Bryan McClendon: Locked in on the Details | Bucs Total Access

Team Reporter Casey Phillips sat down with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receivers Coach Bryan McClendon following the Week 8 game against the New Orleans Saints. They discussed what the win meant to the team, how the group is adjusting to injuries, and the importance of leading by example.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
That's fuck, not three. What's the three?

Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is Buccaneers Total Access with head coach Todd Bowles.

Speaker 3 (00:09):
That the hell of the job, going back, go back,
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Speaker 4 (00:16):
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Speaker 2 (00:17):
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(00:41):
now your host, Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips and head
coach Todd Bowles ECO.

Speaker 5 (00:46):
The Todd Bowles Shows to fill her with head coach
Todd Bowles for talking graduations on the win and man
first time in franchise history to have won four straight
road games at New Orleans, to win five consecutive NSC
South con Tests, first time since two thousand and seven.
Tell me what it means to get not just a
win going into the bye week, but a division win

(01:07):
in particular, and just how it makes you feel at
the midway point and knowing you're going into the bye.

Speaker 6 (01:11):
Week, division wins are huge. We feel like it's a
game and a half as opposed to a game because
so many things come down to the end of the season.
If you don't stack them early, you're going to be
in a dogfight anyway. But at least you have a
little bit of cushion knowing that you've won a few
Division ball games. That sets you up for the stretch run.
And the fact that we got one going into the
bye week at this point in the season allows guys

(01:34):
to rest up, allows other guys to get healthy, So
it's a good time to have it.

Speaker 5 (01:39):
I know the Bucks defense now is top three in
the league in defensive touchdowns, tackles for loss, strip sacks, sacks,
quarterback pressures, takeaways, and fumble recoveries. Yeah right, not bad,
not bad at all. Tell me just the level your
defense is playing at as you hear all those stats
riddled off at this halfway point in the season, Just
what makes you most proud of your defensive and hearing

(02:00):
those stats in particular, I.

Speaker 6 (02:02):
Think this game was the first game we didn't give
up the big play, and that was the biggest thing
we want to get out of this game. Coming in
with Kamara and Olave and Shaheed, we didn't want to
give up the big play. We felt if we could
do that, we could make some damage and we can
get some things done.

Speaker 4 (02:17):
And those guys did it.

Speaker 5 (02:18):
And then also now five games with multiple takeaways, which
is the most in the NFL, and our most takeaways
since the end of the twenty twenty three season in
this last game. So I know that's an area that
this offseason I'd probably heard you say more than anything else,
was wanting ballhawks, wanting guys to take the ball away.
What do you feel like has been the thing that's
helped that number go up this season and just the

(02:41):
number of takeaways and the different ways they've come.

Speaker 6 (02:43):
I think the pressures picked up. The guys up front
have been getting more pressure on the quarterback. Whether it
was four guys, five guys, or six guys, the pressures
picked up, and we really been punching the ball, punching
at the ball, and our playmakers like Winfields, our deans
really come on as a playmaker as well, and those
guys are getting ball punched out. Nellie did a great
job punching the ball out and I think those guys

(03:04):
are starting to see the results.

Speaker 5 (03:05):
Yeah, when you talk about the pressure, five sacks and
fifteen sacks over the last three games, which is tied
for the most over any three games stretch in the
past twenty five years. What do you feel like you've
seen is the difference in the pressure and it is
coming from a lot of different guys, different places. And
what do you feel like has helped guys really get
home in that area too?

Speaker 6 (03:26):
Guys setting each other up. I think the guys do
really got good job setting each other up. I think
the coaching staff defensively when we go on to watch film,
do a really good job of singling out things we
can take advantage of and try to scheme. So it's
a combination of both.

Speaker 5 (03:41):
I know. Also, you guys have held one team to
less than ten points going back to the start of
last season. This was the least amount of points allowed
since the end of the twenty twenty three season. What
does it mean to be able to hold an opponent?
I mean really any opponent, but then especially a division
one where there is some of those unexpected ways of
rivalry can creep up on you. To still hold them

(04:02):
to three points and what that meant to you guys.

Speaker 6 (04:04):
It's hard in this league, especially since it's an offensive
league now, most of the calls of tailor that way
to keep a team below ten points, it's very tough
to do. So that says a lot hats off to
the defensive guys. Those guys played a heck of a
ball game. They closed it out, they finished, They understand
what was at stake, and you know, hopefully we can
continue that.

Speaker 5 (04:23):
Yeah, let's talk a little bit more about Anthony Nelson.
I mean, what an incredible game for this guy. You know,
there's the phrase next man up, and that can mean
a lot of different things, and it's sort of a necessity.
But I don't know that I've ever seen anyone rise
to the next man up quite like Anthony Nelson did
in this game. Two sacks, force fumble, pick six, first
player since two thousand and seven to get each of

(04:45):
those in a single game, first player in the league
this year with a sack and a pick six. Tell
me just what stands out to you about Anthony Nelson's
game and the way he was able to rise to
a level of most you know, starters are not putting
up those kind of numbers.

Speaker 6 (05:00):
His football IQ. He is such a smart and instinctive player.
He understands angles. He has a lot of length. He
looks like he's a tall, skinny guy, but he's very strong.
He knows how to play the game. He has a
feel for when to jump and when to get his
hands up, and he has great football reactions. He has
great reaction he can catch the ball. He's quite of

(05:21):
an athlete. I would like to think he's a very
good basketball player. He only does it on air, but
when I see the euro step, I think he's a
very good athlete that way. But he's been like that
since he's been here. He's come in, he's made plays.
You don't notice some until he's in there, until the
end of the game, when you look up the stat
sheet and say, wow, Nellie's nell he makes He really
had a good game. He does that all the time.

(05:42):
But this time he made the bigger plays. He made
the bigger plays and came through.

Speaker 5 (05:46):
Yeah. I love the confidence. It showed that. It felt
like he already had a celebration ready as a backup
outside linebacker, like he already expected that he was going
to make a play like that to have that celebration ready,
and tell me what went through your mind watching the
Picks play and just what really as it happened, all
the different elements of the tipping it, the catching it,
and then what he did to poor Spencer Roller on

(06:08):
the way to the end zone.

Speaker 4 (06:09):
It was almost like a blur.

Speaker 6 (06:10):
It happened so fast because he tipped it and then
he caught it, and thank god he didn't have to
run fifty yards and then he only had to run
about three yards because I think they would have walked
him down that way. But for him catching it and
react that way and still have the wherewithal the run
over the quarterback and getting the end zone that that
was great.

Speaker 5 (06:27):
And then I know you also had to account for
him not being able to be the special teams contributor
he normally is. So what was sort of the all
the different effects of his role and the way you
had the outside linebacker rotation going, and then how it
also affected special teams.

Speaker 4 (06:41):
Well, we got Kamara.

