Tiquan Underwood And The Receivers
June 26th, 2012
There are many questions coming into Bucs training camp in just a hair over a month. But one question does not surround the No. 1 receiver.
That question was stamped in red ink when Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik signed Vincent Jackson as the new toy in quarterback Josh Freeman’s playpen.
Joe is pretty sure, barring injury, that Mike Williams is the No. 2 receiver. In fact, Joe would be shocked if he isn’t to hear Freeman talk.
But new wide receiver Tiquan Underwood seemed to open the door to the belief that the No. 2 receiver position is not yet set in stone, as he told Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times.
“Once you get past (Jackson), it’s just a bunch of guys trying to make a name for themselves in this league. That just brings about competition. Competition is always good, because that makes the cream rise to the top.”
Underwood added that he likes the fact that the Bucs are “a younger team. And in this league, it’s a quarterback-driven league. Josh (Freeman) came out the same year as me and is going into his fourth year. And I just like the direction Coach is taking and the attitude he has with this team. It’s all about hard work and I want to be a part of that.”
This is an interesting quote, but again, Joe will believe it when he sees it, if Williams is not the No. 2 receiver.
After that, it’s a jumble between Arrelious Benn, Preston Parker, Sammie Stroughter, Dezmon Briscoe and Underwood at this early date.
If Joe had to bet, it would be that Underwood makes the team before Briscoe, who missed much of the Bucs offseason practices due to a variety of things that Joe doesn’t want to get into as he’s not a reality TV kinda guy.
Just a hunch, neither is Greg Schiano.
June 26th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
someone please tell him (chris reid) look from kid-and-play was so 20 years ago
June 26th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
From all the rumblings of the offseason I would list Williams as #2, with Parker and Benn battling for the slot position. Parker has gotten rave reviews, and Benn, sans a few blown coverage catches, hasn’t proved his worth as a round 2 draft pick and has a shaky knee.
Has Sammie made it through an entire season as well? My money is Briscoe and Sammie get dropped, Underwood and Benn share time at slot and spelling the other receivers.
June 26th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
@ bowtie. I was thinking the same thing. would be hard not to laugh seeing that in person. if you want to be taken seriously, try showing it. bet he wears his pants backwards!
June 26th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
How does his head fit in a helmet with that hair?
June 26th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
I believe: VJ, Preston Parker, Mike Will are the top 3, Underwood and Briscoe will serve as the 4 and 5 speed or size option – if they keep 6 it will be Benn bc of his draft position – they may let him return or cover kicks and punts.
June 26th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
trade briscoe if ya can…..anyone who puts babymamadrama before work is an idiot. let him be someone else’s idiot
June 26th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
I like it! This boy sounds hungry. We need players fighting for positions. Nothing guaranteed. Hopefully Mike Williams is taking notice and steps his game up
June 26th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
VJax, Williams, Benn, Parker and Briscoe is my guess. Sammy will make it if we carry a 6th as the return man/backup slot guy.
Our only surprise might reside between Desmonds ears.
June 26th, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Jackson, Williams, Parker, those three are pretty much set. Everyone else is up for grabs. Stroughter might actually surpise, he seems like a Schiano type of guy.
I think with a new coach, Benn might be on the bubble. He is going to have to really impress in camp and preseason, show he can get a little separation.
June 26th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Pewter Report has been reporting that Benn is on the bubble, but I just have a hard time believing that (they also say Brian Price is on the bubble, which I can’t imagine being the case either). He’s a second round pick from just a couple years ago, and he has shown flashes of being a good receiver. Last year he was coming back from a torn ACL (which happened very late in the previous season), so I highly doubt he was at full strength. I just can’t see us cutting him, but you never know.
June 26th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
aj Says:
I think with a new coach, Benn might be on the bubble. He is going to have to really impress in camp and preseason, show he can get a little separation.
We’ll have to disagree. Benn was way too high of a pic to cut him loose. Dom just can’t afford to lose a #2 and still look the owners in the eye. Besides, he does have all the physical tools to be a real playmaker…. Benn would be tough to put on the ground playing out of the slot.
June 26th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
vincent jackson is going to get a bluk of the carries and you are going to see everyone else mixed and matched , strength of player vs situation and match ups , 3, 2,5, doesnt matter
June 26th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
catches*
June 26th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
I think the Bucs will keep 6 WRs and fewer TEs due to new offense – less TE play, more 4 WR sets. Jackson, Williams, Parker, Briscoe, and Benn. T he 6th WR will be a fight between Underwood, Stroughter, and Gant. Two NFL-ready WRs will be cut. Two new guys (UDFAs) to the PS.
I will take a disclaimer on Benn because there is talk (Stephen Holder from PJ Fleck) that all WRs are expected to play multiple positions. Due to an (unacknowledged) learning disability, Benn is slow to grasp new schemes and may be doomed if required to learn multiple positions. However, I think he makes the team.
And of course, your guess is just as good as mine!
June 26th, 2012 at 7:44 pm
I love this kid’s attitude. He’s right, whoever ends up being the no. 2 or 3, will be the cream rising to the top.
