The Mighty Stocker
June 13th, 2014
In Joe’s Thursday practice notes, Joe gave “Catch of the Day” honors to rarely-healthy tight end Luke Stocker.
And that play seems to have captured the hearts of the Buccaneers.com video staff, too.
Stocker’s astute route running and explosion was far too much for safety Major Wright on the play. Stocker used his athleticism to rise for Josh McCown’s touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone. It’s all on video right here.
There’s also other cool stuff in the practice highlight reel, and an ugly pick thrown by Mike Glennon.
Can Stocker actually make the 53-man roster?
Well, Joe wouldn’t wager on that. Stocker seems addicted to the trainer’s room. Last year, he reported back to training camp with a calf injury suffered by while running sprints in preparation for Greg Schiano’s grueling, pre-camp conditioning test.
But Stocker is healthy now. And if Jeff Tedford is committed to using two-tight-end sets frequently, then maybe Stocker has a real shot.
June 13th, 2014 at 4:23 pm
God I hope not talk about waste of a roster spot. Back of his Jersey shouldn’t even say stocker on the back it should say “garbage can”. Hey Joe remember when Dom said stocker could be the next Jason written??? Fun times. Hahaha
Cut ties with stocker I’d rather have Cameron brate (sp) on the roster then this bum.
June 13th, 2014 at 4:37 pm
If we keep 4 TEs….Stocker has a shot. And, we may need to keep 4. An injury to any of the top TEs would make a 4th necessary. I think Stocker has the skills if he can stay healthy & that’s a big if. Chances are he would stay healthy as long as he doesn’t trip on the way to the bench he sits on.
June 13th, 2014 at 4:38 pm
I have a feeling he won’t make it
June 13th, 2014 at 4:52 pm
If you add up the total number of “receivers”…WR + TE…can’t see him making the club…VJ..ME.. Murphy..Herron.. Owusu…Tim W….ASJ…Brandon M… who does he beat out?
June 13th, 2014 at 5:06 pm
If the Bucs run a 2 TE set most of the time, I think they have to keep 4 TEs. Maybe reduce the # of WRs they keep? But having Stoker as a backup TE in case another TE gets injured would be an ironic twist and one I am not sure anyone would be fully comfortable with
June 13th, 2014 at 5:13 pm
If ASJ is behind on learning the playbook and integrating in the offense, then maybe there’s a better chance of keeping 4 TEs (???)… That puts Stocker in competition with the Harvard kid, Brate. I wonder how he’s looking.
June 13th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Wright, ASJ, Meyers, (insert name)
June 13th, 2014 at 5:20 pm
Actually, if I am reading it right, the Bucs had 4 TEs to start last year: Stocker, Crabtree, Bynam and Wright. And they had 4 WRs: VJax, Williams and backups Ogletree, Page and Shepard. So that would make it appear Stoker is a lock if he is not on IR prior to September (lol, good luck with that).
June 13th, 2014 at 5:26 pm
*sorry, meant the Bucs had 5 (not 4) WR
June 13th, 2014 at 5:28 pm
A lock?
Anything but lol
First 3 are locks, there are many that will be vying for that 4th spot in TC.
June 13th, 2014 at 5:31 pm
Wow… One magnificent catch…..
….In practice.
June 13th, 2014 at 5:34 pm
@ BUCTROOPER
Yea, isn’t it too bad they don’t play ‘underwear football’ during the regular season? :^)
June 13th, 2014 at 5:41 pm
@PR, I disagree. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a Stocker fan in the least. But who is on the roster that is going to beat him out? He has talent and is athletic. If he could stay off of IR Stocker might be decent, and no way we don’t keep 4 TEs. It is pretty clear the Bucs will run a lot of dbl TE sets. Stoker, unfortunately, will be the best 4th string option we have.
June 13th, 2014 at 7:31 pm
LUVMYBUCS Says:
May 6th, 2014 at 6:45 pm
Chiefs reportedly ‘willing to deal’ Brandon Flowers. I’m sure he would clear waivers, and hit the open market. Would be great if he returned home to Florida, and paired up with Verner.
Note: Flowers is an excellent cover 2 corner.
June 13th, 2014 at 8:02 pm
Flowers had been scheduled to earn a $250,000 workout bonus, $2 million upon reporting to training camp, and another $5.25 million in base salary for the season. In 2015 he was scheduled to earn the same workout bonus and $6.25 million in base salary.
