Bucs May Not Shop For Tight Ends
February 22nd, 2014
Bucs GM Jason Licht likes TE Tim Wright.
There weren’t too many bright spots for the Bucs last season, short of the season coming to an end. Drama, disease, quarterback going all Baby Huey, injuries, the list goes on.
Perhaps the lone bright spot was the play of Bucs tight end Tim Wright.
Having never played tight end before, the wide receiver out of Rutgers — have Bucs fans had their fill of hearing about Rutgers for the next decade? — was a project fourth tight end out of training camp and, out of desperation, he got a starting job and shined. He averaged 10 yards a catch, had a knack for the end zone, and none of the turd-in-the-bowl irritation that DJ Toes on the Line offered.
This is not lost on new Bucs general manager Jason Light, who sung the praises of Wright to Joe while at the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
“He was a rookie playing tight end for the first time and made, what, 54 catches? That is pretty impressive for not playing that position,” Licht said. “Looked pretty instinctive out there doing it. So, yeah, you want to keep developing that guy and he does fit into our plans. He is a little bit of a mismatch. A big receiver that can catch the ball.”
Bucs fans have been hollering at their bartenders for a tight end not named “Luke Stocker” to help the Bucs receivers, and for a long while those pleas were met with deaf ears by then-Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan.
So Bucs fans can raise a glass and tip their bartenders now. From the words of Licht himself, the Bucs very well may have found that mismatch tight end to catch deep balls over the middle.
February 22nd, 2014 at 11:18 am
Wright had a wonderful year last year. Probably one of two bright spots on offense last year.
Wright and Rainey
Besides VJax, Wright was Glennons only legitimate target most plays. Without him the defense could have triple covered VJax. This team needs receiver help badly. If Sammy Watkins is there, it would be a legitimate choice also.
February 22nd, 2014 at 11:37 am
Said it yesterday. Whatever Lovie and staff think is Wright, then I’m all for it
February 22nd, 2014 at 11:43 am
Tim Wright reminds me of former bus tight end Alex Smith
February 22nd, 2014 at 11:51 am
Considering the depth of the draft at te, we should
Consider one in second round if 1st round is defense..
Sucks to not have a 3rd round
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:02 pm
SAMCRO,
Lavonte David is the best player on this team. I am not taking anything he does for granted.
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:02 pm
I really like Wright. He has such great hands. If he can add some muscle weight and work on his blocking, he has a chance to be one of the best. I sure hope the Bucs have long term plans for him.
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:11 pm
stevek (MGM) Says:
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:02 pm
SAMCRO,
Lavonte David is the best player on this team. I am not taking anything he does for granted.
_____________________________________________
Huh?
LVD plays on defense …I never mentioned the defense…????
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Got to throw Mike James in the conversation along with Wright and Rainey. These guys each played their way out of obscurity.
Speedy slot guy is a bigger need that upgrading Wright right now.
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:23 pm
TE Richard Rodgers out of Cal in the 4th round. Remember where you heard it!
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Wright can’t do it alone….we need Crabtree or Stocker to step up or be gone!!!
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:10 pm
I like Tim Wright. I also liked FB Lorig although profootballfocus had him scored negative. And dare I say that I liked Tiquan Underwood? I just think he needs some good coaching (which is what I also said about Legarrette Blount before they cut him).
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:44 pm
Wright and Crabtree should do… I’m not in favor of drafting a tight end until at least the fourth round.
Watkins or Lee…we need playmakers,man!
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:06 pm
Mumbles is right, we can get the Cal TE in the fourth so we better not waste a second round pick on a TE. We need a can’t miss slot receiver who can run great routes and has the speed to take it all the way for the second pick after we get Carr or Bortles in the first round or get Watkins in the first and Grappolo in the second round.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:08 pm
TE is not our biggest need by a long shot. Wright is perfectly acceptable. Remember before basketball players started getting TE jobs how guys like Shannon Sharpe were considered too big for WRs and too small for TE? These types are mismatches, just like basketball players.
As for a super fast slot we… It’s been said by many that this draft is incredibly deep @ WR. We can find a guy in rounds 4-7 that is pure speed. O-line is being talked about at the combine today as very deep as well, especially true for interior guys that don’t typically go in round 1.
DE and QB are the only two that should be considered in round 1, and if we are looking QB, we should consider trading picks from next year to move up as we won’t need Mariotta or Hundley. Get ou DE via free agency and use our other 4 picks to fill holes.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Amen BamBam
BRAVO BRAVO
The fat lady keeps singing cause we keep seeing things the same way lol
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:18 pm
The Bucs signing of Maneri at TE, who is basically another O Lineman, makes him most likely our blocking TE keeping Wright as the receiving TE. It also likely means Luke Stockers days as a Buc are numbered with Crabtrees fate uncertain. One thing is for sure we’ll see a lot of new faces before they’re done remaking the roster.
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:20 pm
@MR.T
true …true …
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:39 pm
Joe, everyone is missing what Licht said ” A big receiver that can catch the ball.”
He can catch the ball, now if the new one could do this, in fact if all Buc receivers, we don’t care about others, could do this, what a joy.
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:51 pm
Check out Eric Ebron’s 4.5 – 40 at the combine. Dude is still fast even after bulking up.
February 22nd, 2014 at 7:09 pm
Interesting… he said, “Wright is a big RECEIVER that can catch the ball.”
Notice he didn’t say, “Tight end.”? It’s possible he is viewed as exactly what he said, a big receiver, and not a tight end at all.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Wright could play tight end/receiver.