Dare I say it, but this franchise might actually have some amazing WR depth for once
June 26th, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Every year we see players get added and people talk them up…only to see them cut in the presea Tiquan Underwood will be camp fodder. Get real people.
Tiquan Underwood has been in the league 3 years, played in 19 games and still only has 141 yards.
Lineup will be:
Jackson/Benn
Williams/Stroughter
Parker/Stroughter/Benn
June 26th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
Hawaiian Buc Says: June 26th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Pewter Report has been reporting that Benn is on the bubble, but I just have a hard time believing that (they also say Brian Price is on the bubble, which I can’t imagine being the case either). He’s a second round pick from just a couple years ago, and he has shown flashes of being a good receiver. Last year he was coming back from a torn ACL (which happened very late in the previous season), so I highly doubt he was at full strength. I just can’t see us cutting him, but you never know.
.
PR makes things up all the time. When they are proven wrong their incriminating posts disappear.
June 26th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Gant also has a chance to make the team.
June 26th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Macabee is correct:
Through no fault of his, Benn has difficulty learning the intricacies of a complex offense – rumor has it that this contributed to the prior regimes proclivity to use the “benn’d around” play.
Under direction from the top, the team was trying to run simplistic plays (reverses, go routes, returns, screens etc) to involve Benn with the football.
It is hard to force the football to an outside player in the passing game.
Benn’s hands are also probably at or near the bottom of our receiving corps.
Benn has a good combo of size and speed which makes him a natural returner – but I believe it far-fetched to think that he will be a top 3 or 4 receiver. It is insane for anyone, except Pete Ducher, to expect Benn to be a #2 – zero chance.
Mike Will will get the shot at #2 bc of his size and the investment, but Parker is a better player right now.
June 26th, 2012 at 8:38 pm
All just so much rumor/off season chatter. Benn and Price are safe. New coach won’t cut the cord, even if he could, which is doubtful. Injuries are part of the game and management understands better than reporters what the deal is. Talent matters. Haven’t any of you Benn-on-the-fencers ever seen him in his uniform? Looking strong and fast….. that’s good enough for now.
Must do predictions:
Jackson and Williams start
Parker plays slot on 3rd downs, rotating with Benn on early downs
Benn plays a few scripted plays outside for resting Jackson and Williams
Underwood is special teams and outside backup
Briscoe and Stroughter fight it out for #6
**(if Benn picks up slot well, Sammie in trouble, if Underwood disappoints, Briscoe’s lucky day)
June 26th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
*Side note on Benn’s “learning abilities”.
Our OC coached another WR who had these same stories follow him around during his early career in NY……… Mario Manningham.
Benn will learn enough to play someday. If it takes another year or so, who cares? You get to re-sign him cheaper on his 2nd contract. Why cut him for Stroughter or Underwood or Briscoe? Not seriously possible. He’ll be a Buc for a long time, hopefully.
June 26th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Rejus Benn making Mark Dominik look incompetent. Dom is very lucky to have drafted Williams in the forth round of that same draft. It is a complete shame that in the “deepest” draft in league history Dominik has selected two guys who might be cut within three years with the team in the second round.
I sincerely hope Benn turns it on and proves me wrong. He does have some big play potential; unfortunately I’ve lost hope in Dom and Hickey’s talent evaluation.
June 26th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Come on Freeman:
Dom is a rockstar! The prior failures are 85% RahRah. Lol
June 26th, 2012 at 11:36 pm
Here’s the thing…how do we really know if guys like Benn, Stroughter and others are duds right now?
It seems reasonable to believe that Olson delayed at least a couple players development with his inept coaching. Clearly he delayed Blount by not running the ball. (btw, if a coach see’s a fumbling issue, shouldn’t he do his job and coach the player through it? Like Schiano is doing?)
So, really…Benn clearly learns more slowly…and Olson decided to not even teach him.
Benn is gold waiting to be refined.
June 27th, 2012 at 12:44 am
Every player should get a free pass under the new coaching staff, and if they don’t perform under the new coaching staff they will be shown the door.
June 27th, 2012 at 6:46 am
Benn will be on the bench by week #4 if he Dominik forces Coach to play him in the beginning. I want Benn to succeed but his problem is between the ears and he also has poor hands. Great guy though.
#1 V. Jax
#2 Williams (will have a big year)
#3 P. Parker (he’s hungry & fearless with great hands)
#4 Briscoe (if he doesn t get cut. for various reasons)
#5 Benn & Underwood battle it out
do teams keeps 6 WR’s ??????
June 27th, 2012 at 8:39 am
Dini,
Were these WRs on the roster last year?
Williams
Parker
Benn
Briscoe
Stroughter
Spurlock
Now, count them!!
June 27th, 2012 at 10:58 am
Williams will get first crack at #2 spot but he has to prove that he can win against press coverage and get separation, if not Parker or Briscoe may beat him out at #2. It’s critical that a starting wideout can win against tight coverage
June 27th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
I say that Underwood and Gant stay. Both are big and fast. Sammie lacks size but has some speed. Briscoe has the size but lacks the speed of Underwood and Gant. Not to mention. He’s more drama.