Training Camp Hype VS Reality
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are about to kick off their 2023 training camp, which will feature a quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask and some new faces on both sides of the ball. Training camp is always an exciting time for fans, who get to see their favorite players in action and get a glimpse of the team's potential. However, not everything in training camp and preseason translates to the regular season. Sometimes, players who shine in practice end up disappointing when the games count. Here are some examples of Bucs players who failed to live up to their training camp and preseason hype.
Jeff Demps(2014)
Jeff Demps was one of the most intriguing acquisitions in BUCS history. Demps was a former collegiate standout at the University of Florida from 2008-2011. He played an integral role in the Gators’ 2009 BCS Championship-winning season when he rushed for a career-high 745 yards averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Demps ended up focusing on his track and field Olympic aspirations after college rather than entering the NFL Draft. Still, he was signed by the Patriots before the 2012 season. In April of 2013, the Buccaneers traded LeGarrette Blount for the rights to New England for Demps and a 7th-round pick. However, the BUCS allowed Demps to split time between his Olympic goals and team participation. He missed out on training camp and didn’t join the BUCS until September.
The allure to Demps was his track speed. The hype in training camp was about how the linebackers had to pay close attention to what he was doing and where he was positioned because he could burn them at any given moment. Head Coach Lovie Smith repeatedly lauded Demps as the fastest man in the NFL and said that kind of respect from defenders was expected. The intrigue surrounding him was what he could be if/when he focused solely on football and what happens when he’s close to 100% healthy. Well, the BUCS never found out. Demps didn’t make it in the initial 53-man roster partially due to a hamstring injury. He was later brought back as an addition to the practice team. When it was all said and done, Demps played only 2 games for the Buccaneers, with 4 touches, 21 receiving yards, and 14 rushing yards. Not a single touchdown. None of that speed was ever seen in space.
Kenny Bell (2015)
Kenny Bell was a fifth-round pick by the Bucs in 2015, and he quickly became a fan favorite in training camp with his speed, route-running and hair. Bell was touted as a potential deep threat and return specialist for the Bucs’ offense, and he showed flashes of his talent in practice and preseason games. He caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Jameis Winston in the preseason opener against Minnesota2, and he had a 54-yard kickoff return against Cleveland3. However, Bell suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the entire regular season. He never played a snap for the Bucs, as he was waived before the start of the 2016 season.
Roberto Aguayo (2016)
Roberto Aguayo was one of the most controversial draft picks in Bucs history, as the team traded up to select him in the second round of the 2016 draft. Aguayo was supposed to be a sure thing as a kicker, as he had made 88.5% of his field goals and all of his extra points at Florida State. Aguayo had a shaky start to his training camp, missing several kicks in practice and drawing boos from fans4. He improved as camp went on, making all six of his field goal attempts in the final two preseason games5. However, Aguayo’s struggles resurfaced in the regular season, as he missed nine field goals and two extra points, finishing with a league-worst 71% field goal percentage. He was cut by the Bucs after one season.
Justin Watson (2018)
Justin Watson was a fifth-round pick by the Bucs in 2018, and he impressed coaches and teammates with his work ethic, intelligence and athleticism in training camp. Watson was praised by then-wide receivers coach Skyler Fulton for his ability to play multiple positions and learn from veterans like Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson. Watson also made some big plays in preseason games, catching a touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick against Tennessee and another one from Ryan Griffin against Jacksonville. However, Watson never carved out a significant role for himself in the Bucs’ crowded receiver room, as he was buried behind Evans, Jackson, Chris Godwin and Adam Humphries on the depth chart. He finished his rookie season with one catch for five yards in 12 games.
Tanner Hudson 2019
Tanner Hudson was an undrafted free agent who joined the Bucs in 2018, but he did not make much of an impact until his second training camp in 2019. Hudson emerged as a pass-catching threat at tight end, leading the NFL in receiving yards (245) and touchdowns (3) among tight ends in the preseason. He also had some highlight-reel catches in practice, earning praise from then-head coach Bruce Arians for his hands and route-running. However, Hudson did not translate his preseason success to the regular season, as he caught only two passes for 26 yards in nine games. He also struggled with blocking and special teams duties, limiting his playing time.
Ross Cockrell (2021)
Cockrell was a six-year veteran entering the 2021 season. He served as a rotational backup CB on the 2020 Super Bowl defense. His contributions earned him a new 2yr/$2M contract in April of 2021. Cockrell was highlighted throughout the BUCS training camp as a guy having a breakout season. He had cross-trained at safety and was expected to step in and play at a high level anywhere he found himself on the field. In Week 1, Sean Murphy-Bunting suffered an injury early in the game, and Cockrell was called to duty. He allowed 6 of the 9 passes in his direction to be completed for 63 yards and a touchdown. That was an ominous indication of what was to come from the MVP of August.
Cockrell finished the season allowing 66.7% completions on passes targeted to him(32 of 48), 106.9 Passer Rating allowed, and no interceptions after he allegedly got 11 in training camp. Cockrell was released in August of 2022 during the BUCS first round of roster cuts. Todd Bowles said the team thought enough of him to let him go early so that he could get on with another team. To this day, no other team has taken a chance on him.
Three Players Who Made It
Of course, not every player who shines in training camp is a bust. Some players use their training camp performance as a springboard to a successful regular season and beyond. Here are three examples of Bucs players who made a name for themselves in training camp and ended up playing in the regular season.
Adam Humphries (2015)
Adam Humphries was an undrafted free agent out of Clemson who signed with the Bucs in 2015. He quickly caught the attention of coaches and teammates with his reliable hands, crisp routes, and toughness in the slot. Humphries beat out veteran Louis Murphy for the third receiver spot behind Evans and Vincent Jackson, and he became a trusted target for Winston. He finished his rookie season with 27 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown in 13 games.
Humphries went on to play four seasons for the Bucs, totaling 219 catches for 2,329 yards and nine touchdowns. He signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent in 2019.
Peyton Barber (2016)
Peyton Barber was another undrafted free agent who made the Bucs’ roster in 2016. He was a power runner who impressed coaches with his vision, balance and determination. Barber beat out Mike James and Russell Hansbrough for the fourth running back spot behind Martin, Sims, and Jacquizz Rodgers, and he got his chance to play when injuries hit the backfield. He finished his rookie season with 55 carries for 223 yards and a touchdown in 13 games.
Barber continued to grind and eventually became the starter in 2018. He led the Bucs in rushing with 871 yards and five touchdowns. After his contract expired, he signed with the Washington Football Team as a free agent in 2020.
Scotty Miller (2019)
Scotty Miller was a sixth-round pick by the Bucs in 2019, and he used his blazing speed to make an impact in training camp. Miller was compared to Jackson by Arians, who said he had "a great future". Miller also showed his chemistry with Winston, connecting on several deep passes in practice and preseason games. He finished his rookie season with 13 catches for 200 yards and a touchdown in 10 games. He had a breakout season in 2020, catching 33 passes for 501 yards and three touchdowns, including a memorable 39-yard score just before halftime in the NFC Championship Game against Green Bay.
Training camp is an exciting time for fans, but it is also important to keep expectations in check. Not every player who stands out in practice will do the same in games, and not every player who struggles in practice will fail in games. The best way to evaluate players is to watch how they perform when it matters most, and that is what the Bucs will do as they prepare for their 2023 season.
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