Speaker 6 (06:42):
We brought Kamara up to take his place on the
kickoff team obviously, and now he was one of our
best punt guys as well. He's one of our best tacklers,
so to put Kamara in there and the special teams
guys had to step up and make some plays, and
they filled in for him nicely.

Speaker 5 (06:55):
And how'd you feel about the rest of the outside
linebacker rotation and the way it looked after Hassan was.
I know, Marquise Watts ended up getting a half sack
as well, and just what you saw from the rest
of that group.

Speaker 6 (07:05):
Wat's got some good rushes at the end. He had
about fifteen plays. He got some really good rushes in there.
I thought Yaya did a good job pressure in the
quarterback on the outside, and braswell got a lot of
meaningful snaps. He missed one as well coming around the corner.
But they got a lot of good snaps in there,
and they got a lot of pressure.

Speaker 5 (07:20):
And Jacob Parrish he had a sack and two tackles
for loss. He is now tied for the most sacks
for a rookie in the NFL this season and tied
for second among rookies four tackles for loss and the
most among rookie defensive backs in that area. What have
you seen from him in terms of his ability to
get in that backfield, whether it be sacks, whether it
be tackles for loss, and just what his game looked

(07:40):
like overall.

Speaker 6 (07:41):
He played a great game, very savvy football player. He
got the TFLs on the screens, he was taking on blocks,
he was defeating blocks. He's very fast from A to
B getting to the quarterback. He's starting to understand the
defense very well and take advantage of it. I think
he's having a heck of a season.

Speaker 5 (07:56):
Casey Phillips here with head coach Child Bowles, so I
know that Servassier was also one of the people getting
in there for a sack. What did you notice from
his game and that play in particular, and.

Speaker 6 (08:06):
Bas has really settled in and taken over the defense
for us. He got through clean, He really got through clean.
He beat he beat the running back right there and
got through clean and got himself a sack. He's really
starting to get back to his college past rush days
and he's really getting comfortable back there, and you can
see it.

Speaker 5 (08:22):
And then, Antoine, let's start with the interception, the thing
that did count and stand and not get changed. Tell
me what stood out about that play and what he
was doing back there.

Speaker 6 (08:33):
I think Wynn had just as good a game as
Nelly personally, Winn was flying around back there. He was
taking the ball away. Obviously he got a fumble and
he got the interception right there, taking the ball away
that way, and Winn was doing some very good things.
He was making some open field tackles. He did a
heck of a job. I thought that was his best
game this year.

Speaker 5 (08:52):
Well yeah, I mean if everything had counted, I can't
imagine just the stats of yeah, this might be one
of his best games of his whole career, which is
saying something. Dating back to two thousand, he is just
the twelfth defensive back that has at least ten career
force fumbles and fumble recoveries. All the other players on
that list have played at least one hundred and sixteen games.
He's done it in seventy six. So tell me what

(09:16):
stands out about, especially his ability to force and recover fumbles.
Of those stats and at his position, what makes him
so talented at that He's.

Speaker 6 (09:25):
One of the few guys that works at it every week.
In practice, I mean, he practices just like he plays.
There's not a ball that he does not go after.
There's not an opportunity that he doesn't try to punch
the ball out and when he gets it, he runs,
whether it's a ninety nine yard or fifty yard or
a thirty yard, and he will run the length of
all field to score a touchdown. So he plays just

(09:46):
like he practices, and that's good to see.

Speaker 5 (09:48):
I know you guys held them to forty eight rushing yards.
I know that of course them being down in game
situation is going to contribute a little bit to that
in terms of when they did and didn't run. But overall,
what went so well for you guys in the.

Speaker 6 (09:59):
Rush deepense cleaned up our run integrity. I thought Roberts
did a very good job this game, bouncing back from
last week with his run gap scheme. He used his
hands well, he was pushing guys around, I thought him
and Logan and Vita, along with Gaines and Simmons did
a very good job holding him down the run game.

Speaker 5 (10:17):
We saw Jamel get a force fumble, another turnover. He's
contributing to I think his fourth and five games, And
tell me what stood out about him. And then also
Zion and Benjamin Morrison in your corners.

Speaker 6 (10:27):
Overall they covered well. You know, Shaheed and Alave caught
a few balls but they didn't. They weren't game breakers,
and they weren't destructive to the defense. They made the
tackles when they caught him, they didn't get beat over
the top, and they really settling in with the scheme
and they're taking advantage of their opportunities.

Speaker 5 (10:44):
I know the offense struggled, especially early at halftime. Baker
only had fifty yards of Mecca, Shep and tz All
just had one catch each. Caid had two. What was
seeming to be the struggle early on potentially offensively, I think.

Speaker 6 (10:57):
We had trouble early. They were doing a good job.
This guy's their pressures. They were starting back deep where
it looked like nobody was coming. Then by the time
we audible, they came up and they gave us a
problem that way early. We kind of settled in a
little bit when we came out in the second half,
but the first half they started off giving.

Speaker 4 (11:13):
Us some issues that way.

Speaker 5 (11:14):
I know that Baker was sacked three times and faced
a higher pressure rate in that first half than any
other half this season. Overall, offensive line from a pass
protection standpoint, what stood out about their performance.

Speaker 4 (11:27):
Oh, it was just four of them.

Speaker 6 (11:29):
We were okay, you know, we got to be a
better at picking up the blitz pick up that way.
But I thought Feeney did a good job for his
first time out there starting, and they passed off the
blocks very well. We just got to clean up some
technique things.

Speaker 5 (11:41):
Yeah, what went into the decision to start him and
it was the fifth right guard starter in eight games,
and just how challenging that is for an offensive line,
and then how he handled it.

Speaker 6 (11:52):
It doesn't help with continuity, I can take you that
for sure, But he's played in this league. He's a
very tough player, very smart player. I thought he handled
it well. I think it's got to be continuity going
on they get along with the other guys. But I
thought he played. I thought he played a solid ball game.

Speaker 5 (12:07):
It seemed like Baker and a Mecca haven't quite been
connecting these last couple of games the way they were before.
Any idea of what's been leading to that are the
ways to try to get them back as in sync
as they were those first few games.

Speaker 6 (12:18):
But they're really keen on them right now, you know,
with Mike and Chris out, they're really keen on them.
So Tazz and Shep and everybody else, Miller and Cam
got to step up. They got to step up a
little more and do more on the other side to
help get them free.

Speaker 5 (12:30):
I know that it seemed like there was definitely a
priority put on the run game more after Lascape game.
There were already as many runs early in the second
quarter as there had been all last game. How did
you feel about the balance overall?

Speaker 6 (12:43):
Balance was good, We just got to get more out
of it. They did a good job playing a six
man front early on to try to take it away,
and it was tough sledding in there, but we stuck
with it, and we stuck out some runs and I
think it was necessary to do.

Speaker 5 (12:55):
And what did you see from Rashad and Sean in
that area?

Speaker 1 (12:58):
Tough?

Speaker 6 (12:58):
I mean it's tough sledding, especially down on the goal line.
Those guys slammed it up in there. We finally got
one in. It was tough sledding all the way around,
but those guys hunging in and they battled.

