Tampa Bay Buccaneers news and notes: Greg Schiano remembers receiver from college, Dekoda Watson likes role as pass rusher, team gifts shoes to youths

Remember me?

Bucs coach Greg Schiano has liked what he has seen out of second-year WR Greg Ellingson, a Robinson High product who was undrafted in 2011 and signed by the Bucs in May, but is not surprised. Schiano recalled how Ellingson, 23, was tough on his Rutgers teams while at Florida International. "He was a pain in the rear end," Schiano said. "He was catching balls all over the place. The thing I remember about him as a player is he loved football. You could just see the passion he has about the game, and he practices that way, whether he's scout team, playing on the unit, special teams. Guy goes a million miles per hour."

In a rush

Though LB Dekoda Watson technically started just two games last season, then-coach Raheem Morris considered him a starter because of all the blitz packages they used him in.

And Watson, heading into his third NFL season, is excited about how the new coaching staff plans to use him in rushing the passer.

"I'm very confident, there are a lot of things coming off the ball, coming up the middle just blitzing," Watson said. "That's my specialty. They're really using my speed as a weapon, and that's all I can ever ask for."

In 14 games last season, Watson had four sacks and 20 tackles, two for a loss, while forcing one fumble and recovering one that he returned for a touchdown. The former Florida State standout believes he will be put in similar situations this year, with the difference being his increased confidence level. "It's all coming together," he said.

Good deed of the day

The Bucs had their fourth annual Lace It Up for Kids shoe giveaway Wednesday, hosting 700 children at practice and giving them shoes provided by the team. The program has given more than 2,300 local youths sneakers for the school year and to encourage exercise.

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Training camp

Where: One Buc Place, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just east of Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

Admission: Free

Et cetera: All practices are weather permitting and subject to change. For updates, go to buccaneers.com.

Schedules

Public practice

Tuesday: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Preseason games

Friday: at Dolphins, 7:30, Ch. 10

Aug. 17: Titans, 7:30, Ch. 10 *

Aug. 24: Patriots, 7:30, Ch. 10 *

Aug. 29: at Redskins, 7:30, Ch. 10

* Subject to blackout

Regular season

Sept. 9: Panthers, 4:25, Ch. 13 *

Sept. 16: at Giants, 1, Ch. 13

Sept. 23: at Cowboys, 1, Ch. 13

Sept. 30: Redskins, 4:25, Ch. 13 *

Oct. 14: Chiefs, 1, Ch. 13 *

Oct. 21: Saints, 1, Ch. 13 *

Oct. 25: at Vikings, 8:20, NFL Network

Nov. 4: at Raiders, 4, Ch. 13

Nov. 11: Chargers, 1, Ch. 10 *

Nov. 18: at Panthers, 1, Ch. 13

Nov. 25: Falcons, 1, Ch. 13 *

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Dec. 2: at Broncos, 4, Ch. 13

Dec. 9: Eagles, 1, Ch. 13 *

Dec. 16: at Saints, 1, Ch. 13

Dec. 23: Rams, 1, Ch. 13 *

Dec. 30: at Falcons, 1, Ch. 13

* Subject to blackout