Bucs May Have Found Their Tight End
December 19th, 2013
Tim Wright is in rare NFL company
A constant irritant of Bucs fans is the lack of a quality tight end. Fans have kvetched about this so much and so often since DJ Toes on the Line was thrown off the team, many fans have been banned from neighborhood watering holes because the innkeepers are sick of the whining.
In fact, when some Bucs fans begin cursing out loud over the Bucs not having a tight end, their dog runs for cover, conditioned to know an angry boot is about to follow.
Nevermind that Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan doesn’t use the tight end much in his offense. He comes from the Kevin Gilbride School of Offense, where the Giants avoid throwing to the tight end.
When Josh Freeman was the Bucs quarterback, he couldn’t understand all the fuss over fans screaming for a tight end. Freeman had said, in so many words, the Bucs don’t feature a tight end in their offense so what’s the point of getting one? Sort of like buying a third wheel for a bike.
Well, the answer to Bucs fans’ prayers for a tight end may have slid under their noses while they were busy holiday shopping and more importantly, holiday drinking. Rookie Tim Wright, who most fans never even knew was on the roster to begin the season, has slowly and steadily become a key target for Glennon is developing into a true weapon feared around the NFL.
Wright has 45 catches. No rookie tight end has more in 2013, and his four touchdown catches are the second-most for rookie tight ends. If Bucs fans scoff at that, consider that since 2002, only four rookie tight ends have caught more than 45 passes. The four? John Carlson, Jermaine Gresham, Dustin Keller and Tony Moeaki.
December 19th, 2013 at 9:17 am
Who would have thought that at a WR from Rutgers would be our starting TE just a couple of years ago? Glad he’s on our team though. He and Crabtree could be dangerous next year with Dougie coming back.
December 19th, 2013 at 9:20 am
Just imagine if our offensive scheme featured passes to the TE…..
December 19th, 2013 at 9:27 am
Wow, all these off the street free agents and 3rd and 4th round rookies outperforming Dominick’s high draft picks. Just a tidbit for the uneducated around here. The coaches are scheming against the high round drafted DE’s , But when the 4th round talent comes in they Scheme for success. The target is moving back to the pop-star. I hear more and more fans voicing their displeasure at the job that he has not performed at.
December 19th, 2013 at 9:30 am
Just imagine if we had an offensive scheme
December 19th, 2013 at 9:33 am
Because Dominick has nothing to do with these off the street free agents. Nice try.
December 19th, 2013 at 10:29 am
I love that this can turn into a bashing of Dominik, when he was the one picking up these street free agents. Damn him!
December 19th, 2013 at 10:29 am
It takes some time to develop some players….those are the players likely not drafted. If we are successful with several, it really saves a great deal of money and we can sprinkle in some high-priced free agents.
Some of the free agents should be on a very short leash if they don’t perform.
December 19th, 2013 at 10:40 am
Wright would look even better with Jenkins, Amaro, or Ebron on the other side….and maybe a little bit of Watkins in the slot.
December 19th, 2013 at 10:42 am
Yes, Wright, of all FAs, had everything to do with Dominick and zero to do with Schiano
said by- No one
December 19th, 2013 at 10:52 am
Guyts, he is outperforming what high draft picks? The ones on IR? Also, wehy do you guys keep ingoring the fact that Shiano himself said he had nothing to do with the first draft, and it was a group effort in the second draft? Why would Shiano lie about this? Not to mentiion hind sight is 20/20. Not to mention maybe Shiano is not getting the right scheme for some of these guys. Clayborn may come out strong next year as well, and everyone thought he was a great pick at the time. Just like all the picks, they are all ranked around the same place by every team, and all teams have misses.
December 19th, 2013 at 11:53 am
Question: start Wright over PIT Heath Miller in the Fantasy FB Super Bowl?
December 19th, 2013 at 12:20 pm
Do you know whats great about Schiano and Dom?
They value character over talent.
We are building a team and a system and a program that can succeed for decades.
We rid our team of divas, rock stars, partiers, and thugs….
And now we have a team of
Players who love football!
I love Schiano!
December 19th, 2013 at 12:21 pm
All again now, Rutgers!
Wright, James, Spence, Gholston, Tandy and yes, Glennon too! I’ve seen this regime mine more diamonds in the rough than any other here in the last 15 years.
Now, about winning some of those pesky games.
December 19th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Joe,
AGAIN with this kind of post? You posted something very similar to this a couple weeks ago..
Like I said before…The only good TE that came out of this past years draft class were.. Ertz, Eifert, and Reed. The first two are splitting time with a veteran and Reed can’t stay healthy(his problem at UF as well) so comparing Wright to the other TE’s is not a complement or atleast we shouldn’t take it as such.. We had NO ONE standing in his way this year at the TE position and obviously our WR’s aren’t the best.. Yes its great that he’s the first since 2002 blah blah blah..BUT…
Does he stretch the field? NO.. Can he block? NO.. Is he an athletic type TE that can take over games and win jump balls? NO.. Is he a good security blanket? When he actually runs his route past the 1st down marker then YES.. Not something to be all excited about Joe. But hey keep doing these posts so all your minions can get excited about a player that’s average..