“Three Or Four Guys That Have A Chance”
May 13th, 2014
Is Gators speedster and leading 2013 receiver Solomon Patton on Lovie’s secret list?
This weekend’s Buccaneers rookie minicamp (Friday through Sunday) just got a lot more interesting.
Head coach Lovie Smith has said he expects “three or four” of the 11 newly signed undrafted free agents to make the final roster.
“There are about three or four guys that have a chance. But, you know, if I mention those three or four it would not be fair to the other guys,” Lovie said of his undrafted free agent signings. “The odds are that’s what will happen. But every year, players that don’t get drafted have really stood up and ended up playing for us. And for me personally, when I was in Chicago — we also have a tryout rookie camp this weekend along with our undrafted free agents and our draft picks — I’ve had players that have come in and tried out without a contract and end up starting for us. Two players ended up starting for us in Chicago like that.
“So we look at everyone. And Really, after you get drafted and after you sign, however you come in, we don’t ask who got drafted where when we start working players out. We put the all together and the cream comes up to the top. And that’s what we’re looking for this weekend.”
So who’s in Lovie’s top-4?
Here’s the list of undrafted free agent signings:
Center – Josh Allen (Louisiana-Monroe)
Linebacker – Nate Askew (Texas A&M)
Wide Receiver – Aaron Burks (Boise State)
Defensive Tackle – Euclid Cummings (Georgia Tech)
Cornerback Keith Lewis (Virginia-Lynchburg)
Guard Andrew Miller (Virginia Tech)
Tackle Matt Patchan (Boston College)
Wide Receiver Solomon Patton (Florida)
Quarterback – Brett Smith (Wyoming)
Defensive End – Chaz Sutton (South Carolina)
Safety – Mycal Swaim (Eastern Michigan)
Joe’s already written about the backgrounds and chances of Askew and Cummings. Joe will have more on the lead dogs in the race later today.
May 13th, 2014 at 10:33 am
Kind of hard for me to believe that any of the WRs have a good chance. We are pretty deep now. I’m a Gators fan and though I like Patton, I dont really think he brings to much to the table (that we dont already have) unless he shines as a returner which is possible.
May 13th, 2014 at 10:33 am
Well we already know love has a disinterest in o line so that narrows that list down to 8
May 13th, 2014 at 10:47 am
I see (4) UFA that could be signed. LB Askew, G Miller, T Patchan & QB Smith.
May 13th, 2014 at 10:58 am
So I was watching the youtube highlights on our draft picks last night because I enjoy the various music sound tracks et al (fyi… the WVA kid C. Simms has an awesome reel by Dougitydog)… anyway, I was watching Robert Herron’s highlight reel… and I was like, wow, Wyoming’s offense is killer… then as I was watching, I said, wow, that QB looks pretty good too.
And low and behold, that QB happens to be Brett Smith… they are both from Wyoming. Watch Wyoming’s offense.
May 13th, 2014 at 10:59 am
We’ve got 6 LBs under contract before UDFAs…that leaves Nate Askew a very good chance of making the roster.
We’ve got 5 DEs on the roster, that gives Chaz Sutton a very good chance of making the roster.
OT Matt Patchan is not really strong but he is athletic (2nd team all ACC this past season) and if he can stay healthy, he could be a starter down the line.
WR Solomon Patton is part of the huge logjam at slot WR/kick and punt returner, but he’s got tons of speed, and is a very good return man
QB Brett Smith was a playmaker extraordinaire in college and has the type of mobility and playmaking ability that Tedford surely covets. Would either have to play lights out and beat out Glennon or at least play well enough to show Smith that he is too valuable to risk cutting to put on the practice squad and force Lovie to keep 3 QBs… like he ALWAYS did in Chicago… ALWAYS..
May 13th, 2014 at 11:04 am
Buc Fan #237 Says:
May 13th, 2014 at 10:58 am
So I was watching the youtube highlights on our draft picks last night because I enjoy the various music sound tracks et al (fyi… the WVA kid C. Simms has an awesome reel by Dougitydog)… anyway, I was watching Robert Herron’s highlight reel… and I was like, wow, Wyoming’s offense is killer… then as I was watching, I said, wow, that QB looks pretty good too.
And low and behold, that QB happens to be Brett Smith… they are both from Wyoming. Watch Wyoming’s offense.
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Bro, I’ve been on the Brett Smith Bandwagon since December, you’re not telling me anything I don’t know. There are 13 game tapes available from Smith at: http://www.draftnikcentral.com/draft-prospects/player-profile/videos.cfm?id=2078 as well as interviews. His Pro Day workout was especially impressive. I charted his passes and his Pro Day was as good as anybody else’s. According to one report, the Jets almost drafted him. They took Tajh Boyd instead. http://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/5/12/5709520/new-york-jets-considered-drafting-brett-smith
That’s very nice, except Lovie is a two quarterbacks kind of guy. –Joe
May 13th, 2014 at 11:06 am
Patton is a great returner with 4.3 speed should be interesting to watch him in preseason. Might be the return man we have been looking for
May 13th, 2014 at 11:13 am
Staying healthy has always been Patchan’s biggest issue.
May 13th, 2014 at 11:16 am
As a Gator Booster & season ticket holder I can assure you for all of Solomon Patton’s “raw speed” he rarely produces on game day. He is a poor route runner and questionable hands when he does manage to get open. It would really take a huge turnaround form his college career to make this roster imo. Throw in a football focused Demps (from last year) and Charles Sims and Connor as guys we actually drafted competing/likely used as return men & Patton has a lot to over come. I think you’ll see the best chance undrafted FA’s have is on our Secondary/Linebacking Corps/O-Line & maybe a practice squad slot for Brett Smith if the Buc’s think he has some potential at QB. The competition will be fun but most if any of these guys will only provide depth at best.