Speaker 1 (13:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (13:08):
What stands out about each of the goal line drives
it first and goal from the one yard line two
different times, and definitely was a struggle to get in there.
What did you think of the way each of those
played out and looking back with hindsight on it.

Speaker 6 (13:21):
Oh, they were practically in a goal line situation, so
we either got to try to take it outside or
throw the football. We can be better helping them schematically
that way as coach as we can, and at the
same time they can pile it and smash it up
in there as well.

Speaker 5 (13:34):
Head coach Todd Bowles tes Johnson leading receiver for the game.
It's just so cool to see how again, the first
month of the season, I think he had one catch
for about nine yards, and now this last game he
had three catches for more than ten yards each. So
what stood out about not only the way he has
just more stats, but some of the things you've seen
come out of his biggest strengths and the ways you

(13:56):
guys can use him.

Speaker 6 (13:58):
Very good route runner, very good on the move, and
he has outstanding hands, So we try to get it
to him in space, We try to get it to
him while he's moving. He's a very good downfield runner,
and he can come in and out of breaks very well,
and he has outstanding hands. And when he catches it,
he knows how to move and get out the way,
and he knows when.

Speaker 4 (14:14):
To get down.

Speaker 5 (14:15):
I know that a couple of his bigger catches happened
on that first drive. Coming out of halftime, What did
you feel like helped the offense move a little bit
better at that point? I mean again, after Baker had
fifty yards in the first half, he had forty five
on that drive alone. So what was that shift at
halftime or the things that seemed to start clicking a
little better offensively?

Speaker 6 (14:33):
Let me changed some things up and we started attacking early.
We started winning our first downs, getting in second and
third and manageable. So if you can win first down,
that kind of backs the defense off a little bit.

Speaker 4 (14:42):
And I thought we started out that way.

Speaker 5 (14:44):
I know, three of thirteen on third down definitely not
the percentage you guys are hoping for. Did you find
it to be similar struggles to last week in that
area or a little bit different ones?

Speaker 4 (14:54):
We were different.

Speaker 6 (14:55):
We were shooting ourselves in the foot with a few penalties,
backing ourselves up from manageable to long. When you're getting
third long against that month, they have a variety of
blitzes as well that we understand. We got to go
through and we just weren't executing.

Speaker 5 (15:07):
Chase McLaughlin I mean, I feel like, again, this could
just be his segment every week of talking about not
only just accuracy, but hitting him from so long that
three fifty plus yard field goals in this game. He's
now eight for eight this season and forty of forty
seven in his career from those distances, and he's the
only player this season with three or more fifty plus
yard field goals in a single game. It's one thing

(15:28):
to just have an accurate kicker, it's another to have
one that accurate from that far away. Have you felt
a change in even how it feels for Gizarred for
you just the game decisions. Knowing that he can do
that that reliably from fifty plus.

Speaker 6 (15:42):
It's always comforting to know that once he gets right
inside of the forty that you can go. He can
go out there and you feel like you're making an
extra point.

Speaker 4 (15:50):
He's been that accurate for us.

Speaker 6 (15:51):
He's really he started out a little slow when the
season started up, but he's really picked it up and
he's come on for us. He's doing the heck of
a job.

Speaker 5 (15:58):
And I know we saw Josh Williams get his first
NFL carries. What do you guys like about him and
what his potential could be.

Speaker 6 (16:05):
Very good inside outside run, a very good teams player
as well. We think he's a very talented back. He
just happens to be behind three other talented backs right now,
but we think he has a very good future here
and we like what we see.

Speaker 5 (16:17):
And then now we're kind of nearing that midway point.
Josh Grizzard, what do you feel like you've seen is
the ways he's grown and learned and just how his
experience over these first couple months of the season has
affected his game planning.

Speaker 6 (16:29):
I thought he loosened up after week two or three
and came into his own right there, started throwing the
ball and they start game planning them differently that way.
And I think he's still going through the ups and
downs of it, but I think he knows what he
wants to do and.

Speaker 4 (16:41):
How to do it.

Speaker 6 (16:42):
Considering all the guys that's been hurt over there and
him juggling guys in and out of the lineup, I
think he's done a great job with justin to the
play calling as to who's playing in the ball game.

Speaker 4 (16:51):
So I think he's done a good job.

Speaker 5 (16:53):
So this is as close as we get to a
halfway point now that there's not a nice little even
eight and eight split, But for you, what would be
kind of the biggest storylines of the first half of
the season, and how you would just describe the makeup
of this team after.

Speaker 6 (17:05):
A few months resilient, tough, unwavering, mentally tough. That would
be the biggest thing for us. Mentally tough and understanding
what it takes to win.

Speaker 5 (17:18):
As much as you never want to deal with injuries,
are there ways that it can help a team if
you're able to get guys back in time and stay
you know, in a good enough record and position with
the injuries, that it gets your backups more work, it
gets you mentally tough that are there ways you think
you've seen that it can help your team in certain ways.

Speaker 6 (17:37):
It helps you survive the first half of the season,
but it can strengthen you in the second half if
your guys come back healthy and they can and you
can get on a roll, so you won't have a
problem if they get hurt again playing the other guys
because you've seen them do it and you trust them
to do it, and it's easy to.

Speaker 4 (17:53):
Put them out there.

Speaker 5 (17:54):
I know that at the time we're recording this, there's
obviously quite a long time between now and when there
would be another game, so a lot can share on
an injury front of how guys feel and who comes
back over that time. But are there certain guys that
you are hoping the bye week could be particularly helpful
for in terms of the increased likelihood that they're able
to come back.

Speaker 6 (18:11):
Well, First, the guys that's been playing are extremely sore,
so I'm really glad they get the rest up as well.
And as far as the guys that I hurt that
I may come back, We'll see how they do and
progress on the week off, and then if they're able
to practice next week, there'll be some hope.

Speaker 4 (18:26):
For Right now, we're just waiting to.

Speaker 5 (18:28):
See how do you and the rest of the coaches
use the bye week of balancing the act of getting
you guys some rest as well, but then also being
able to look ahead a bit to scout with the
next opponents, and then the idea of self scouting as well.

Speaker 6 (18:40):
We're going to self scout ourselves first. We'll go from
that standpoint. Then we'll take a look at the opponent
toward the end of the week. Then we'll take maybe
two or three days off here and then we'll come
back ready to go. Hopefully everybody get some rest and
get some time away. As a coach, if you get
an hour off, that's going to feel like a lifetime.
So to get a day or two is going to
feel like a vacation.

Speaker 5 (19:01):
How about a couple things you'd like to see improved
on each side of the ball for the second half.
If you could push your button and know that you've
changed one or two things, what would it be.

Speaker 4 (19:12):
Consistency?

Speaker 6 (19:13):
Consistency starting the game out just from an offensive standpoint
and not shooting ourselves in the foot, from a penalty standpoint,
from a defensive standpoint, just not busting the coverage. And
I thought they started out the Saints game that way,
So we're on our way toward that.

