Micheal Spurlock Making A Case
July 18th, 2010
Stephen Holder, of the St. Pete Times, also felt compelled to write about the Bucs relying on an inexperienced and underachieving receiving corps coupled with a 22-year-old quarterback.
Joe’s agonized about that situation for weeks, as Joe wrote yesterday.
In Holder’s brief look, he mentions that Micheal Spurlock, the man who made Bucs history in 2007, was a standout during OTAs and is making a case for a final receiver spot.
Even a veteran afterthought such as Reggie Brown impressed coaches with his work ethic and precise route-running. Meanwhile, Micheal Spurlock did his best to convince the staff that he is more than a return specialist, and he made a pretty convincing argument. Second-round pick Arrelious Benn had his moments, too.
Spurlock is an interesting option for the Bucs.
Joe wonders whether Clifton Smith just had bad luck with his two serious concussions last season or does he now have a fragile head?
Sammie Stroughter, who had a return for touchdown last year, seems to be a definite starter at wide receiver and the Bucs might not want him to be their No. 2 return man.
Spurlock might be a wise choice for a roster spot — and inexpensive — but there’s no way he’s on the team if blocking icon Michael Clayton, and his $3 million+ guaranteed sticks around.
July 18th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Disregard the Clayton money. It is like when you lend money to a family member and let them stay with you while they get out of their “financial trouble.” At some point, write it off, kick their lazy asses out and move on.
July 18th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Spurlock has been hanging around for a while. Think he will be 2nd return option, and hope he gets some time at WR
July 18th, 2010 at 10:13 am
The name Michael Spurlock will always hold a special place in my heart…..
Still remember where I was….East side of the field, about 10 rows up….jumping up and down, I spilled beer all over the yuppie couple in front of me that had no idea how big a deal that kickoff return was….they turned around to yell at me during the friggin’ return…..
July 18th, 2010 at 11:03 am
“standout” during OTA’s ?
July 18th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Eric, hard for any ONE of them to stand out for ya, right. Bet yer impressed by the whole bunch, running around in tshirts and shorts . . .
July 18th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Funny story, and I automatically agree with someone whose sceen name is “creamsickle pasties”- yup yup
July 18th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Sounds like a breakfast treat!
July 18th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Joe said:
“Spurlock might be a wise choice for a roster spot — and inexpensive –”
🙂
July 18th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Capt Tim thinks that Spurlock has been on the team since he broke the return curse in 07. Just one more ignorant Bucs fan…shocker.
July 18th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Spurlock has been a great catalyst for our team in the return game. But if I had to choose between him and Preston Parker as receiver depth, I think I’d rather see what Parker can do.
July 18th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Spurlock, Clayton, Parker, yadda yadda yadda….
Isn’t that what training camp is for?
I’d personally like to see Clayton be used to return punts during training camp. the first Buc that knocks some sense into Clayhands gets a Caybrew!
13 days……………….
July 18th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Joe,
I hope you referring to Stroughter as a “definite starter” you mean as the slot #3. I love Sammy but being an every down receiver should not be in the cards for him.
He is too small and too slow to expect him to get open wide against starting corners. His strength is is his quickness which makes him very effective against nickel corners or linebackers away from the sidelines.
Also, on first down it is key to have a deep speed threat, like Williams maybe, to keep the safeties honest on even run/pass downs.
July 18th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Firegregolsen- pull you head outta yer ass, and get someone ta read it for you, since you apparently lack comprehension skills! I said”hanging around”, you moron! Not”on roster for lenghty time frame”. And you thought that was how you were gonna impress somebody?!? Really, that’s the “game” you bring ta the table? ” I remember our 3rd string kick returner has been cut, then resigned”! That’s your genius insight you wanted to call ME out for?? Damn, that’s so pathetic! How long have you been waiting to “bust your move”? Did ya post it, then read it over and over- thinking how wittingly were? Again, I’m requesting a pre- post IQ test for the really dumb ones!
July 18th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
I hope he does make the team, cause I tell you nothing will be more excting to see a line on ESPN bottom screen Buccaneers realse Micheal Clayton
July 18th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Capt Tim,
You’re an idiot.
