the return of NFL football.
It was also an honor to be with the Special Olympics athletes today. They’re so sweet and kind. They always want to take pictures with me and get autographs. But today they were like, “Hey, brother, give me your autograph! You’re in the Olympics!” That’s amazing.
Buccaneers OLB Marquise Watts – Photo: Scott Reynolds/PR
Defense is very familiar to me now. The first few days I was here, the heat was strange. I expected the heat, but I was not prepared at all at the beginning. I was tired, exhausted. In the end, I just had to focus on performing and not making MEs. Once I got used to the heat, it was a real battle, but it was a much easier battle.
I’m excited to put the pads on, I’m excited to show off my pass rush and show off some new moves, because there are some moves I can’t do without the pads on, because they’re physical moves.
But I’m really excited to see KJ Britt put on the pads. KJ has been waiting forever to put the pads on and I can’t wait to see what he does when he does. His spirit and knowledge of the game and confidence stand out to me. He’s a great leader so we’re rooting for him. Watching KJ’s energy and trash talk when he plays, the pads are just going to amplify and elevate his power and I can’t wait to see it.
We haven’t practiced in full pads yet, but the tempo of practice is the same. We’re not stepping up too much. We’re still jumping around and running to the ball. Even with the shells (smaller shoulder pads and shorts), I didn’t feel any difference in practice today. There’s more intensity between the offensive line, the defensive line and the front seven. [on defense]However, the speed of practice is the same whether you wear pads or not. I don’t think that wearing pads will significantly improve your level. It just allows you to move your body more and perform more movements.
Bucky Irving and the Buccaneers’ new offensive line
Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
This new offensive line has a lot of moves that keep us on our toes as defenders. They hide a lot, so you never know what they’re going to do just by looking at their formation. At the last moment, they’ll send someone in to change the move, so there’s always a change. [Liam Coen] His attacks are fast, everything is fast, so you have to be ready.
The guy I looked at today was Bucky Irving. I noticed his speed with the ball. He’s small, but he’s fast. If you use the wrong force on him, it’s easy to miss a tackle. He’s going to induce a lot of missed tackles.
I’m glad to meet SirVocea. [Dennis] He played and he made some good picks today. We had some [interceptions] “He’s been doing well lately. He had some issues with injuries at the start of last year and didn’t play to his potential, but now he’s coming on strong and it’s been fun to see him play such a big role in what we do.” [on defense].
Saturday wasn’t a real holiday.
Buccaneers OLB Marquise Watts and his daughter Cora – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Saturday was my first day off from camp, but I didn’t really have a day off. I was at home and my one-year-old daughter, Cora, was bothering me. She was running all over the house. I was just lying on the couch trying to rest and relax. It felt good to enjoy being at home as much as possible.
But she kept grabbing the TV remote and the Playstation remote. She wouldn’t sit down. I said, “Coke, please! Calm down, Coke, calm down!” But she just looked at me, smiled, and started running around the house again. It was my day off, but chasing her felt like work.
I haven’t played the new EA Sports College Football 25 yet but I need to. Everyone is playing it and saying it’s great. My school, Charlotte, is in the game this time so I can’t wait to play it. But right now I don’t have time to chase football and my daughter around.
Follow Markees Watts On X: Follow
Follow Markees Watts on Instagram: Follow