Speaker 5 (19:28):
And then what position group would you say you're most
proud of at this point the season? O MA, can
you pick favorites?

Speaker 6 (19:36):
I'm not as favorites, but the offensive line, the way
they have the juggle guys in and out has been
our most injured spot. To have different guys go in
there all day long, starting out with Barton at left
tackle and Bradison at center and everybody else coming in
from the first time, and like you said, it's our
fifth offensive guards starting right there. And so for that
group right there to still stay together and fight, I'm proud.

Speaker 4 (19:58):
Of they group well.

Speaker 5 (19:59):
Co thank you as always for the time and we
hope you enjoy your bye week.

Speaker 4 (20:02):
Thank you.

Speaker 5 (20:02):
Coming up next is Brian McLendon, Wide Receivers Coach on
Buccaneers Total Access brought to you by Advan Health. This
is Buccaneers Radio.

Speaker 2 (20:10):
You were listening to Buccaneers Total Access with head coach
Todd Bowles and Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips, brought to
you by ad Van Health, Exclusive Hospital of the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers.

Speaker 5 (20:22):
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access brought to you by
Advan Health. First half of the show we had head
coach Todd Bowles. Now I am so excited to be
joined by wide receiver coach Brian mcclindon. B mack.

Speaker 1 (20:31):
Thanks for being with us, no problem, glad to be here.

Speaker 5 (20:34):
And you got a victory Monday and going into the
bye week, I mean the best of all days.

Speaker 1 (20:38):
That is hard to beat, that is for sure hard
to beat. And you finally in this business, you get a.

Speaker 3 (20:43):
Monday that feels like a Monday sometimes, and you know
even more so on the weekend you get.

Speaker 1 (20:47):
A Friday, it feels like a Friday. SATA feels like
a Saturday, which you don't.

Speaker 5 (20:51):
Typically get, No, you don't. And man, to get a
win over a division opponent going into it, that is
the perfect way. Everybody's happy. Everybody gets to skip off
into the bye week happy as class him.

Speaker 1 (21:00):
So definitely beats the alternative.

Speaker 5 (21:01):
Yeah, tell me just what this win felt like it
meant for the record, the vibes, the division opponent, all
all of those factors.

Speaker 3 (21:08):
Yeah, I think any whin anywin that you feel like
that you get, man, those are special. But to get
those over that division opponent, somebody that you know, those
wins kind of stack up and they kind of multiply.

Speaker 5 (21:21):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (21:22):
And you know, conversely, the you know, losses can do
the same thing once you get a little bit later
into the season. So just to go out there, man
and go into the by six and two, I think
everyone's pretty happy. And even the two that you felt
like you could have you could have got gotten a
little bit more in those areas too. But all those wins, man,
they feel they feel good, and like I said, it
just beats the alternative.

Speaker 5 (21:43):
You know, when I was talking to a Mecca and
his show, I jokingly asked him if he felt like
to step in Mike's shoes, he needed to start a
fight in New Orleans, if that was part of the
responsibilities when you first got here, had you heard about
this rivalry overall and then specifically the Mike Evans component.

Speaker 1 (21:58):
Well, I knew I I vaguely knew of it, vaguely
knew of it.

Speaker 3 (22:02):
And actually my son, who's who's eight years old now,
he was seven at the time, he showed me a
video on YouTube of Mike and you know, in the
corner kind of going at it, and so I quickly
asked Mike. I was like, hey, man, what what do
you guys got going on? You know, what do you
guys got going on here? And then he kind of
gave me a brief history lesson on it. Also, so

(22:24):
I did know that there was some that's some special game,
special game here, and like I said, it being it
being a team that you see twice a year, once
at their placed, once the diars man, I think that
that kind of heightens the intensity of it.

Speaker 1 (22:37):
And you know, they're two good football teams.

Speaker 3 (22:40):
So, like I said, just got to make sure man,
that you that you keep the main thing the main
thing going into that and not get too hyped up
and understanding right now, man, emotions only gonna last so
long that you got to go out there.

Speaker 1 (22:50):
And be able to execute on a down to down basis.

Speaker 5 (22:53):
I know that really all that matters is whether or
not you get the win. Doesn't really matter how you
get there. But I'm sure the offense would have liked
a little bit quicker start coming out the block. So
what was sort of the struggle and especially that first half,
you know, Baker only having fifty yards and just kind
of you know, basically all your wide receivers only having
one catch each and going into halftime, what was kind
of the struggle?

Speaker 3 (23:11):
Well, I won't say so much a struggle. I think,
uh that's kind of how the game fell a little bit. Obviously,
you would like to put together some drives where you
could stay you know, you could stay on the field
a little bit more so, uh, you know, being a
little bit more effective on first and second down to
kind of get a little bit more of those manageable
uh manageable third downs. And I think we had a
couple of false starts and everything else that didn't.

Speaker 1 (23:30):
Help the cause either.

Speaker 3 (23:31):
So I mean it was it was enough to go
around that kind of that. You know, you know, they
kind of compounded things and that, and obviously that first
half just wasn't one of the clean wanted to clean
this game for us offensively, and when when you do
that in a in a hostile environment versus a good team,
then you normally you know, production didn't normally great, and so, uh,
you know, the thing is you just try to fix

(23:51):
the stuff that you can control, and I thought we
did a good job of that and coming out and
being able to get up, being able to get ahead
of it a little bit in the second half.

Speaker 5 (23:58):
Yeah, I was gonna ask what did seem to shift
at halftime knowing that, like I said, Baker at fifty
yards in the first half, way forty five on that
first drive coming out, and that's a I imagine as coaches,
you kind of swell with pride when there's a distinct
difference if you go into halftime and you come out
of it that that's got to make you, guys feel
good about whatever happened in there. At halftime. So what
seemed to kind of click a little bitter.

Speaker 3 (24:17):
Well, you preach in there starting fast, and when you
say start fast, that doesn't just mean at the beginning
of the game, right, and so to have the ability
to get the ball and you know.

Speaker 1 (24:26):
It's a really really really big drive, you know, the
first drive that you get right after halftime.

Speaker 3 (24:31):
So I mean to be able to go down like
you said, however, it was whether it's running, whether it's passing,
and go down there and be able to get points
out there, you know, in that first drive. I felt
like it was huge for us right now as a team.

Speaker 5 (24:42):
Yeah, and then I know also a Mecca and Baker
we saw early in the season it was like that
just couldn't miss last couple of games, few more misconnections.
How does it feel like that's looking at this point
and some of the ways that might have shifted. How
much is it based on no Mike, no Chris there.

Speaker 1 (24:57):
I think it's a little bit more of just that
dynamic of those two.

