After struggling to a 4-12 record in 2011, Tampa Bay will get an up-close and personal look at the inner workings of perhaps the NFL’s most prolific franchise of the past decade, as the New England Patriots are in town for joint practices ahead of Friday’s preseason game.

The joint workouts are nothing new to New England, which is partnering with another NFL team for preseason practices for the fourth time in the last three years. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said the joint workouts are one of the keys to his team’s success.

“Our offense can recognize certain blitzes we run. Our defense can recognize certain formations and motions,” Belichick told Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. “So you start to anticipate and play the plays and things like that. We kind of know who our go-to guys are. When you play against a different team, you don’t recognize those things as quickly and you have to learn who the go-to players are on the other team.”

That method of simulating difficulties that players would face in actual games should pay off for both teams, Cummings notes, as Belichick said his team had not watched any film of Tampa and would truly be forced to react on the fly as a result.

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  • Belichick bullish on Schiano’s chances: Belichick pointed to Greg Schiano’s experience as a secondary coach with the Chicago Bears and the many professional players his Rutgers program produced as evidence Schiano should fare well in his first NFL head coaching job. According to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, Schiano and Belichick met several times when Belichick would watch his son play lacrosse at Rutgers, and the two have spent time observing each other’s teams practices over the years. “We have had a good relationship,” Belichick said. “I have a lot of respect for him. I think this is a great opportunity for him. I’m sure he will do well.”
  • New blackout rules not enough for Bucs: For the second-straight week, Tampa Bay will play a preseason game and local fans will not be able to watch it live on television. The organization failed to sell 85 percent of non-premium tickets available at Raymond James Stadium, a new, lower benchmark that the NFL has allowed. The Bucs were one of only four teams to take advantage of that rule, but it hasn’t stopped a long string of blackouts for the franchise. Only two Bucs games played in Tampa over the course of the last three seasons have been broadcast live in the area, notes Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
  • Lighter frame, aggressive scheme suits DT Miller: Down 15 pounds and in a more aggressive defense that may suit his skills better, defensive tackle Roy Miller is ready to have a strong 2012 season, writes Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune. Miller, the 81st pick in the 2009 draft, started all 16 games in 2010 but only got the nod in three games last season. His struggles may have been a result of added weight, as Miller played at 290 pounds in college at Texas but was up to 320 by 2011.
  • Shipley has strong start in Tampa: New acquisition Jordan Shipley, claimed off waivers on Monday, returned a punt more than 85 yards for a touchdown in Tuesday’s practice. That may end some of the questions about the health of Shipley’s knee, which was reportedly an issue that helped lead to Cincinnati’s decision to release the former third-round draft pick. “I definitely feel like I can do anything I have to to contribute and help this team win,” Shipley told Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. Schiano said Shipley “seems like our kind of guy” according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

For more from Tampa Bay Bucs blogger Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsNFLTB on Twitter.