Steve White: My Money’s On Herron
August 5th, 2014
After serving as a defensive line coaching intern on the sidelines and in the meeting rooms of One Buc Palace this spring, former Bucs defensive end Steve White (1996-2001) surely has unique insight into your Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Yesterday, White shared some of his impressions.
Joe’s going to bring them to you one at a time.
White joined the studios of WHFS-FM and talked plenty of Bucs.
Asked about who would win the No. 3 receiver job, White was clear. “My money’s on [Robert] Herron.”
Acknowledging that Herron’s hands have failed him intermittently in practice, White was enamored by Herron’s speed and praised his route running.
White speculated that NFL defenses would be speechless seeing a look of Jeff Demps, Herron, Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. But What also said he felt the Bucs would not have a true receiver and it would be “by committee,” given the two-tight-end looks and various options in the offense.
Again, White was on the inside six weeks ago. His speculation carries extra weight.
Yes, Herron, the sixth-round rookie out of Wyoming, has special burst, his route running doesn’t look like a rookie’s, and he can get up for a football, despite his small size. But, like Demps, Herron has struggled to hold on to the football. A coach like Lovie Smith, who is obsessed with forcing takeaways, surely won’t be too forgiving of guys who cough up the rock.
August 5th, 2014 at 8:06 am
Lovie is equally obsessed with speed
August 5th, 2014 at 8:28 am
Wow. That keeps me interested on Herron. With all the drops I was starting to wonder about him…
August 5th, 2014 at 8:28 am
Draft Ego…….That usually buys a player at least a year…..GMs/Coaches are very reluctant to let a player go that they have drafted…..”he’s got to be good, we drafted him”…….sometimes that lasts way beyond a year….Myron Lewis, Luke Stocker & perhaps even Bowers.
As far as Herron, I think he’s probably the real deal with a great upside and was a bargain in the 6th.
August 5th, 2014 at 8:30 am
Picking Heron as the third receiver is playing it safe because he was just drafted by this regime but from what I’m hearing Streeter and Owusu are having a good camp so far and have to be heavily in the mix. If everything Lovie has said to this point holds true, competition will dictate the pecking order, but if it’s about upstaging your draft picks then Herron will be that guy.
August 5th, 2014 at 8:40 am
“But What also said he felt the Bucs would not have a true receiver”
Someone wanna translate this into sober English for me?
August 5th, 2014 at 8:41 am
Convert him to corner then! If you can’t catch the ball you have no business being a receiver, I don’t care how fast he is.
August 5th, 2014 at 8:43 am
I think he meant “a true number one receiver.”
August 5th, 2014 at 8:45 am
andres Says:
August 5th, 2014 at 8:41 am
Convert him to corner then! If you can’t catch the ball you have no business being a receiver, I don’t care how fast he is.
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Brilliant idea. Make your offense faster by taking the fast guys and putting them on defense instead of working with them to develop consistency.
Herron can catch the ball, but like many rookies, his head is probably spinning and loses focus. He’ll get over it, he had good hands in college.
August 5th, 2014 at 8:49 am
Good point. I was starting to lose interest in him as well. He didn’t look good at the night practice at Raymond James Stadium. I’ll keep an eye out.
August 5th, 2014 at 8:53 am
I wish all the best to Robert Herron. As we all know, he has problems catching the ball. When you look at Streeter, who has been pretty much catching everything thrown at him, has decent speed, size, and seems to have a better chance at making the team. I’m not saying that Herron might not be an NFL caliber player someday. I’m just saying, he may benefit from a little developmental time on the practice squad.
August 5th, 2014 at 9:01 am
Herron will make the team……I predict……Jackson, Evans, Streeter, Owusu, Herron, Murphy & Page (KR/PR) as our recieveers…..we keep 7 with one inactive each week.
August 5th, 2014 at 9:16 am
Someone else would likely sign him if we put him on practice squad.
How about that move Owusu used in practice yesterday? Amazing.
If Streeter is actually for real maybe we got something going….especially with our new tight ends also and pass catching running back.
Sure seems like we got a chance at some at least decent offense.
August 5th, 2014 at 9:25 am
I doubt it will be Herron as the #3. I believe that Owusu has taken that spot. You might even put Murphy above Herron.
August 5th, 2014 at 9:25 am
Demps is done because it doesn’t matter how fast you run if you can’t catch or break a tackle
August 5th, 2014 at 9:31 am
@Eric
I thought of him being claimed off the practice squad, but there’s always another fast guy, who can catch, willing to step up. What if, in a game situation, Herron’s number is called and he drops a game winning touchdown, or drops a pass, that would have extended a drive. I just don’t think he’s quite ready, and losing him is no big deal.
August 5th, 2014 at 9:46 am
I don’t remember the Bucs ever having this much receiving talent to pick from in building the final roster. This alone has to make Buc fans confident and antsy for real games to begin. Wake up sports media, no more Bucs team to kick around.
August 5th, 2014 at 9:53 am
I tagged Herron as the dark horse in this competition when camp started. As long as his hands work come game time, he’ll definitely be open. Guys like Streeter and Owusu are built more fore the outside, while with some coaching Jerron could be a nightmare in the slot.
August 5th, 2014 at 9:56 am
@bucbob1
Could well be correct.
When I think of the dropsies I cant get Clayton out of my mind. Perfect passes right in his hands…..then clank.
Man that’s a bad memory.
August 5th, 2014 at 9:58 am
@ Buccfan37
Yes, isn’t it amazing how much talent the L&L regime has attracted. I too, am looking forward to some positive local, and national, sports media.
August 5th, 2014 at 10:05 am
@ Eric
Yes, how Michael Clayton frustrated us all, after a promising rookie season, how could this happen?
It’s comforting to know we have a great talent pool of receivers, to choose from this year!
August 5th, 2014 at 10:08 am
Agree with TBBF about the 7 receivers.
Demps is kept as a RB.
Even if Herron can’t catch the ball consistently, he creates coverage challenges for any D…
August 5th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Drops frustrate me and coaching staffs alike, but I have a hard time seeing Herron missing the cut.
As far as being the no.3 receiver? I havent been to camp, but based on observations from Joe and other media types, I think Streeter will be the main guy getting looks there, with Tim Wright flexing out almost just as often.
Herron will be brought in for 4 WR-sets and to run the dreaded Benn’d-around that we will surely employ. Again, this is all speculation about the Tedford’s mysterious Bigfoot offense
August 5th, 2014 at 12:47 pm
every one in Tedford’s offense sans the line and qb are going to be potential true receivers. Think that’s why they call it a “spread offense”.
August 5th, 2014 at 3:27 pm
Load up on pine tar.
August 5th, 2014 at 4:57 pm
I think White was referring to the “no. 3 WR” not actually being just one specific person or even a WR. At times they may have a TE in the slot, or even a RB. (C. Sims or Demps).