Speaker 3 (25:01):
You know, you know, had different weapons, you know, offensively
going into the season, and so I mean his role
had has you know, had kind of changed, and it's
out of necessity and just because you know, you have
a lack of some of those people that were out
there with him. When I'm saying him, I mean a
Mecca and so uh, like I said, man, you know
so in saying that, man, you see how people play

(25:22):
us right now, be a little bit different to play him. Uh,
We'll be a little bit different over there as well.
So it's just kind of morphing into a different role
right now for him, Uh, which I feel like is good.
I feel like he's taking it. Uh, he's taking it
just like as you imagine he would. And but you know, it's,
like I said, it's not just an adjustment just for
a Mecca or or Baker's you know, for us as coaches,

(25:42):
for everybody else out there, just because of.

Speaker 1 (25:44):
You know, the personnel that's changed around those two.

Speaker 5 (25:46):
Also, we're talking to wide receiver coach Brian McLendon. So
tell me for you, how much do you just find
yourself sitting there thinking like what you could have if
everyone was healthy out there one time, Like what this
could look like when you're watching in training can and
thinking and dreaming about this. I mean, as a wide receiver,
go try imagine you're just like this is gonna be
so cool.

Speaker 1 (26:06):
Sure.

Speaker 3 (26:07):
Well, to be honest with you, you can't get caught up
in that. You really can because the only thing right
now that you'll be doing is working yourself up for
stuff that you can have zero control over, right, And
so all you have to do, man, is all I
do is I just dive into the guys that that
are available and try to make sure, man, that I'm
doing everything I can to make sure that those.

Speaker 1 (26:26):
Guys can go out there and be successful.

Speaker 3 (26:28):
So it would be nice to be able to have
all the healthy bodies and everything else in there that's
sitting in those seats.

Speaker 1 (26:35):
But like I said, if you, if you, if you
sit up there.

Speaker 3 (26:38):
If I sit up there, and uh, and concerning myself
with Dad on the down to down basis or every
day basis, I should say, then I'm I feel like
I'll be cheating the guys right now that that are
that are going out there and are able to play.
So you know, obviously, man, you're supporting everybody in the
room and any type of way that you can, whether
they're playing or whether they or not. Uh, But you know,

(26:59):
it's really just diving into the guys that are playing
and making sure I'm doing everything I can't do as
a coach.

Speaker 1 (27:03):
You give those guys some success too.

Speaker 5 (27:05):
I felt like Mike, you know, people always once you
get to a certain age, like oh, this is the
year it starts going down. I just kept hearing that
he looked better than ever in training camp and preseason,
and what did you see during those times and when
he has been healthy playing the level Mike was still
at at this point in his career.

Speaker 3 (27:22):
Yeah, it was you know, he he took it upon
himself to come into camp and as good as shape
as he possibly could, and I think he did a
great job of that, and so early in the you know,
early in camp, you know, it was just you saw
the fruits of his labor from the off season and
everything else that he had put into it. So he
was moving, moving great, moving fast, was able to recover well, go.

Speaker 1 (27:45):
Out there and play fast for an extended period.

Speaker 3 (27:47):
Of time, and like I said, man was just playing
on balance.

Speaker 1 (27:51):
He just looked really, really good. And so you just
hate these unfortunate circumstances.

Speaker 3 (27:56):
Right now, Man, that's kind of hit him and it's
just been an unfortunate year as far as that goes.
But I was talking to him actually earlier today and
it was just you know, and he takes it exactly
how you think he would.

Speaker 1 (28:06):
I mean, he's just like, hey, you know, nobody's immune
to it.

Speaker 3 (28:09):
This is the game, and which is exactly how you
should take it, and just know and understand. Let's just
dive into what we can do today to get back
as full speed as we possibly can whenever that time is.

Speaker 5 (28:19):
I know, the next man up is you know, the
most used phrase in the NFL. But Mike is one
of one. And so how do you and Grizzard work
together to figure out what replacing Mike looks like When
it's not like you have another Mike Evans and even
when you have great wide receivers in your room, the
body style is different, the game is different. How do
you work to adjust to try and make up for

(28:41):
you know, what I'm sure is a lot of game
planning for the Mike.

Speaker 1 (28:44):
That's right, and well you mentioned it.

Speaker 3 (28:47):
You're not going to replace Mike and ever you But
the thing is is that going in each week, the
only thing you can do is say, hey, man, look
this is what we got right and than and whether
it's personnel, whether it's scheme, whether it's what they do
versus what you do. Uh, you say, I mean, this
is what we got, this is what we can do

(29:08):
to try to tack those guys. And within that, uh,
let's do a really good job of making sure that
we're putting the right pieces in the right places that
not just those guys can be successful for for what
where we can be successful as a team and all
and offensively obviously so. And I think that because the
pieces have changed so much, I mean, we've kind of
gotten used to having to do that. But at the

(29:30):
end of the day, whether Mike's there, whether whether Mike isn't,
you know that you still have to do that with
the pieces that you got, right and having a guy
like Mike, it was kind of different just because you
really didn't know how people were gonna play.

Speaker 1 (29:43):
Him until you got out there on Sunday, and.

Speaker 3 (29:45):
So, uh, you knew they were gonna have a plan,
whether it's gonna put doo dudes on them or whether
their best corner was gonna follow him or whatever that
whatever the case may be.

Speaker 1 (29:53):
So you know, you may have a little bit less
of that going on.

Speaker 3 (29:57):
And uh, truly what you see on film is what
you have a better chance of getting because sometimes when
you know, when Mike was there, you might see something
that they've done all season, but you know they were gonna.

Speaker 1 (30:06):
Have a little bit of a different plan from Mike.

Speaker 3 (30:09):
So you you had a little bit of a look,
like I said, a little less that going on. But
other than that, you kind of game plan for what
you have and try to put those guys in the
best possible UH positions.

Speaker 5 (30:19):
What have you seen about the ways that he and
Chris both have tried to help the young guys coming
in and the way especially knowing that the stereotype of
the wide receiver position a little divish, maybe not so
willing to help the young guy coming in, and they
of course are just not that in any way, shape
or form. And what have you seen about the intentionality
each of them have taken while they've been injured to

(30:39):
try to help those young guys.

Speaker 3 (30:40):
And it's those guys are They're just wonderful people. And
I say that every time I get asked about them.
They're just U There are great examples for everybody of
what you uh, of what you should do, you know,
the impact that you can have on people around you,
the intention to detail that they bring every single day
and uh, and they're extremely bright.

Speaker 1 (31:01):
Uh and they do a really good job right now.

Speaker 3 (31:03):
Like you said, they're communicating so they you know, they
might come off the field and they in practice or
when we're in meetings and they see stuff and whether
it's good or bad, you know, those guys are the
first guys right now man that's hey, make good job
and a whor hey you could have done this or
I mean just whatever the case may be. But those
guys just being able to being there to support those guys,
it's just it's invaluable. It's invaluable. And when they're the

(31:27):
and when they played at the level that they played
and and still able to maintain that that that goes
to show the true value man, that those guys are
uh to the organization.

