Jeff Demps Now Waits
August 28th, 2014
RB Jeff Demps (32) takes a handoff from Mike Kafka in the second half Thursday. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
Before the preseason began, the Bucs pounded their chests that they helped coerce Olympic track star and part-time football player Jeff Demps to give up track and play football full-time.
Specifically, play football for the Bucs full-time.
Demps got through the first roster cut this week. Saturday brings the real test. Will he get a call from an underling that Lovie Smith wants to talk to him? And yeah, by the way, bring the iPad? Or will Lovie call him to tell him,’Welcome aboard. son.’ You’ve made it?’
Lovie couldn’t brag enough about Demps’ speed and how it could change games. But in recent days, Lovie’s dialed down his crush.
While it is true Lovie loved Demps’ speed, it is also true Demps couldn’t do what’s critical for any running back in an offense that likes to throw to running backs. And that is catch the ball.
Throughout minicamp, training camp and into preseason games, Demps showed that he simply wasn’t reliable. Demps has been given dozens of chances to get better with the ball, and he really hasn’t.
Tonight, Demps ran for 59 yards on 20 carries and showed some of his famous speed when he ran for a 19-yard game, his longest. The rest of the night, Demps was as pedestrian as The Great Lumpkin, and he fumbled.
Given the fact Demps was playing in the fourth quarter against forklift operators, middle school math teachers, insurance claims adjusters and parole officers, he didn’t exactly boost his resume.
“I have been grinding really hard,” Demps said. “All training camp. All summer. I can’t speak [for the coaches]. I can only control what I can control and show them what I can do and play a whole game at running back and come out healthy.
“When it comes to [Lovie’s] decision, I hope it is a positive one.”
Ronde Barber all but spelled doom for Demps on the Bucs-Redskins TV broadcast during the fourth quarter.
“Demps isn’t quite ready,” said Barber, who projected Demps will land on the team’s 10-man practice squad.
August 28th, 2014 at 11:44 pm
I liked Silas Redd from Washington better than Demps. I wonder if Redd makes the team, if he is cut I would give him a look.
August 29th, 2014 at 12:26 am
Too many good RUNNING BACK prospects will be available.
August 29th, 2014 at 12:58 am
I am not a Gator fan at all and usually cheer against Gator players but I was excited about Demps commiting 100% to football. But, he really showed nothing on the field that equates to a solid NFL starter other than his speed. I still hate to see him go but no one can give a solid reason to way he should make the team after the preseason performance he had.
August 29th, 2014 at 1:12 am
cut him
August 29th, 2014 at 2:24 am
Sorry… the Demps experiment is a bust….Next?
August 29th, 2014 at 6:53 am
Maybe it’s not exactly how the Bucs envisioned things at the onset of camp but Lane and Patton have appeared to play themselves on to the roster.
Demps and maybe Herron are on the bubble.
August 29th, 2014 at 7:15 am
Demps actually dropped the ball 4 TIMES last night. He waas lucky that either he or a teammate recovered it, or that he was down by contact 3 of the times.
But the ball still came loose on impact.
Herron should make the squad. Maybe his inability to catch can be fixed.
Hopfully Lane will make the team.
Expect most of the cuts today. Licht wants a jump on the other teams.
August 29th, 2014 at 7:48 am
Demps makes the team. He had a solid KR last night, and honestly, ran fairly well with a bunch of scrubs for an Oline. Besides, he is a gadget player who kept getting his number called on interior runs. Does Sproles get used as a between the tackles hammer? No, the bucs just don’t have another back.
August 29th, 2014 at 8:02 am
Demps had NO blocking last night …remember even the starters are horrible .
August 29th, 2014 at 8:18 am
Yes, Redd and Seastrunk both looked way better than Demps. And McCoy looked way better than Kafka. And the Skins OLine looked way better than the Bucs OLine. Come to think of it, just about any of the Skins cuts would be a step up from our reserves.
August 29th, 2014 at 8:35 am
I think Demps would be better served pushing bobsleds or something similar to utilize all that “speed”, cuz he ain’t much of a football player.
August 29th, 2014 at 10:38 am
He did a couple good things, but for the most part he looked far too amateurish and unpolished to be on an NFL roster right now. He can’t catch and his vision as a RB is inconsistent. Perfect practice squad material, because there’s no way anyone from another team watching the Bucs preseason film will sign this guy right now.
August 29th, 2014 at 12:28 pm
Thanks Orca for being open minded……which team did you coach for in the NFL??
I say put him on practice squad and lets develop him into a potent weapon.
Worth a spot . . . .
August 29th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Demps was playing behind the O-line of forklift operators and middle school teachers. Demps didn’t just get lucky playing at Florida the kid has wheels. He needs to at least be returning kicks. The recent knuckleheads returning kicks run straight in piles every time. Its horrible to watch. The Bucs need a returner that scares opposing teams.
August 29th, 2014 at 4:41 pm
jeff demps did not look like a football player. he looked ok when he had a bunch of space, but i saw a guy who didn’t have great vision, lacked leg drive, struggled after getting hit\tackled, and most importantly who lost the handle on the football more than once. practice squad, but i’m not optimistic. all the speed in the world doesn’t help if your brain and your eyes can’t operate at NFL speed