The release leaves the Chiefs with $3 million in dead money in 2014 and another $4 million in dead money in 2015. This dead money comes from the remaining prorations of a $10 million signing bonus paid in 2011 and another $4 million bonus paid just last year for salary cap relief.
June 13th, 2014 at 8:13 pm
Brandon Flowers (Rank 75)*2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6yp5bXI4qk
June 13th, 2014 at 8:44 pm
I want Flowers.
I want dope depth!
June 13th, 2014 at 9:14 pm
Really that’s the “big catch” smh
June 13th, 2014 at 9:30 pm
knucknbuc Says
“God I hope not talk about waste of a roster spot.”
If he gets the roster spot, it is because he earned it and that’s a good thing.
You people need to make up your minds. Was the coaching horrible? Or was it the players?
June 13th, 2014 at 9:35 pm
Harry Says
“…And they had 4 WRs…”
I thought they started with 8 WRs, and they ended up needing them all due to injury? Or were a couple on the practice squad?
8 is the usual I think. Depth on both sides, then two for the slot. Although I suppose they could mix the positions up to save roster spots.
But I could swear I remember feeling they had way too many WRs last year.
Don’t forget Osu
June 13th, 2014 at 9:39 pm
Hawk Says
“Yea, isn’t it too bad they don’t play ‘underwear football’ during the regular season?”
That’s funny, because the entire MGM is bragging about Glennon playing underwear football. I guess it doesn’t count when it is someone you don’t like, huh?
June 13th, 2014 at 11:57 pm
I like underwear football, just wish it was with RW, right Joe? Are you out stalking again?
June 14th, 2014 at 12:01 am
I’d prefer 3 Qb’s honestly.
June 14th, 2014 at 12:17 am
@bonzai,
I was surprised to only see 4 names, that made me think it did not include practice squad and whatever else.
June 14th, 2014 at 12:47 am
Of course! 🙂
June 14th, 2014 at 3:39 am
I disagree Harry
June 14th, 2014 at 8:27 am
With Wright being able to line up anywhere, don’t be surprised if Stocker makes it as the 4th TE. We may decide to carry just 5 WR’s. If you want speed in space, a big bodied blocking TE like Stocker is very appealing to an OC.
Both Sims, Wright and ASJ allow you to be less conventional.
June 14th, 2014 at 11:37 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
June 13th, 2014 at 9:39 pm
Hawk Says
“Yea, isn’t it too bad they don’t play ‘underwear football’ during the regular season?”
That’s funny, because the entire MGM is bragging about Glennon playing underwear football. I guess it doesn’t count when it is someone you don’t like, huh?
Either you don’t read all the posts (possible), you don’t remember who is an MGM’er (no one knows the true scope of this imaginary group), or your agenda takes precedence over logic (don’t know you well enough to guess).
I’ll make it easy. Look up the third from last post to the ‘Day 3 Minicamp Note and Observations’ (6-12-14).
You WON’T find me bragging about how good Glennon looks playing ‘underwear football’. You WILL find that I’m an ‘MGM’er’, although I don’t attend meetings regularly. :^(
If you go back and look at the context in which my post was responding to, you realize that your diatribe was silly.
And for the record, I like Stockers’ potential, but so far, potential hasn’t helped the Bucs win games. *IF* he can stay healthy, and play up to his abilities, he could be a very productive part of this team.
June 14th, 2014 at 12:14 pm
So injuries make a guy a bum. I guess that made your favorite tackle a bum too…the first two years
June 15th, 2014 at 10:12 am
Who is this mysterious Stocker? Does he play on Sundays?
June 15th, 2014 at 6:42 pm
One catch wonders get cut all the time. Now, if in pads in Preseason Stocker can catch and block as well as VSJ then we’ll chalk it up to the miracle of Lovie’s great coaches he hired, and we’ll welcome his help! Now if Glennon suddenly develops the escapability of Carr, and Carr’s accuracy and quick release on all his throws, and can analyze defenses as quick as Josh, and will stop dropping balls or throwing interceptions like he does always, and suddenly learns to throw the ball away instead of taking sacks, and can play well under pressure like Josh does, and can bring his team back from behind to win ball games like the old Freeman used to before Schiano ruined him trying to get rid of him before last season began, then I will get off his case and applaud Lovie on a real miracle!!! 🙂