Speaker 1 (31:36):
But and and they just continue to show it.

Speaker 3 (31:38):
And no matter what, no matter what the circumstance are, man,
they continue to show that.

Speaker 5 (31:42):
A we' gonna tell you a quick break here in
Buccaneers Total Access brought to you by Avan Health. We're
talking to wide receivers coach Brian McLendon. This is Buccaneers Radio.

Speaker 2 (31:50):
You were listening to Buccaneers Total Access with head coach
Todd Bulls and Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips. Brought to
you by ad Van Health, Exclusive Hospital of the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers.

Speaker 5 (32:01):
Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by
Advan Halfer talking to wide receivers to drying the Clinton.
So he talked about losing Mike and the challenges of that.
What was it like for you watching Chris come back
from the injury last year, just the work you put
in and then Washington get hurt again, so quickly of
just what it was like for you as his coach,
and then watching the way He's approached both of those injuries.

Speaker 3 (32:21):
First, you know, it was it was great to get
Chris when he was coming off of a year that
had he had previously gotten injured the year before that,
if that.

Speaker 1 (32:29):
Makes any sense. So he had played, he had gotten hurt,
played the season.

Speaker 3 (32:33):
Then I came in and then just he knew just
all the stuff that he wanted to change things, He
wanted to tweak as far as the off season just
to make sure that he was going into that following season, uh,
as good as possible. So I'm saying all that to
say he uh, Chris is a very intentional person every
single day. He I mean, he has a purpose for
what he does, why he wants to do it.

Speaker 1 (32:54):
And uh, me.

Speaker 3 (32:55):
And him communicated the thoroughly through all of that. So
we put together a real good plan and it was
pretty in intensive, but of just all the work that
he put in going into last season and so for
to see him have start off the way he did
and the season he was having, it was just really
gratifying for him, you know, just because he had put

(33:15):
in so much work, uh, so much thought, so much time,
so much everything, uh and uh and he was getting
you know, the future of his labor where we're truly
going out there. And then obviously he got hurt and
and so you know what I mean, you just feel
devastated for somebody who's worked as hard as he did
to go out there and then have the success he
was having and then just come off and then you know,

(33:37):
just you kind of it are done because of an injury.
And but you knew Chris was gonna go and he
was gonna approach that same off season the exact same way.
And so that that is what I appreciate the most
about him, is you know, he's able to be able
to compartmentalize things and say and be able to move
that focus and say, hey, man, you know, you know
this last year.

Speaker 1 (33:56):
Was this, this year is this is kind of where
I am.

Speaker 3 (33:58):
All right, so now I'm in these along these lines,
and so you know, it's been really really good to
be able to kind of go through that process with him.
You hate the circumstance that you had that you had
to do it, and same thing. So when the circle
back around the world, it was time for him to
go back out there and play. I mean, it was
you know, it was excited just to have him back
out there. You know, it was just kind of like

(34:18):
a security blanket and just going out there and felt
like you get another coach on the field, you really do,
you know what I mean, when you're out there and
you're watching him on the sideline and so uh so obviously, man,
you you knew I could tell something was wasn't right,
you know, when when he was going out there and
and and the leg was bothering him the end of
that end of Seattle game and I asked him, I'm.

Speaker 1 (34:38):
Like, hey, are you okay? And uh and he was
just like, yeah, I'm good.

Speaker 3 (34:42):
Which was obviously no doubt. And so you know to
come to find com and so and so you know,
and he finishes the game and and and uh and
and immediately afterwards, man, that that was when you know,
we all got got the news to kind of that
he may he may have to miss a little bit
more time. And so but you know, he's been approaching

(35:04):
this time the exact same way he did the off season.
And absolutely, man, and just uh, you know, and through
those and and through those injuries, I think has helped
give him a real perspective on that, you know, and
understanding that you know you have you have to lay
these benchmarks out in front of each day and let
let's go out there with the right purpose and the

(35:25):
right attitude, and let's go out there attack those And
he's done a great job at that.

Speaker 5 (35:29):
We're talking to wide receiver coach Brian McClendon, So let's
dive a little bit more into a mecca. I want
you to tell me about the draft process when you
remember watching tape on him, when you learned he might
actually get to be yours. Just tell me that you
must have been the happiest human on draft day of anybody.

Speaker 1 (35:45):
Well, I gotta take it back even further.

Speaker 3 (35:48):
It was COVID year I leave the University of South
Carolina to go to the University of Oregon, and it
was late, it was like around May ish and uh
so the demographic of the people that you recruit it
changes kind of, you know, with with with where you
are a little bit too. And I remember watching this
tape when I was at the University of South Carolina
when he was in high school, and I thought then,

(36:09):
I was like, man, this is the best guy in
the country.

Speaker 1 (36:11):
I really did. I thought he was the best retreatment
in the country.

Speaker 3 (36:13):
So immediately I get out there and I tried chipping away.

Speaker 1 (36:16):
We were we were way behind over there to Oregon.

Speaker 3 (36:19):
Obviously, he ends up going to Ohio State and and
having a career he had there. But you know, that
was my really first introduction to him. But uh you know,
when when started recruiting him, then you knew he was
a special You knew he was a special kid in
terms of just the questions that he was asking. Never
caught up in any of the hype or any of

(36:40):
the uh stuff, any of the flash that people try
to that try to throw at him. I mean, he
he was all about the substance, even when recruiting him
as a young kid. And and and his parents have
done a great job with a mom, father and the stepfather.
I mean all that they've done a great job, uh
with him. And I remember talking to them, you know
then so when you know, when it circled back around
and I'm like, all right, you know this this you

(37:02):
know there's a chance that I get to I get
to watch absolutely and so when I uh so when
you watch him, you see all the.

Speaker 1 (37:09):
Same stuff you saw, the ability and everything else. And obviously, man,
I kind of had a little bit.

Speaker 3 (37:14):
Of history with him as a as a as a
as a person. And so when as soon as we
walked up and then at the combine, when when we
when we were interviewing him, it was like, oh, I
mean it was good to kind of get you know,
kind of kind of kind of see each other again.
And you know, it was the big hugs, and you know,
we visited with him then. And then you know, after
we visited with him, and I was telling everybody in

(37:34):
the room, I'm like, lou just gonna it's gonna it's
gonna feel like you're talking to a a forty five
year old man. Okay, I mean he's just got it together.
And so, uh and when he walked out the room,
he he had I mean he had everybody floored.

Speaker 1 (37:48):
I really did.

Speaker 3 (37:49):
And so just with impressing that impression that he left
with everybody, and and so so I mean you kind
of don't know, you know, the different things and everything else,
but you know, I sense when when we're getting back
close to the draft that that there was a chance that,
you know, if he was there, we were going to
do it. And so I'm sitting up there, I'm like
fingers crossed. Man, I'm like, just don't take him, you

(38:11):
know what I mean, I'm up there and I'm just
thinking every good lord, every team that's not taking him.

