Yeah, Rob, we just lost our stellar center, Ryan Jensen, for months due to his practice injury. I love that guy. My fave center of all time. I call him the big punisher and may your god help you if you hit Brady too hard or mouth off to him because Jensen will step in and embarrass you (and get a fine while knocking sense into the taunter).
Man, three of our front OL will be new to their positions on the Bucs this year. Got me a bit concerned now. I hope the newbies step it up. If they do, they will be handsomely rewarded.
Our receiving corps is looking incredible and I’ve noticed some of our safeties and cornerbacks are playing above their normal levels in practice, so that’s the good news. Get Playoff Lenny into the mix again and keep him healthy and I think we have a good shot to take our division and conference this year.
These veterans are responding.
Kyle Rudolph is probably the happiest and most appreciative in his career:
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2022/07/kyle-rudolph-explains-dif…
Rudolph explained there is the Bucs’ playbook, which playbook diagrams each play and how and where receivers should run routes, block, you name it. But the playbook is just a diagram, Rudolph said, because Brady may want that play run with small modifications.
Brady knows what works and what doesn’t depending on personnel and the defense. So in a sense, Rudolph was saying he has to learn two playbooks, the original and how Brady actually wants those plays run.
Rudolph referred to this as “nuance.” So far, it appears Rudolph has all the attributes head coach Todd Bowles desires in a football player.
“He brings intelligence, he brings toughness, he brings savvy, and he’s played the game for a while,” Bowles said of Rudolph. “So. he gives us an extra guy. He can block, he can catch the ball.”