May 13th, 2014 at 11:23 am
Brett Smith was awful coming down the stretch last year. 3 of his last 4 games the team scored 7, 7, and 10 points – against mediocre to sub-par opponents. You’re watching HIGHlights – all highlight films look good. Unfortunately for guys like Smith, teams’ scouts also watch LOWlight film of each player. Practice Squad at best.
May 13th, 2014 at 11:29 am
lightningbuc Says:
May 13th, 2014 at 11:23 am
Brett Smith was awful coming down the stretch last year. 3 of his last 4 games the team scored 7, 7, and 10 points – against mediocre to sub-par opponents. You’re watching HIGHlights – all highlight films look good. Unfortunately for guys like Smith, teams’ scouts also watch LOWlight film of each player. Practice Squad at best.
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Yes, he was absolutely terrible , the whole team was, coming down the stretch last season. His last 3 losses were not good (though he did have a record setting day against Hawaii) … but most of his other ENTIRE game tapes were excellent. Watch him vs Texas and Nebraska, watch against New Mexico, Hawaii (640 total yards 8 TDs), or Air Force. Watch the whole tape, he’s impressive. There was one game (I think against Idaho) where he started off 1-12 passing because he must’ve had 10 drops of throws on the money, he still came back and put up big numbers in that game. Don’t watch his highlights, watch his games: http://www.draftnikcentral.com/draft-prospects/player-profile/video.cfm?id=2078
May 13th, 2014 at 11:32 am
BTW, Smith did not have the best coaching at Wyoming, he had very little help around him, even Herron got the dropsies at times, as far as skill position players (Dominic Rufran had games where he caught as many as he dropped), and his OLine was a mess. He created on his own, he beat teams with his arm and legs. Wait till you see him with the Bucs, he’ll win you over. With great coaching and a good system, he has the ability to be among the better QBs from this draft.
May 13th, 2014 at 11:42 am
Potential locks: Euclid Cummings
Nate Askew
Good possibilities: Solomon Patton
Keith Lewis
May 13th, 2014 at 12:02 pm
I’m waiting to hear why Lovie ALWAYS keeps 3 QBs when he says he is a 2 QB guy. Did he? I remember the story of him cutting McCown to get down to two. I ask because I haven’t gone back myself to do the research and was going by what other said and read recently.
May 13th, 2014 at 12:21 pm
Did anyone sign James Wilder JR?
May 13th, 2014 at 12:25 pm
BTW, Smith did not have the best coaching at Wyoming, he had very little help around him, even Herron got the dropsies at times, as far as skill position players
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Sounds a lot like someone else you love to hate on…. Lol, sorry had to throw that in there.
May 13th, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Freeman?
May 13th, 2014 at 12:59 pm
No dont think he loved to hate on Freeman. At least not that I remember.
May 13th, 2014 at 1:45 pm
You’re right. Glennon didn’t receive the best of coaching, but when he took over the same offense as the previous season that was one of the most prolific in team history, he led them to last place in the league.
Smith, on the other hand, started as a true freshman, won his first 3 ever starts, narrowly lost to Lavonte David’d Nebraska Cornhuskers in week 4, and took a hopeless Wyoming team to their first bowl and 8 win season in ages. He did this while leading the team to over 100 yards total offense per game from the previous season despite having the same offensive coordinator and head coach, then by his junior year, he was helping the team put out over 200 yards more per game. What he did, with little coaching, was quite impressive. Glennon…not so much, good stats masked ineffective play for the most part. Better coaching would’ve helped, better playing would’ve made a better case for him.
May 13th, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Brett Smith is a project right now and if Lovie carries only 2 QB’s then Smith’s only hope here is the practice squad which would be ideal so he could be coached up to an NFL playing level. Of course other teams will be watching so he could land somewhere else as well. Another interesting training camp story, we’ll see what happens.
May 13th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
Phil the bengals did i believe
May 13th, 2014 at 3:10 pm
And askew played with johnny football so he has to be a superstar right
May 13th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Solomon is not much of a secret, Ive been screaming this guys name all off season. If you dont already know, watch our for this guy.
May 14th, 2014 at 7:18 am
Thanks seminolebuccaneer. I was hoping the Bucs would sign him.
May 15th, 2014 at 7:44 am
Brandon Said:
“You’re right. Glennon didn’t receive the best of coaching, but when he took over the same offense as the previous season that was one of the most prolific in team history, he led them to last place in the league.
Smith, on the other hand, started as a true freshman, won his first 3 ever starts, narrowly lost to Lavonte David’d Nebraska Cornhuskers in week 4, and took a hopeless Wyoming team to their first bowl and 8 win season in ages. He did this while leading the team to over 100 yards total offense per game from the previous season despite having the same offensive coordinator and head coach, then by his junior year, he was helping the team put out over 200 yards more per game. What he did, with little coaching, was quite impressive. Glennon…not so much, good stats masked ineffective play for the most part. Better coaching would’ve helped, better playing would’ve made a better case for him.”
Hmmm. Excuses for Smith but they don’t hold up for Glennon?
Blind with hatred. smh
May 17th, 2014 at 5:38 pm
The draft magazine I bought had Smith rated higher than Georgia’s QB who broke all SEC records for yards as well as South Carolina’s QB, so Glennon has some major competition. If a team offers the Bucs a third round pick for Glennon when their QB gets injured, he will be gone and they will bring Smiith from the practice squad!!!