Pewter Pulse: DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS From Bucs Camp In Week 1

Pewter Pulse: DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS From Bucs Camp In Week 1

Hello pewer people. Scott Reynolds here with another Pewer Pulse. The first week of Bucks training camp practice is over with and there were several Bucks players who really stood out. I’ll split up the offense and defensive standouts into two pewtor pulse videos. Today’s is going to be on the defensive players who shined in the Bucks first four practices before the pads came on. And I’ll get to that in just a second. But first, your reminder, hit the thumbs up button on this video, give it a like. Also, leave a comment. I love reading your comments. When you do those two things, well, you know what happens? It helps us with the YouTube algorithm, gets our videos out in front of more awesome Bucks fans like you. Also, be sure to head over to Pewer Report TV, our YouTube channel. Hit the subscribe button. We’re just a couple hundred subscribers away from hitting 20,000. Okay, the Bucks defense had a great first week in training camp and probably won the week, which isn’t a surprise uh given how the pads aren’t on yet. And hey, Todd Bull’s defense really needs to improve, doesn’t it? Let’s talk about the defensive standouts so far in practice. Now, we know Anton Winfield Jr. made a big splash in training camp with two highlight reel interceptions on the first day, but Buck sources tell me they love Tai Smith’s consistency throughout camp. Smith has made a couple big plays in practice every day in his transition from Nickelback to strong safety, replacing Jordan Whitehead. Remember, Smith was tied for the team lead with two interceptions and three forced fumbles as a rookie, and he didn’t even play a full season. Now, Smith will be on the field as much as Winfield. And those two safeties are both playmakers. I think Smith is going to absolutely be a star in this league and challenge his teammate Winfield for some Pro Bowls at the safety position in the near future. He’s just so smart, so instinctive, and so physical. Now, speaking of Nickelback, one of the guys that have trying to replace Taike Smith in that role is undrafted free agent JJ Roberts. He’s in the thick of this Nickelback job with Jacob Parish, the team’s third round pick. Roberts is an undrafted free agent out of Marshall and I profiled him as the team’s super sleeper on defense heading into training camp in a Peter Pulse video I did this summer. So far, Roberts is making me look good and is putting pressure on Parish at the same time for that Nickelback job. Although Parish did have his first interception of camp on Sunday against Kyle Tras, this is going to be a really fun, interesting training camp battle to watch. And I can’t wait to see these guys when the pads come on and in the preseason games. The other guy that I’m interested to see when the Pads come on is outside linebacker Chris Brazwell. It’s not really fair to list defensive tackles and outside linebackers as standouts when the pads don’t come on until Monday. That’s really when we can evaluate the trench play. But what is noticeable about Brazwell is that he’s playing much faster this summer. No more hesitation. He understands where to go and how to get there. And he’s got his foot on the gas right now. And he’s really going. Hats off to new outside linebackers coach Larry Foot for getting Brazwell’s motor hum as I expected he would. Foot is an absolute gem of a pass rush coach. I really can’t wait to evaluate Brazwell next week when the pads come on. Hey, if I’m going to mention Brazwell, an outside linebacker, well, I gotta mention Yaya Diyabi, who looks like he’s on the verge of a breakout season. Diab is playing fast and physical, and he’s determined to get to the quarterback and pile up some sacks this year after really increasing his number of pressures last year. He finished in the top 10 among all defensive players in pressures in his second season. Dyabi’s been giving new left tackle Charlie Hec who’s filling in for Tristan Worfs. He’s been giving him fits to be honest and he had back-to-back sacks against Hec on Thursday. But I’ve got to say that Hec is at a disadvantage not being in pads. So, this this matchup will really be spotlighted starting on Monday when the pads come on and we can see these guys really get physical and go mono mono. Here’s what I like about Diab. He’s even making some plays in coverage and he forced two incompletions in practice this week. Now, nobody really wants to see yaya in coverage, right? I mean, he’s much better rushing the passer. He dropped into coverage way too much last year. I chronicled that in a season ending SRS Fab Five column, but at least he’s a lot more effective doing that in camp this year. And again, with Larry Foot’s toutelage, I really expect Yaya to take off and play extremely well opposite Hassan Reic and not just get some of his own sacks one-on-one, but really get some cleanup sacks, too. I think a double-digit sack season is in store for Diab. The final defensive standout I’m going to feature is a quarterback, but it’s veteran quarterback Bryce Hall, who made it back from a broken leg and an ankle injury in week one that sidelined him for the entire 2024 campaign to be ready for the off season where he participated in the OTAAS, the mandatory mini camp, and of course in training camp. And Hall has been very aggressive and impressive so far. He had an interception in the first week and had another pick knocked out of his hands by wide receiver Dennis Houston. I’ve been so impressed with Hall’s instincts and not giving up any cushion this year. He’s been sticky in coverage so far and is determined to make this team despite the fact that the Bucks draft the two quarterbacks in Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parish on day three. those two guys are going to make the team, but I have a strong feeling that Bryce Hall is going to make it as well. As we had hoped to see, the Bucks defensive backs are really playing a lot more tight coverage in practice at the start of training camp and the practices have been very competitive against the wide receivers, just as Todd BS wanted to see from his defenders. If I’m going to throw another couple of names at you for honorable mention guys on defense, I’ll mention quarterback Zia McCollum and rookie outside linebacker David Walker. McCllum and Mike Evans have been absolutely battling in practice so far. We’re witness some we’re witnessing some Galveastston on Galveastston crime here, folks. But iron sharpens iron, and I love how these guys really go against each other. McCllum wins some. Mike Evans wins some and and they’re they’re really getting ready for week one. Before he suffered a lower body injury in the last couple of minutes of Friday’s practice, Walker, who is the subject of our Bucks rookie training camp diary on peterreport.com, was really off to a good start in camp. Bulls even had David Walker running with the first team defense in the two-minute drill opposite Yaya. I’m sure it was to maybe give Hassan Reic, you know, a little bit of a breather, but also to see what Walker could do in that pass rush situation because, let’s face it, the guy put up a crazy amount of sacks at the FCS level. Hopefully, Walker gets well soon and it’s not too serious. I also want to see Serbasier Dennis really come on and get on this list next week. He’s overdue to make some splash plays in practice and hope to see more from Serbasier in that category next week. We’d also love to see you over at Peter Report TV, our YouTube channel, where you can check out more Peter Pulse episodes and the Peter Report podcast which comes on four times a week and the offseason training camp and during the regular season. So, make sure you subscribe to Peter Report TV, our YouTube channel, as we’re on our way to 20,000 subscribers. You can help us get there. Hit the subscribe button. Also follow us on X Facebook and Instagram for all your training camp and preseason coverage. Our handle is put and make sure that you visit peterreport.com for the Bucks Monday mailbag, my SR Spab 5 column, Bucks training camp insiders daily, as well as some great feature content on your Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And I’ll be back soon with a new computer pulse.

Who were the defensive standouts from the first week of the Bucs’ 2025 training camp? Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds has his observations and solicited the input of his Bucs sources to list 5 defensive players who shined in the first of camp in a NEW Pewter Pulse video.

Become a Pewter Report channel member to get access to perks! Click here to join:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqeh84GMm9Hf7365M9lRYw/join

Thank you for watching ALL Pewter Report Videos!

For business inquiries: sr@pewterreport.com

FOLLOW PR on ALL social media platforms HERE:
X: https://twitter.com/PewterReport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PewterReport
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pewterreport/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pewterreport