Speaker 1 (38:15):
And then uh, and so so when it came around,
I mean it was just like you hit the lottery.
You know, it just hit the lottery.

Speaker 3 (38:21):
But like I said, not just with him as a player,
you knew the person that you're bringing into the organization
just it's.

Speaker 1 (38:27):
Just, uh, it's just top notch.

Speaker 3 (38:29):
And so I mean it's it's just hard to bypass
somebody that has the ability that he has and and
and who he is as a person. You know, you
feel like that's that's another reason that that he's always gonna.

Speaker 1 (38:40):
Be a special player, just because he's always.

Speaker 3 (38:41):
Gonna be able to maximize every inch of ability that
he has in his body just.

Speaker 1 (38:46):
By how he's made up.

Speaker 5 (38:47):
Yeah, So I do feel like we hear so much
about his makeup, his maturity, like who he is off
the field, and it contributes to how good he is
on it. But what are maybe some of the true
x's and o's for details that make I'm a good
wide receiver so quickly.

Speaker 3 (39:01):
Absolutely well just throughout, Yeah, I mean just overall in general.
When when you speaking about uh being good offensively, you
want y you you have to be explosive. So other
than turnovers, getting explosive plays is probably one of the
top two or three.

Speaker 1 (39:20):
Factors in winter losing the whole game.

Speaker 3 (39:22):
You know, and the NFL defenses are too good just
to go ten eleven, twelve plays right down in a
row and you scoring every time.

Speaker 1 (39:29):
That's just very unlikely, it it is.

Speaker 3 (39:31):
So you need explosive plays right now, man to be
able to win games. And and so that was the
first thing that that you know that he gives you
the ability to do not just catch the ball and
make contested catches. But also once he has the ball
in his hand, he can make plays once he has
the ball also, So.

Speaker 1 (39:49):
Though you know, so you saw that, you saw his natural.

Speaker 3 (39:51):
Ability to be able to judge and track the football.
I think that baseball background. I mean, he just he
he he just has the uncanny ability to be able
to go up and ca all you know, I mean,
regardless of who's around him, and and and you know,
the body position to be able to do that, has
really good balance and body control. And like I said,
I mean his his ability to be able to accelerate
and get in and out of breaks.

Speaker 1 (40:11):
I mean, I think he was really well coached.

Speaker 3 (40:13):
I think he's worked extremely hard to be able to
you know, perfect the small stuff right now, route running,
and I think, you know, like I said, just he's
very very coachable.

Speaker 1 (40:23):
You know. So if it's like, hey, this is what
you need to do, this is why you need to
do it, and he understands why, and he understands all
of that. Man, he's one of those people that can
get it done.

Speaker 5 (40:34):
Olive, We're gonna take one more break here on Buccaneers
Total Access brought to you by Avan Health we're talking
to wide receiver coach Brian Mclinton. This is Buccaneers Radio.

Speaker 2 (40:42):
You were listening to Buccaneers Total Access with head coach
Todd Bules at Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips brought you
by ad Van Health Exclusive Hospital of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Speaker 5 (40:54):
Time for a final segment here with wide receiver coach
Brian Clinton. So talk about Mike and Chris and the MAC.
I want to dive into the rest of your room,
because boys, the rest of your room has had to
step up in some big ways and they've done a
great job of it. And you've done a great job
with the room. And so let's talk about tests. I
first of all, love this dude. How fun is test
to coach? And tell me same thing? Kind of with

(41:16):
a mega of I know, you just missed him at Oregon,
it sounds like, which is such a bummer. Ye, But
what did you learn about his time at Oregon and
just watching him in college and then that made you,
guys say this guy could really contribute.

Speaker 1 (41:28):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (41:29):
No, it was early similar when you watch his tape
in terms of what you saw.

Speaker 1 (41:34):
Now, the styles and everything else.

Speaker 3 (41:36):
Were different, but you just saw his ability to be
able to create explosive plays and a number of different ways.
And so I just feel like as many as guys
as you could have that can do that, obviously, that
ups the chances of you getting them when you know,
when when they're here. So you saw him make explosive
plays whether and they got it to him in a
bunch of different ways, and so you knew he was

(41:57):
smart enough to be able to learn all that stuff.
And then you know, and I mean he's very very
football savvy, uh in terms of really gets what you're
trying to do out uh out there man when schematically
and uh and understanding why. And he's a and he's
very very I mean just just I mean and he
and he's very very eager, you know, and so and
he's the same way in the classroom, I mean, and

(42:18):
he is on I mean, just trying to do everything
he can do right now to learn it. Me and him,
we have our special meetings and everything else over there, uh,
to make sure man that he has stuff down. But
I mean, and he's an extremely hard working kid. And
so when it's on in the same thing. When we
got a chance to meet with him over there at
the combine you knew. You were like, oh man, this
is just a he's a great kid. I mean, this

(42:40):
kid that that's gonna that's gonna fit great in any room.

Speaker 1 (42:43):
And uh, you were just hoping that that he that
that it was our room right now, that I that
he was gonna be able to fit into.

Speaker 5 (42:48):
Tell me your reaction when you learned about the MVP
chant thinking thinking it was for him, Well.

Speaker 3 (42:53):
I it it did not surprise you, okay, it it
It was it was about part for the core, you
know what I mean when when it came to that
and uh and and uh it was it was just
super funny, I remember, I mean and it was it.

Speaker 1 (43:08):
Was one other coach that showed it to me. Uh
and I mean show showed me the little the little
clips of it, and I just I just shook my head.
I was like, but that's him, that that that is
truly him, And just seemed like a little they they need,
they need their own.

Speaker 5 (43:23):
Their own show. You need to make this happen. They do.

Speaker 1 (43:26):
They don't make a lot of money. Those two would make.

Speaker 5 (43:29):
They would make a lot of money. I asked Himccan,
I'm like, you're so serious all the time, Like what
makes you laugh, what makes you silly? And that's what
he said. He was like those two and he said,
in y'all's room, it's just who it is.

Speaker 3 (43:39):
It is, and you have to you know, I tried.
When we first get in there, I kind of let
him get it out. Then I'm like, all right, let's go.

Speaker 5 (43:47):
Toddlers your baby yep.

Speaker 3 (43:49):
And then now all right, man, let's let's snap it
in and snapping in his business time and you got.

Speaker 1 (43:54):
To do that.

Speaker 3 (43:54):
But but all those guys are good and they're great
and and they're able to be able to, Hey, when
it's time to do that, it's time to do that,
and when it's not, and when it's time to get serious,
let's get serious.

Speaker 1 (44:02):
And they do a great job of that.

Speaker 5 (44:03):
We're talking to wide receiver coach Brian Mclinton, So what
are the things with Tez that you're working on that
you want to see him improve on that could take
him to.

Speaker 1 (44:09):
That next level?

Speaker 3 (44:10):
Well, I think not just him, but just all those guys.
I think, you know, just just being very very detailed
in his route, running very detailed right now, man, and
everything everything that we're doing, I mean, when it comes
to splits with foots up type of release we're taking,
you know, the depth of this route where you need
to be on the field.