“Did ya post it, then read it over and over- thinking how wittingly were? ” – Capt Tim
“Wittingly” is an adverb, not an adjective. It describes a verb not a noun. You were looking for the word “witty”. And maybe you’re the one who could “read it over and over” or as we, in the educated world, call it proofreading.
I don’t know if you realize that this isn’t an AM Radio Smack Off. Who wants to bet “CAPT Tim” pushes a 12 ft john boat? LOL, get a life.
July 18th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
I for one hope that creamsiclepasties is a chick and not a dude.
July 18th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
The way I hope it goes down, I think that our Wr depth will be (in no particular order): Benn, Williams, Brown, Stovall, Stoughter, and/or Parker or Spurlock, depending on how many WRs we keep. If we do, in fact keep Clayhands, then I suspect that Parker will be on the practice squad. Just my $0.02
July 18th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
I hope we do good right out of the gate, not to help save anyones job.
But to lighten up here on the cracker jack vocal circuit.
Yes we all want our team to be successful, win divisions, go deep into the playoffs, even get back to the super bowl.
Again and again we here how we have no talent we are this or that skill level, last time i looked this is the NFL.
Which stands for a professional league of grown men playing a game.
Wow the depths to which our “fans” will go to out witt each other amazes me.
@ CreamsiclePasties
hahahaha!!! that would have been funny to see. did you ask them to buy you another beer? I would have.
July 18th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
@RustyRhino wrote, “Yes we all want our team to be successful, win divisions, go deep into the playoffs, even get back to the super bowl”
The fans want that – the management only wants to maximize profit…
July 18th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Mr. Lucky — you cannot separate the two, so that theory doesn’t fly. You can be profitable, as was Culverhouse, by not spending any money, but you cannot make substantial profits and grow the value of the asset without periods of sustained success. The Glazers are not Culverhouse. Witness the last 15 years versus all before.
July 18th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I’d like to see us try and trade Peanut while his stock is somewhat high. He’s done a very good job as our return man, but I think it has been more because of Rich Biscatti having our SP unit playing lights out, then it has been Peanut. Stroughter and Spurlock matched or exceeded Peanut’s output when they stepped in last year.
Peanut has fumbled like 7 times in his 12 touches as a RB. He has shown he is of no other use besides return man, and frankly he just isn’t great enough to justify using a roster spot on him imo. He had a probowl the year before last and becuase of that some team might be willing to give us something decent like an offensive linemen or mid round draft pick.
I say shop Peanut. If anyone bites, we have Huggins, Spurlock, and Stroughter to return for us. Benn and Williams also were solid retutn men in college. We might end up in the same situation with Spurlock or Huggins if all they can do is return, but at least they MIGHT contribute at RB and WR. Peanut has shown he can not.
July 18th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Williams, Benn, Stroughter, Brown, Spurlock/Stovall….is this what we are looking at as our final 53 roster WR depth? Looks damn good to me. Anything without Clayton looks pretty good though so I might be biased.
July 18th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Jdouble, I think you have it right.
I would also like to see Parker make the team. Stovall will get a spot because of his special teams prowess. Clayton has to go. It really comes down to Peanut, Parker, & Spurlock. All should be able to return kicks/punts. Stroughter can too. I thought Clifton Smith was horrible at RB, fumbles and can’t get it done. It will be interesting to see how camp goes, but I might be willing to let Smith go in favor of Spurlock and Parker. Maybe a Trade for Smith and Clayton to make Clayton more attractive. They could both help the Rams, because Clayton would be an improvement for St Louis.
Kick returner definitely looks like a strong suit. Wow, how the hell did that happen???
July 18th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Firegregolsen- now a spell check Of “witty you were” amuses you! What a nimrod. I know I’d shove that 12 jonboat- straight up yer porthole, landlubber!
July 18th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Joe here –
Capt. Tim – I’m sure ye piratespeak is hilarious in person over a dozen beers or so, but it’s awfully annoying in print. Just my two cents.
July 18th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
Joe, “I” ???
July 18th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Has he been trying to speak like a pirate? Oh, now i get it.
