Looking For A Deep Threat
January 22nd, 2012
Now Joe isn’t enough of a savant to determine that Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn can’t cut it in the NFL given the rotten season the Bucs had last year.
For all Joe knows, the Bucs’ offensive coaches couldn’t concoct and/or devise schemes and routes to get people open. Joe is more inclined to believe the latter, given that offensive coordinator Greg Olson’s supersecret play was the infamous, weekly Benn’d Around.
If a report from Dan Parr of ProFootballWeekly.com is to be believed, the Bucs are of the mind they are one speedster of a receiver from having an elite receiving corps.
We hear the Buccaneers believe they need to add a legitimate vertical threat to bolster a receiver corps that very rarely gained yards in big chunks during their disappointing 2011 season. The Bucs had only six passing plays of 40 yards or longer — the Jaguars, Jets and Rams are the only teams that had fewer.
QB Josh Freeman regressed last season, and WR Mike Williams took a step back, too, after showing No. 1-receiver potential as a rookie. The Bucs were hopeful that WR Arrelious Benn, a 2010 second-round pick, would flourish in his second season, but he finished sixth on the team in receptions (30) after starting 14 games. An undrafted player (Preston Parker) and a sixth-round pick (Dezmon Briscoe) had more catches than Benn, even though Benn started ahead of them.
Let’s say both Parr and Joe are correct: That the new offensive coaches will have the ability to craft routes and plays that enable receivers to get open on a regular basis, and the Bucs have a shiny new toy like Justin Blackmon for quarterback Josh Freeman to play with.
That, my friends, may just make for a dynamic passing attack.
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:21 am
Joe you’re making 2 assumptions:
1. That Freeman has time in the pocket to pass –
2. That Freeman will actually look downfield and believe in his receivers to throw the long ball.
The best receivers in the world won’t matter if the QB won’t/can’t get the ball to them.
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:29 am
@Mr Lucky You can thank Trueblood, Blumpkin and Olsen for the lack of “time in the pocket to pass”.
I don’t see how Freeman could trust in his #2 when Benn was in a neck and neck race for worst drop percentage in the league.(out of 38 catchable passes Benn missed 8. 3 of which were passes beyond 20 yards)
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:32 am
None of it matters unless there is a coach hired soon,Not Sherman!
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:32 am
I would def be in favor of using our # 1pick on blackmon.he is a t.oesque beast.i love it.
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:33 am
Mr Winslow wont like that! We might need the Wambulance if we do.
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:36 am
Lets not get too down on Benn. He had a serious knee injury in his first season, which as history tells us impedes a player in their first season back. Benn flashed this year he just wasn’t consistent…
Lets give him another year before writing him off. We don’t need to spend our 1st,2nd or 3rd on a WR. look for a Jacoby Ford or Denarius Moore type player in the middle rounds. Add a guy like that to our current group, better play calling and a run game…and this is an awesome group.
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:38 am
I think they would have to trade up for Blackmon, so I think he’ll go at number 2 Rams. DeSean Jackson might be a good option with mad speed. He can stretch the field as well as Steve Smith.
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:44 am
We have to do more than add a mid round pick to our group of WR. We can not go into the season thinking Williams is a true number one, which he still could be, and Benn as number 2. Honestly Briscoe should be starting opposite Williams if that is the case. Anyway I would love to get Blackmon, however more than that I think the perfect scenario is get a legit starter in free agency, then get Claiborne with first pick, and with mid round pick get a player like Adams or Maze. Legit burners who have return experience as well along with great agility. This offense needs a spark, and more than one. And that spark can not be counted on a third or fourth round pick alone.
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:49 am
We need to grab the rb in the draft, maybe lock down a good receiver through free agency. Maybe Colston?
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:50 am
@HFXBUC A knee injury should not affect his hand eye coordination or his ability to catch.
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:51 am
Alot of it has to do with the system. In olsen’s/gruden’s system the flanker position really didn’t do much. That is the position that Benn was in this year.
If they really want to make Benn a weapon on the offense, the new coach needs to put him back in his natural position. He played slot in college. He was a mismatch machine and earned a ton of YAC.
January 22nd, 2012 at 10:06 am
If Justin Blackmon is there and the Buccaneers have not addressed WO in FA in a big way, how can they NOT take him?
January 22nd, 2012 at 10:09 am
How does Blackmon’s speed compare to guys already on the roster? It seems like they need to add someone with elite speed, flat to sub 4.4 pure rocket engine speed.
I tend to think some (not all) of the WR’s already signed can still flourish with not only some elite downfield speed, but with a fast 3rd down back.
I like that the team wants to be big and physical, but they need to have more balance to stretch the defenses.