Speaker 1 (44:27):
I mean, just all the stuff. I think, not just him.

Speaker 3 (44:30):
I mean that's something that you got to do a
good job of as a coach to make sure all
the guys right now in the room are doing that.
But that is something that I'm constantly on him about
in every practice, every walk through, every game, and so
just and he's doing a great job of eating all
that stuff up.

Speaker 5 (44:45):
Watching the way that some of these young guys have
been so ready when they've come in. I wondered, if
you have so much experience at the college level, do
you feel like that's helped you help guys come in
to understand that transition that needs to happen.

Speaker 3 (44:57):
I think just having that background, you're used to having
to teach a certain way, you used to having to
teach really from the ground up of every little thing.
And so sometimes they get on me because they say
I'm kind of too detailed, and I'm always, you know,
repetitive in this, repetitive in that.

Speaker 1 (45:13):
But at the end of the day, I'd rather be
repetitive and know that.

Speaker 3 (45:16):
They got it right and then assume than assume and
then just say it once.

Speaker 1 (45:19):
Right.

Speaker 3 (45:20):
So I mean that that's just kind of my detail.
I mean, it just kind of it's kind of how
I'm wired in this thing. I mean, I come from
a family Educator's mom was a teacher and everything else. Man,
So I see this as a as an opportunity to teach,
and and so I try to do it in every aspect,
you know.

Speaker 1 (45:35):
So I make them write it down, make them stand up,
make them walk through it, make them tell it to me,
make them teach it back to me. Whatever, whatever I
gotta do, you know, whatever I gotta do.

Speaker 3 (45:43):
And so so just making sure I cover all the
bases because everybody learns different also, you know, and so
making sure that I'm hitting all the areas right now
that those guys learn and.

Speaker 1 (45:52):
And like I said, man, just not assuming because it
it doesn't it doesn't do It doesn't do much good
if I know it and they can't go out there
and do it, right.

Speaker 3 (46:00):
It's what they can go out there and do, and
what they feel comfortable going out there doing. And you know,
those guys, I said to them all the time, if
I'm a thousand cent, sure I got a slant route
on this play, then that gives me the best opportunity
to run the best slant route possible.

Speaker 1 (46:13):
But if I go out there and I'm.

Speaker 3 (46:14):
Fifty percent sure, I'm probably not gonna run a good
slant run, you know. And so so just making sure
that they're sure, you know, cause that that gives those
guys a confidence to go out there and play well
and play fast, and I'd have to think I'd have
to worry.

Speaker 5 (46:27):
I know that. In addition to tees, recently, Cam Johnson
also to step up with had the Johnson and Johnson
Show that one week. So tell me what Cam Johnson's done, Well,
what you're working on with him?

Speaker 1 (46:37):
Sure?

Speaker 3 (46:37):
Well, Cam had this bunch of ability and we were
really excited about Cam last season. You know, as a rookie,
not many people knew about him, and it was one
of those things that he just kept showing up every
practice and so we were really excited about, you know,
being able to keep him and have him around because
you saw a bunch of stuff that he was doing
already and then he was hampered a bunch by injuries

(46:57):
last season and so it's just been being able to
and he's just been showing what he's been what he's
been doing right now, man now just been able to
stay healthy when he does it. So Cam's done a
tremendous job of having a routine every single day to
come in, make sure his body is right, make sure
he's taking care of his body. And he's another one
of those conscientious you know people that just you know,

(47:19):
think about everything he.

Speaker 1 (47:21):
Does and why and just applies it. And he's able
to apply it.

Speaker 3 (47:24):
So, I mean, it's been really really good to see
him have some of the success right now that he's
getting I.

Speaker 5 (47:29):
Know, Stirlian Shepherd. It's just been so cool to see
the way he's gotten this whole part two of his
career here where Cam and thinking he's just maybe going
to be a practice by guy, let me just be
here for my guy Baker and then now stepped up
in some really big ways. What is at this point
in his career, what are the things he brings as
both just like a vent and what that means, but
then also what he's actually doing access and o's on
the field that can really benefit the whole offense.

Speaker 3 (47:51):
Well, you know, the thing that's made that makes shep
here being unique is as you said it, he's had
a bunch of experience before he's gotten here. He's the
type person that doesn't mind saying, hey, look, guys, I
tried this and this did not.

Speaker 1 (48:05):
Work, you know what I mean?

Speaker 3 (48:07):
Or hey man, I found out that this works even better.
And also just understanding that he's here more than just
being a mentor.

Speaker 1 (48:15):
Yes, it's super early. Make sure his body's right and
everything else.

Speaker 3 (48:18):
And shoot, he's the oldest guy in the room and
he's missed the least amount of time.

Speaker 5 (48:23):
Going against DB's in practice is so important for getting
your room ready. So tell me both from the idea
of just going against a Coach Bowles defense in preseason
shitch already, but then specifically the vets like Jamel and
Zion and then even these new guys Morrison, Paris and
Parish and how they've looked. How did you see that
make your guys be more ready? And what are some

(48:44):
of the things that stand out about the corners that
we have on this team?

Speaker 1 (48:47):
Sure?

Speaker 3 (48:48):
Well, to answer your first question by Coach Bowles, I mean,
there's you go into the season and I tell these
guys this, we should have all the comps in the
world because there is nothing that we'll see out there
on a Sunday that we hadn't seen in some way
shape or for him over there, going against coach bold
defense because he he throws a lot at you on purpose,
and he tests all your rules, whether it be protection rules, coverage,

(49:11):
adjustment rules, you know, just everything. The thing is, man,
that that does that gives a guy's confidence, like, hey man,
look if we can get these checks and everything else
right versus this versus this defense.

Speaker 1 (49:23):
Man.

Speaker 3 (49:23):
Then Sundays during the season, should should be a breed,
should be a breeze. But going against the whole defense
in general, but the DB's obviously, Man, I feel like, man,
they do a great job of the whole iron sharping's
iron thing. And you know, just having constant communication right
now with those guys too. But you know, those guys
been great teammates for us and and and I think
that I mean just that, but that's the whole culture

(49:43):
right now, that that that that coach is built and
just knowing understanding. Man, hey man, we're gonna go out
there and compete against each other, but we're gonna help
each other right now, man when.

Speaker 1 (49:52):
We need to. And you know, on Sundays, man, we
all together, well, Coach.

Speaker 5 (49:55):
Thanks so much for taking time with us, especially on
the bye week. We really appreciate it and can rats
on doing a great job with a room that has
dealt with a lot this year and getting these young
guys ready to go. And I just can't wait to
see what it'll look like with all the people and
all the weapons at your disposal helpfully, So all right, well, coach,
thank you again so much. Thanks to all of you
guys for joining us. This has been Buccaneers Total Access,

(50:16):
brought to you by Advent Health, as is Buccaneers Radio.