Given A Chance
April 6th, 2014
When new Bucs wide receiver Louis Murphy, who Joe will guess is now the Bucs’ No. 2 receiver, met Lovie Smith, he had no idea what to expect. He had heard good things about the head coach but entered his meeting with Lovie with an open, clear mind.
Murphy left with a signed contract. His decision was simple, he told Joe. Lovie offered him opportunity, but also Murphy was won over by Lovie’s personal approach.
“Just meeting with Coach Lovie, meeting with coach Lovie and his entire staff. Just talking with them and the opportunity that is available here. Lovie is a team-first guy. Not about individuals but the team, helping the team with a Super Bowl. That’s what I wanted to come here for, to help the team win. That’s what drew me here, the conversation he and I had,” Murphy said.
“Everything is open. I look at is I’m No. 1. That’s how I approach it everywhere I have been. Every time you step on the field, you have to approach it that way. I am coming in to work and bust my tail and I plan on competing for a starting job.”
Mind you, Joe talked to Murphy prior to Mike Williams being shuffled off to Buffalo for a sixth round pick. Clearly, Lovie had not tipped off Murphy to this transaction.
And opportunity Murphy shall have. He once started for the Raiders and Carolina. Now he could start for the Bucs — no worse than a No. 3 receiver pending what the Bucs do in the draft.
April 6th, 2014 at 8:08 am
And hopefully we draft two starting caliber WRs by the end of day 2.
April 6th, 2014 at 8:21 am
Good luck to Murphy! Would like to see a hometown guy make it at home. Maybe the Bucs didn’t sign Lavelle Hawkins yet because Earl Bennett dropped by to say hello! I’d be surprised if they haven’t talked.
April 6th, 2014 at 9:00 am
He is fast…think he may be our return guy
April 6th, 2014 at 9:11 am
3-13
April 6th, 2014 at 9:11 am
Murphy is no better than a #4…..Lovie and licht have done work to do or McCown will be leading the 32 ranked offense again and Joe will have to rewrite all his Glennon articles with Josh’s name in them.
April 6th, 2014 at 9:11 am
My Dream draft scenario…
Sammy Watkins falls to us at 7 and then we trade back up and take Odell Beckham Jr. too….Talk about “speed in space”…
April 6th, 2014 at 9:17 am
I’ve never been blown away by Gator receivers. But, hopefully Murphy will have a chance to thrive here. There’s very little talent that separates starting receivers in the NFL. Much of it is between the ears.
April 6th, 2014 at 9:25 am
If he’s a starting WR week 1 it’s going to be a very long season. Offense somehow might be worse than last year. He needs to be at best a 4th WR. Bucs have one of the worst receiving corps in the league at present. It’s VJax and a bunch of #3/4 receivers.
April 6th, 2014 at 10:02 am
Lets hope he doesn’t become Murphy’s law .
April 6th, 2014 at 10:26 am
Hello Mr. Evans and welcome to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
April 6th, 2014 at 11:12 am
This offense is pretty good. Three quality backs. Two 6’5″ targets VJax and T Wright. 4.3 speed with Murphy and Demps. Hawkins knows Teds playbook. We will draft a solid wr. May also sign another free agent. Looking good, and its only April!!
April 6th, 2014 at 11:21 am
I wouldn’t be in a hurry to sign anybody until 2nd free agency starts after the draft. Several good but overpaid veterans will be released in favor of new cheaper draftees.We won’t be able to know what we really have in-house until the April 28th practices begin and the position coaches get hands-on with the players.
Monday the 7th will begin strength and conditioning and rehabilitation, only. No on-field coaching, no supervision by coaches who are not strength and conditioning coaches, no footballs, except quarterbacks can throw to uncovered receivers, and no helmets.
There’s no hurry or worry. There’s lots of time to finish off the roster, before and after the draft.
April 6th, 2014 at 1:40 pm
Have to agree, this guy may have some speed, but if he is out starting #2, or even #3 WR, we are in trouble this season.
April 6th, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Mann Says:
April 6th, 2014 at 9:11 am
“3-13”
Quite possible buddy. However believe it or not I read an article that had several analysts rating who had the best free agency so far. Majority picked the Bucs.
Here’s the kicker. I think 2 of them actually said the Bucs might compete for the NFC South title this upcoming season. That part kind of made me laugh, although most analysts prior to last season picked the Bucs to finish dead last in the South. So who knows anymore?
April 6th, 2014 at 2:05 pm
@Maze Says:
April 6th, 2014 at 10:26 am
Hello Mr. Evans and welcome to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Do you mean the guy who made Johnny look better then he really is?
April 6th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Can the guy play the slot?
April 6th, 2014 at 2:42 pm
I like the addition of former gator Murphy, but I don’t think he is anything special at that position or will be for the Bucs. Since the braintrust went retro with Lovie and company, we fans have to give the new regime time to right the ship. We have been waiting what seems like a lifetime for a credible explosive offense, which turns out not to be Lovie’s forte. I have to trust Lovie and his coaching staff to improve our offensive production. I am an eternal optimist like most Buc fans.
April 6th, 2014 at 3:06 pm
@JBF I want them both but It’s getting harder to deny that L&L are probably going to go with McCown but you just never know
April 6th, 2014 at 7:14 pm
Why are so-called fans beating the guy down before training camp, hell even a mini-camp? As true Bucs fans everybody we sign in these months we should root for wholeheartedly until they give u a reason not to. Man u guys sound like a bunch of whiney ass females worried that their man is cheating because he cheated on his ex with them even though the guy is just trying to do his best! Jimminy Christmas!
April 6th, 2014 at 9:18 pm
I think people that aren’t familiar with Murphy will be pleasantly surprised. He is a very good size/speed combo. Murphy can be a decent #2 or a high level #3 WR. He just needs to stay healthy.
April 6th, 2014 at 9:50 pm
The. Bucs don’t have to worry. With Tedford to coach it he can field a very improved offense with just his present talent and the rest is gravy. How? He could use Wright in Williams position and then also as a TE in his two TE offense. Wright was a WR and has sure hands and he big body like Williams and can catch contested passes, and can replace Williams just fine. It him on one side with our Giant’s TE, who can also be a good target. You couldn’t jam any of them, and Josh would have three great targets to pass to who are proven in NFL competition. Right now we also have five burners on this team for Tedford to have speed in space. Let all five compete for slot receiver including Murphy, Page, Smith, Demps (who can also be used out of the backfield), Skye Dawson, and Bobby Rainey. Owusu will be a good backup for Williams position too.
April 7th, 2014 at 1:38 am
He has great speed, but is weak physically, with only 10 reps at 225 on the bench press.
April 7th, 2014 at 11:37 am
I think 10 at 225 is pretty good for a speed guy.
April 7th, 2014 at 1:17 pm
It’s pretty good for any WR.