Also add a TE who is healthy enough to actually go to camp and practice during the week. What a wasteful signing that was by the GM.
January 22nd, 2012 at 10:39 am
No more young WR’s. Need a veteran. Need Trent Richardson who can do-it-ALL. No other RB in last 3 drafts compares to him. Use Blount like Brandon Jacobs.
Trent Richardson <— Bucs 1st ever Franchise RB (they are not "easy" to find because WE'VE NEVER HAD one EVER
January 22nd, 2012 at 10:45 am
It doesn’t matter if they’re wide open, they’re still dropping catchable passes, looking at you Benn (lead the league in this category). *per PFF
They need to get someone in freeagency because Blackmon probably won’t be there in Apr.
January 22nd, 2012 at 10:45 am
@Alstott
You asked the right question.
Blackmon is not a considered a speedster. He is quick, though.
I hope the Bucs consider Dwayne Allen out of Clemson in the 2nd round. I’m under the impression a huge target is needed as much as a downfield threat in the early rounds.
I’d gamble on a burner in the mid to late rounds.
January 22nd, 2012 at 10:58 am
Blackmon would be a big addition but not the speedster one would think. Will probably run around a 4.51 I’m guessing, but speed isn’t everything and he would help the Bucs.
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:05 am
Benn’s problem is between the ears. That’s part of his make-up. Can’t change it. He’s a #4 WR. Preston Parker & Dez Briscoe are a lot tougher Mentally.
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:27 am
All I see are excuses for receivers that can’t get open, for whatever reasons.
Plenty of teams lack a real speed burner, and their receivers manage to get open.
I think it is our scheme, because even when we had joey galloway, we had trouble running, and throwing underneath.
We have been basically running the Gruden offense long enough, I think it is time for a change.
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:29 am
Maybe we need to focus on the real problem with the receivers. You know, that Sammie Stroughter is our veteran leadership, with a whopping 3 years in the NFL. I’m all for a burner, but it better be a veteran free agent that can actually show the other receivers how to succeed at the NFL level. And can we stop talking about drafting a running back, and maybe let Blount actually have an off-season and training camp with the team before writing him off (although let’s be clear, Lumpkin has to go. Immediately).
The only things they should even consider looking at in the draft are how to upgrade the horrid linebackers and defensive backs, and bringing in at least one player who can make a tackle.
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:32 am
There is almost universal agreement among draft analysts that Kalil/Blackmon or vice-versa will go 2nd or 3rd. There are too many things that can happen in FA or the combine that will determine if there is a trade for RGIII at pick #2. If Cleveland trades up, the Rams get picks and still gets Blackmon at 4. If it’s Washington, Miami, or some other longshot, I’d have to develop a stochastic model to predict all the possible outcomes. I’d prefer to take a more simplistic view. Get a speedy WR like Joe Adams or Jarius Wright (both 4.38 speed, good route runners), a 6-5 or better hybrid WR/TE like Jimmy Graham in Micheal Egnew, Mizzou, a creative OC and I think our existing WRs get much better.
January 22nd, 2012 at 12:04 pm
We need corners…Blackmon is no faster than any WRs we have now! I don’t see us getting a#1 in freeagency but maybe a Garcon or aWayne would really help these young WRs learn.
January 22nd, 2012 at 12:04 pm
i think dez briscoe is our most reliable receiver….not saying he is a number 1 but he is a reliable number 2 receive…i like him and he will get better….freeman likes him as well…they work fairly well together….
maybe even trade mike williams…just a thought…you can get a lot for him now…if he has another crappy season next year he won’t be worth squat on the market….if blackmon is the bucs number 1 pick, you might as well trade williams before his value bottoms out….i’m not saying to do it, it’s just something that could be an option….adam from ny
January 22nd, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Blackmon will go before our pick and I doubt Kendal Wright makes it to our 2nd. Hilton might be there in the third, but we need a speedy Vet.
January 22nd, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Here’s what I don’t understand about all this clamoring for a “burner” WR. Do we really need another good not great WR regardless of speed? Don’t we already have 5 of those? Straughter, Briscoe and Parker are all young and play the slot, while Benn and Williams play the outside.
So if u draft some speed guy in the 3rd-6th rounds, exactly WHERE are you going to put him so that he sees the field consistently? And what, do you kick someone else to the curb?
That just makes no sense to me. No one really deserves to be given up on yet in our WR corps, despite drops or lack of getting open.
I think you either draft Blackmon if he is there, bc he is a LEGIT #1 WR with all the tools. He may not be a “burner” but he would easily be the fastest WR in our group if drafted on the Bucs. He DOES have speed, I don’t know what some of you are talking about, but you have to think of him as AJ Green, not Desean Jackson.
