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Camp updates: Tuesday at One Buc Place

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Tampa product Brian Clark has been making quite an impression at wide receiver at the Bucs' training camp Tuesday.

TBO.com

Published: August 11, 2009

Updated: 08/11/2009 05:47 pm

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The Bucs are working through their afternoon session of camp at One Buc Place. Check back regularly as we provide updates from the field, as well as photos and analysis.

6:40: Rookie CB EJ Biggers just intercepted rookie QB Josh Freeman. Biggers has struggled recently, but timed Freeman's pass perfectly.

6:35: If you didn't make it out to this afternoon's practice, you really didn't miss much. It was like the dance of the living dead: players in shirts and shorts going through plays at about one-quarter speed in what coaches call an "install" period. The highlight will definitely be the final horn.

6:05: QB Byron Leftwich has struggled today during practice. Leftwich's passes have been off the mark and he even dropped the ball on one passing attempt.

Luke McCown has enjoyed the better day under center.

5:50: He's not working with his teammates, but WR Michael Clayton is getting some work in this afternoon. He did some running under the way watchful eye of Bucs trainer Todd Toriscelli. Clayton is obviously giving his sore hamstring a test run. It still seems unlikely that he'll play Saturday in Tennessee, though.

5:12: Tampa Bay RT Jeremy Trueblood (back) is currently at practice. He missed this morning's session, but will participate this afternoon.

5:10: It looks like Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris is taking it easy on his players this afternoon.

The Bucs are currently going through special teams drills and players are not in pads. All of Tampa Bay's quarterbacks are on another field warming up without pads, so practice should be more relaxed.

4:55: Players are starting to filter out on to the field -- aka The Frying Pan -- for today's second practice session. They're slated to go until 7 p.m., when it will still be in the 90s. We'd like to know how much water will be consumed by the players this afternoon. Good thing there's no city restrictions for human hydration.

12:20: That's it for the morning session. They've headed insaide for meals and meetings. Weather permitting, they'll be back out here at 4:55 p.m. for today's second practice. Check back here them for more updates.

12:17: Tampa Bay DT Roy Miller is getting some first team reps right now. He is playing in place of Chris Hovan.

In addition, Stylez White, usually at defensive end, is playing at defensive tackle today.

12:12: That run by Ward just may prove to be the highlight for the offense in this drill. DT Roy Miller and LB Barrett Ruud have broken through for run stops that have put the defense back ahead of the offense.

12:09: The tempo is finally picking up again. The Bucs have moved into an 11-in-11 two-minute drill and RB Derrick Ward just broke through the line for a big gainer.

12:05: Things have slowed significantly here. They always do when the Bucs move into a special teams drill.

11:56: After being alerted to the camp mishap suffered by 7-year-old Kevin Jackson, Bucs head coach Raheem Morris found an official NFL game ball and gave it to the somber kid during practice.

Morris' first question was "Did you cry?"

Jackson acknowledged he did and Morris gave him some encouraging words before resuming his coaching duties.

11:52: The change in QBs did not change the offense's prospects. On the first play, DT Roy Miller broke through the line and stuffed RB Kareem Huggins for a loss.

11:50: The guys have moved into an 11-on-11 goal-line drill. So far, with Luke McCown at QB, the defense is winning the way. The stopped Earnest Graham twice, but couldn't stop a McCown-to-Kellen Winslow TD pass in the end zone. Now it's Byron Leftwich's turn.

11:39: A-Train Alert. We have a Mike Alstott sighting, if the fans catch on, watch out because he is adored by most of them.

11:37: The offense is back in the red zone again, 7-on-7, and QB Luke McCown is looking good. He hasn't missed a throw and he's had to squeeze in a couple.

11:31: K Matt Bryant just made a 35-yard kick, but accidentally hurt a 7-year old in the process. That happened when Bryant's kick sailed through the uprights, but the ball was not caught by the net.

Instead, Bryant's ball hit the bottom of the net and landed directly on the nose of Kevin Jackson Jr., 7, who was walking with his family. Jackson's nose immediately started bleeding hard and he started crying.

Jackson was taken to the first aid tent where they put ice on his swollen nose. It was his first Bucs practice.

11:25: During a punting drill, CB Aqib Talib took the opportunity to play up to the crowd a little bit. While on one knee along the sideline, he carried on a conversation with one with a fan photographing camp. With a little prodding, Talib eventually smiled for the camera.

11:19: Not sure why this was the case, but after his last of three kicks in a field goal drill, K Matt Bryant walked away looking disgusted and throwing his helmet. Bryant has had a rough camp. He's coming off a hamstring strain and is in close competition with Mike Nugent for the position.

11:12: The offense has been split into two groups. One is going against the defense in a red-zone running drill. The other has the receivers going one-on-one against the DBs. In the latter drill the wideouts are looking good. Dexter Jackson snagged a pass away from E.J. Biggers and Mario Urrutia leaped over Torrie Cox to catch a touchdown pass.

11:15: The more I see of WR Mario Urrutia the more I wonder what the Jets were thinking when they cut him.

11:08: Chamberlain High product Brian Clark just caught a 25-yard TD pass over Ronde Barber. It's looking very promising for Clark. Meanwhile, on Barber's next turn, WR Cortez Hankton caught a TD pass on him.

11:04: Not sure what this means for the Bucs, but the biggest ovation of every day at training camp seems to be for Captain Fear and the free icey pops dolled out by the cheerleaders.

11:00: With C Jeff Faine out and backup Sean Mahan nursing an injury, an undrafted center by name of Rob Bruggeman is getting the bulk of work at center. Bruggeman played for Iowa, but anything other than those facts would be for a Bucs trivia game.

10:58: The temporary loss WR Antonio Bryant opens up an opportunity for others to excel. Replacement Brian Clark, a Tampa product, just did. In a red zone audible drill, Clark just made a one-handed grab from Luke McCown for a TD

10:55 The offense is working on audibles right now. QB Luke McCown is calling out one play and changing to another at the line.

10:53: Shades of Jon Gruden: Bucs QBs coach Geeg Olson is playing the part of pass rusher during five-on-nothing passing drill. That's what you call getting involved.

10:43: The Bucs are on the field, in full pads, and going through the individual portion of the workout.

Man, does that receiving corps ever look thin without Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton.

On the injury front RB Derrick Ward (foot sprain) is back. C Jeff Faine (groin), T Jeremy Trueblood (back), RB Clifton Smith (hamstring) and LB Angelo Crowell (hamstring) are absent. Meanwhile, K Matt Bryant looks to be back out in full pads. That's a good sign.

10:15: Practice is about to get underway here at One Buc Place. And like yesterday, it's going to be a scorcher. The weather folks are predicting another heat index in excess of 100 degrees. Good for lizards, not so good for athletes.

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