As to the receivers, it will be interesting to see how they sort things out, gonna have to use the passing game a lot in pre-season I suppose.
They may actually have to keep Clayton.
July 18th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Capt.Tim reminds me of that guy in Dodge Ball.
July 18th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Only 12.75 days until TRAINING CAMP!!!!!!!!
July 18th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Joe don’t come down too hard on Capt Tim for his pirate-speak. It’s my fault.
Capt. Tim read my post and imagined himself being partnered with JimBuc and went on a Caybrew binge
July 18th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Capt Dim has been on a Caybrew binge continuously since he started commenting here.
I don’t think that he has made any sense to date. Maybe Joes has it – he thinks he is funny by talkin pirate – in print you dumba–.
Imagine Jack Sparrow in Print! Probably not as entertaining.
July 18th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Once again, just another thought….
Regarding the WR position, I’ve heard many concerns about starting 2 rookies, the lack of success of 3 vets (Clayton, Stovall, and Brown), a young Stroughter in the mix, etc. etc.
Don’t get me wrong, this could be disastrous if none of our WRs perform well this season (of course, that would be disastrous any season). We know K2 can’t do everything himself.
But…. looking back to 1997, and the Bucs first real season of turn-around, I wanted to know who our WRs were then. One starter was Horace Copeland. Entering his 4th season, he had never had over 633 yards in any season, the most TDs he’d had was 4 in a season. Starting opposite him was Riedel Anthony. A rookie 1st round draft choice (12th overall), he never lived up to the expectations of a #12 overall selection. Included in the mix was 2nd year man Karl “The Truth” Williams and 2nd year Robb Thomas.
None of those guys ever had 1000 yards receiving in any season in their careers. None of them were double digit TD guys. Our tight end at the time was Jackie Harris (a free agent acquisition from Green Bay a few years earlier).
Admittedly, that team had Thunder and Lightning in the backfield. It also had 4th year Trent Dilfer at QB. Dunn was a rookie that year, Alstott in his 2nd year. Dilfer had struggled through 2 starting season and up til that year had always thrown more INTs than TDs.
What I’m getting at is that the 1997 team went 10-6 with a lot of young guys on the team, no real WRs, a QB that had struggled, and a defense that was just starting to come into it’s own. The real difference in 1997 was the team won the turnover battle for the first time in years. They were +3 in TO differential and they had 44 sacks vs 32 allowed. What it comes down to is not experience or a great previous season, but the offense must reduce the number of turnovers, the defense must force turnovers, slow the run game and pressure the QB.
The addition of two DT’s should help as well as the addition of Lewis as a nickelback in forcing TOs, getting pressure and slowing the run game.
The addition of 2 WRs (even mediocre) won’t hurt the team as much as Freeman throwing picks or fumbling the ball. If Josh has seen anything on film this offseason, I hope it’s how to read defenses better and hold onto the ball. If he can do that, we should see significant improvement. Winning records have less to do with free agent acquisitions than winning the TO battle.
July 18th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Do not trade Clifton Smith! Are you guys serious?? The guy has been a fantastic pro bowl caliber player for two seasons now! I know Stroughter is a good return man, but as far as I’m concerned, Spurlock is still unproven. He made that amazing 1st kick return in team history back in 2007 and then just left the team before 2008. But in his first game as a Buc after we signed him last year, he returned a punt against the Saints helping us get that upset win. Now that is impressive considering it was his first game back. Though that was the third to last game of the season. Still, I hope he makes the team.
Clifton Smith is still our only sure returner I think. Don’t get me wrong, I like Stroughter and think he had a good first year, but he was injured for much of the season, and hasn’t really proven enough to me yet. You guys will of course mention the concussions, but remember that one of them was caused by that ridiculous, illegal hit by Daunte Wesley in that Carolina game. Anybody would have gotten a concussion by a hit like that.
@ JDOUBLE
The only way I would even CONSIDER trading Clifton Smith right now is if we got a proven NFL pro bowl caliber player that can contribute IMMEDIATELY. A mid round pick for 2011?? No. First of all, that’s next year and second of all, he’s worth a lot more than a 3rd or 4th round pick.