Or since he probably won’t fall to us, go after Jackson, because he would really be the only “speed” FA out there worth taking away time from our young guys. Though his attitude problems in philly, along with other boneheaded plays of years past make me very cautious in my opinion about him.
January 22nd, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Straughter and parker are free agents they may not be back with the team, and I am sure if blackmon is there we grab him or claiborne. He may not be a speedy guy but he has made big plays after the catch and is the mold of a larry fitz type when he already has the ball in his hands. Let’s put tit this way, I think the glazers have listened to the fans and are finally ready to do what it takes to get us back to a contending team on a winning basis, free agency will help determine what we do in the draft for once this year.
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:19 pm
It’s hard to say what the bucs need right now because we dont know what the next play system is going to be. Olson’s system was horrible and out dated and the pass patterns were vanilla. All of the teams in the NFL that run the ball well have verticle threats on the outside to keep the safties out of the box and the corners backed up. Benn has played out of position since he’s been here as he had his success in college playing slot in a spread. But in football as in any sport, speed kills, and the bucs have none.
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Veteran FA is the way to go here. Draft picks (especially later round) take too long to develop. Blackmon is awesome and it hurts to say pass on him, but we have too many needs at #5. Look to overpay Meachem, Manningham, or even Jerome Simpson in FA and move on. Benn to the slot, deep guy to keep defense honest is what’s needed and another short field threat (true 3rd down RB or 2nd TE) since Freeman likes short throws anyway. Watch Pats short passing game, clear out the defense and pick them apart with YAC’s.
January 22nd, 2012 at 2:01 pm
On Benn specifically, he is a beast. To call him a bust or bench him is ridiculous! He just needs to be put in position to succeed, short route, run after the catch or in the slot. Heck, he’d be good as a 3rd down back, assuming he could learn it. Picture him with all those passes Parker, Lumpkin, and Graham caught and fell down 2 yards short of the 1st down. He could be scary!
January 22nd, 2012 at 3:09 pm
DeSean Jackson would be my #1 FA pickup. His problem was that he wanted a raise from the Eagles. They also are in need of OLB’s from FA. Mason Foster I like, it’s the outside LB’ers they can just cut. Maybe keep Hayes on the “we-fense”. Quincy Black need to be at home away from an NFL field like Micheal Clayton. Trade down and get CB Kirkpatrick. 2nd round pick up a OLB and another CB.
January 22nd, 2012 at 3:36 pm
need 2 wr 1 rb, corner saftey, 2 lbs back up qb, any way we can get them
January 22nd, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Tampa2 Obviously you’ve only been around since or after the Dungy/Kiffen Tampa2
Ricky Bell and James Wilder were franchise RB’s who played here. Maybe if Bell had not gotten so sick you would have heard of him but wilder’s numbers speak for themselves IMO.
Not meaning to criticize but there were Buccaneers before the Pewter came along.
January 22nd, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Towards the end of the season guys were getting open, Freeman just wouldn’t pull the trigger. Benn weighed the group down this year, he really struggled to get separation.
Parker gets open and is shifty. He will really be aided by a burner to open up the middle.
Williams still had 65 catches. He had the drops early, but recovered midseason. Freeman had no confidence down the stretch and Williams only had a handful of targets the last few weeks of the season. Can’t put that all on him.
January 22nd, 2012 at 5:34 pm
The question surrounding blackmon is his speed.. he’s not a burner so instead of drafting him #5 if available.. i would draft claiborn and target d. bowe as my #1 off season target
January 22nd, 2012 at 6:21 pm
We still have Ed Gant hiding on the practice squad. 😉
January 22nd, 2012 at 7:54 pm
Let’s make sure we blame it all on the receivers. Of course it was never Raheems boy Freeman. Mr. stare down, overthrow, underthrow, wide left ,.wide right. That was even on short routes not to even talk about when he did try to throw long. They were always playing from behind and were going to throw. All the defenses knowing that I guess it was hard to get separation. They also knew all they needed to do was put pressure on Freeman because he was scared of his own shadow. I am not ready to give up on any of them. Let’s get a Real Coach and some leadership and see what happens. jmo.
January 22nd, 2012 at 8:07 pm
@ GARV… I’m age 39… I remember Bell & Wilder to the point where i believe they rec’d MANY carries. you can avg 3 yards a carry and be considered a “franchise back” if you get 25 touches.
Richardson is in another class from those guys according to my EyeBalls 🙂
January 24th, 2012 at 8:42 am
Wasn’t Dexter Jackson a burner?