The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first practice of training camp on Wednesday was "only" 90 minutes long and it was played on a morning that guard Cody Mauch sincerely but somewhat humorously referred to as featuring "nice" weather. The field sessions are going to get longer – a league-mandated ramp-up period will have the Bucs in pads for two-hour workouts by next Monday – and the conditions are sure to got hotter and more humid, but Buccaneer defenders hope those aren't the only things that will be on the raise.
A major focus for Head Coach Todd Bowles and his defense in 2025 is creating more takeaways. The Buccaneers went 10-7 in 2024 and won the NFC South for a fourth consecutive year despite finishing the season with a negative-five turnover ratio. Those two things do not normally go hand in hand. Tampa Bay's turnover differential was the same as that as the Carolina Panthers, who finished the season with a 5-12 record. The biggest problem was a lack of interceptions; Tampa Bay's seven picks on the season were tied for the fourth-fewest in the NFL, and their 18 overall takeaways was tied for 16th.
As for the 2025 Buccaneers, so far so good. The most notable development in their first practice of camp was a string of takeaways in the full-team periods. At one point, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. snared interceptions on two consecutive snaps. On the next play, the offense completed a pass but the defense quickly forced and recovered a fumble. A few minutes later, cornerback Bryce Hall got into the act with an interception of his own.
After practice, the team's leader on defense, 14th-year linebacker Lavonte David, was asked about the goals for his unit in 2025. David said there were no specific benchmarks they were trying to reach, just an improvement in that one area over last season.
View photos of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the first practice of 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 at AdventHealth Training Center.
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Sled during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Punter Jake Julien #16 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Football during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Equipment during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Cornerback Benjamin Morrison #21 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Defensive Lineman Elijah Roberts #95 and Cornerback Jacob Parrish #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Safety Kaevon Merriweather #26 oand Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Safety Kaevon Merriweather #26 oand Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby #0 and Wide Receiver Dennis Houston #89 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Cornerback Roman Parodie #46 and Cornerbacks Coach Kevin Ross of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Defensive Tackle Vita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Safety Shilo Sanders #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Safety Tykee Smith #23 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Running Back Josh Williams #37 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Running Back Bucky Irving #7, Running Back Rachaad White #1 and Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Jose Ramirez #33 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Cornerback Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13, Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 and Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13, Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 and Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Safety Tykee Smith #23, Inside Linebacker SirVocea Dennis #8, Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 and Run Game Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Senior Offensive Assistant Tom Moore of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Helmet during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Cornerback Benjamin Morrison #21 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6, Guard Luke Goedeke #67, Guard Cody Mauch #69, Center Graham Barton #62, Guard Ben Bredeson #68 and Tackle Charlie Heck #77 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Guard Luke Goedeke #67, Guard Cody Mauch #69, Center Graham Barton #62, Guard Ben Bredeson #68 and Tackle Charlie Heck #77 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Cornerback Zyon McCollum #27 and Cornerback Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and General Manager Jason Licht during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and General Manager Jason Licht during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Cornerback Bryce Hall #34 and Safety Christian Izien #29 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Kameron Johnson #19 and Defensive Back Josh Hayes #32 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - University of Colorado - Boulder Head Coach Deion Sanders and Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - University of Colorado - Boulder Head Coach Deion Sanders and Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - University of Colorado - Boulder Head Coach Deion Sanders and Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - University of Colorado - Boulder Head Coach Deion Sanders and Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Haason Reddick #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Linebacker Nick Jackson #53 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Inside Linebacker SirVocea Dennis #8 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Trey Palmer #10 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Haason Reddick #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Sterling Shepard #17 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Tight End Payne Durham #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Tight End Devin Culp #82 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 and Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Chris Godwin Jr. #14 and Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Chris Godwin Jr. #14 and Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Safeties Coach Nick Rapone and Haason Reddick #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Haason Reddick #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 and Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Sterling Shepard #17 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13, Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka #9, Wide Receiver Trey Palmer #10 and Wide Receiver Tez Johnson #83 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Chris Godwin Jr. #14 and Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Linebacker Deion Jones #45, Linebacker Nick Jackson #53, Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 and Linebacker Antonio Grier Jr. #48 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Linebacker Anthony Walker #3, Linebacker Deion Jones #45, Linebacker Nick Jackson #53 and Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Outside Linebacker Anthony Nelson #98 and Haason Reddick #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - July 23, 2025 - Safety Shilo Sanders #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with his father Deion Sanders and brother Deion Sanders Jr. during 2025 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"There are not any real goals, not any numbers out there, but we have to get more turnovers," he said. "I feel like we did not come up with a lot of turnovers as much as we should have last year. I know we had a lot of chances to make plays where we did not come down with the plays. We had a lot of dropped interceptions, forced fumbles, and we did not take advantage of the opportunities. I feel like we need to make more of an emphasis on that."
Of course, there is always the double-edged sword nature of a highlight play in a training camp practice. Every good play for the defense is a less-than-pleasant moment for the offense, and vice versa. But that's not the concern of individual defenders, and the chance to make plays against an offense that finished in the top five in multiple categories last year makes any takeaway more enjoyable.
"You saw some of that today, and that something that you know can help us win," said David. "That's another part of football, try to get the ball back to the offense as much as you can. Our offense is a high-powered offense, so if they have the ball in their hands, something good is going to happen. So, that is something we try to focus on, and that's just one of the main things we talk about. Especially coming in this offseason, just making more plays of the football."
Of course, the Bucs are only one practice in, and the next workout could be most notable for a rash of touchdown passes from the offense. Head Coach Todd Bowles downplayed the results on Wednesday a bit since the team was still working without pads, but he would certainly like to see the ball-hawking continue to get better as the heat rises and the practices pile up.
"We've just got to continue them," said Bowles. "It's something that comes in bunches. We've got to continue them, we've got to feed off of them, they've got to see it and they've got to feel it and they've got to rally around each other."
