Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rookie Mini-Camp First Day Thoughts and Observations with Quotes from Greg Schiano

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The newest members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that were added during the draft and in the free agent frenzy that ensued took to the practice field today to start the process of earning their spots on the roster. As we mentioned earlier here on the Pewter Plank, we’re still a few weeks from full team “OTA’s” on the field, but the rookies and undrafted free agents all got the chance to hit the field for their first exposure to the NFL, and more importantly, to Greg Schiano and his staff.

After the practice, Schiano took to the microphone and talked to reporters about what he saw from the players that got their first taste of the NFL, and he had plenty of positive things to say about the NFL hopefuls at practice.

• About the overall level of competition  “Probably too soon (to point out any standout players), there’s been a lot of good stuff. The thing that’s impressive… is the level of this tryout camp is considerably higher than last year.”
• About the quarterbacks: “Both Mike (Glennon) and Robert (Marve) threw the ball well.”
• About meeting with the Patriots this offseason: “We’re gonna probably practice together again this training camp. Nothing major.”
• About Mike Glennon: “He’s even keel, that’s something we liked then (when recruiting him) and like now.”
• About Johnthan Banks: “I think his maturity is more advanced than a lot of guys his age… He has played a ton of football, so football-wise he’s mature as well… (his college coach) told me how much they counted on him… He fit exactly what we were looking for.”
• About the draft class: “I think there’s some guys in this draft class that can be in the starting units.”
• About Mike Glennon’s role: “I want him to come in and do the best he can, and wherever that places him in the pecking order, that’s where he’ll be… he’s gotta go do it. I like competition… but everybody’s different.”
• About Mike James: “I think that he’s gonna be a real good addition to our football team… I think he has all the tools to do that, and maturity wise, and his unselfishness is something that’s important to us.”

There were 57 players on campus at One Buc Place to tryout for an NFL contract, alongside the already signed undrafted free agents and the Buccaneers’ 6 draft choices.

This also means many jersey numbers were decided today, and the team announced that Johnthan Banks would wear number 27, and his fellow defensive backs Darrelle Revis and Mark Barron came to an agreement that allows Revis to wear 24, and Barron will change to 23. Mike Glennon will wear number 8, while Akeem Spence will wear number 97. Buccaneers.com has updated the roster to reflect the numbers that will be worn by all the newest Buccaneers, except for Jeff Demps, who has yet to report and decide on his jersey number.