Demps Takes Casillas To School
July 26th, 2014
RB Jeff Demps Saturday displayed a glimpse of what could be nightmares for NFL linebackers.
The play of the day at Bucs practice No. 2 for Training Camp 2014 came from a guy who is a bubble player.
But if running back Jeff Demps does make the team, a play he made today on outside linebacker Jonathan Casillas could be a preview of what is to come.
Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford called for Demps, a former Olympic track star, to run a wheel route on Casillas in the right flat.
Demps, who earlier in OTAs and minicamp struggled with ball security, blew past Casillas and caught an over-the-shoulder catch and stepped into the corner of the end zone for six.
After practice, Casillas could only shake his head and laugh at how silly Demps made him look.
Speed “is a trait that transfers to every sport,” Casillas said. “Demps ran in the Olympics, so, he is a rare breed and I like the challenge of going up against him. Usually, it doesn’t look too good on my behalf, but it is definitely a challenge and I am just glad he is wearing a Bucs uniform.
“It is almost like a lose-lose situation. You have to kind of guess his route to be on top of it. He is too quick for a linebacker to cover him. So, he is going to cause some matchup nightmares which is what we want.
“In practice, it is going to be tough for the linebackers. But I am up for the task and it will only get me better.”
Joe knows Bucs coach Lovie Smith is smitten with Demps’ wheels. Who wouldn’t be? But in a crowded backfield, someone other than Doug Martin and Charles Sims is going to have to get people’s attention in order to secure a roster spot.
Though it is only two practices into training camp, it appears thus far that Demps may have conquered his dropsies. If that is the case, it sure is going to be fun to see just which running backs make the roster, in addition to Martin and Sims.
As Casillas said, Demps is a matchup nightmare.
July 26th, 2014 at 9:31 pm
Who in their right mind would not root for Demps to succeed….what an asset to have that kind of weapon…..lets hope he does!!!
July 26th, 2014 at 9:41 pm
With that kind of speed you find a way to keep him and make him effective in the offense!
July 26th, 2014 at 9:56 pm
It would be foolish to let Jeff Demps walk away without a roster spot. You can’t teach speed, and that is something this offense could use.
I would love to see Demps in a “Sproles” like role if he can hold onto the ball.
Can he catch kicks?
July 26th, 2014 at 10:01 pm
I dont care for Rainey…I like James as a solid runner that gets tough yards but demps needs to be on the team. I would have to vote Rainey off out of the five. Keep james and demps.
July 26th, 2014 at 10:13 pm
If he can stay healthy…..
July 26th, 2014 at 10:23 pm
no more dropsies?
maybe i’m wrong, but I would think a good rule of thumb to follow is don’t put your fastest player in an rb position where his body will be ground into dust by the time he is 27. make him the slot receiver pls. keep james and maybe rainey to do the dirty work.
July 26th, 2014 at 11:09 pm
We need all five of our running backs. We will have the tandem of Martin and Sims as our starting tandem, and Mike and Rainey as our second tandem, and we will use Demps heavily on Special Teams and in a Sproles role on Offense and he can replace either Sims or Rainey if either of them go down. If we have to cut our FBs it will be OK because Mike can either block or carry the ball in short yardage where we need a FB. Demps is a tough, durable, player but we should not wear him out. We need his speed available for many years to come.
July 26th, 2014 at 11:40 pm
Demps is going to play somewhere this year. The Bucs should give him a shot.
I can only imagine the horror, we cut him loose and he winds up torching us in a Saints uni.
July 27th, 2014 at 12:00 am
Joe
If we are going to get rid of one of the HBs, we should trade with the 49ers for one of their guards because I believe their HB was injured for the season yesterday.
July 27th, 2014 at 12:30 am
OB:
Sounds logical, but here are two things to ponder:
1) Lovie never had a decent offensive line in Chicago, despite drafting high for offensive linemen.
2) One of the many things Warren Sapp talked about with Joe today was offensive line, specifically who can stop GMC. “I don’t see any guards in the league! Where’s the guard play? There are no guards! The Seattle Seahawks took J.R. Sweezy, a defensive end, and made him into a guard and won a Super Bowl! He had never blocked in his life!!”
So if you add the two points up, and also factor in how New Orleans didn’t keep Carl Nicks two years ago, perhaps we are way overvaluing the status of guards in today’s NFL?
July 27th, 2014 at 12:54 am
All the non contact stories about Demps are great – but can he take a hit and get up? Can he make a violent turn and not pop a hamstring or a ligament? He is a high performance, low tolerance guy. Rooting for him, but track guys rarely have much shelf life in the NFL. In fact, I can only remember a couple of Olympic sprinters making it in the NFL. One was Renaldo Neamiah and the other’s name escapes me. Anyone else?
July 27th, 2014 at 5:12 am
Bob Hayes
July 27th, 2014 at 7:01 am
yeah but demps isnt a track player trying to play football he played in the sec let be real
July 27th, 2014 at 7:36 am
Joe-
Sure the saints let Nicks walk….then they signed Grubbs…paired with Evans they have arguably the best guard duo in the league. So is the thinking that the saints QB play and prolific offense has nothing to do with the pro bowl guards?
July 27th, 2014 at 7:45 am
That’s exactly what he is. He quit football season for track. He’s no running back. Make him a returner/receiver.
July 27th, 2014 at 10:45 am
Again, the only site that bashes demps for dropping a ball in OTA’s. Freaking OTA’s!!!!! Every other place I read and have read says Demps will make the 53. Licht praised Demps during the state of the bucs address this week with the big dawg. Yet this site still wants to hang on to early OTA’s as an indictment. I just don’t get it.
July 27th, 2014 at 11:58 am
So if you add the two points up, and also factor in how New Orleans didn’t keep Carl Nicks two years ago, perhaps we are way overvaluing the status of guards in today’s NFL?
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Whish is exactly what I’ve been saying since we wasted a 1st round pick on Davin Joseph under Gruden.
Considering Dominik made Joseph and Nicks two of our highest paid players on the team, do you need any more proof to know that OGs are overvalued? Always take what Dominik would do, and do the opposite.
WWDDADTO What would Dominik do and do the opposite