Bucs Earn Bronze For 2016 Nobody Class
May 5th, 2016
Adam Humphries was a tryout nobody last May
Like every NFL team, the Bucs have their 2016 draft picks plus a couple dozen NFL dreamers trotting out to rookie minicamp this weekend.
Joe can’t wait for all the riveting fun!
Joe’s being sarcastic. It would be one thing to watch first-round-pick cornerback Vernon Hargreaves shadow a top receiver, but the Bucs didn’t draft one. Defensive end Noah Spence? Like his rookie camp brethren, he won’t be allowed to wear full pads or hit anyone. Sorry, but Roberto Aguayo practice kicking will get old pretty quickly.
But what about all the unknowns and little-knowns on the field? In what should warm the loins of uber hardcore Bucs fans is the typing of Chad Reuter, college football junkie of NFL.com. He claims the Bucs have the third-strongest crop of undrafted free agents and tryout players.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A year from now, we’ll all be asking why Peyton Barber wasn’t drafted. Dominique Robertson has the athleticism to be an NFL starter at tackle or guard, while fellow lineman Taylor Fallin could work his way into a swing-tackle role as a rookie. If the Bucs are looking to get younger a safety, Elijah Shumate and Isaiah Johnson should fight for a roster spot in camp. Luke Rhodes and Cassanova McKinzy are two of my favorite undrafted linebackers, and both could make the squad. Throw in receiving tight end Kivon Cartwright and tough hybrid Alan Cross, and the Bucs have some interesting talent on board.
Damn, if that all holds true, then the Bucs are headed to the Super Bowl in a hurry.
Not referenced here is a guy Joe thinks has a leg up on the crowd when it comes to finding a roster spot, defensive Channing Ward of Ole Miss. Joe explains in detail here.
May 5th, 2016 at 11:17 am
Speaking for Pablo
“Sorry, but Roberto Aguayo practice kicking will get old pretty quickly.”
Not for Pablo…..Pablo’s many children and amigos all over town. Watching Roberto will be fantastico. Pablo wishes Hason, Hamus, JBFs & The Hoes a happy Cinco de Mayo”……and Pablo hopes everyone celebrates May 17….”Birthday de Aguayo”
May 5th, 2016 at 11:17 am
Is it a bad idea to expand the final roster by 6 or more players? More is merrier. The owners are loaded.
May 5th, 2016 at 11:19 am
As we move forward by getting better with our drafts and FA…..it should become much more difficult for an UDFA to make the roster. I suspect 1….maybe 2 will make it this year.
May 5th, 2016 at 11:21 am
Not surprised. Light has dominated waiver wire and undrafted guys the last couple years
McDougald / Jack Smith / Howard / Jude / Humphries & Dye / Hawley/ all huge contributors last year starting at various points. Hell Jack Smith may be our first 10 sack guy since Rice this year if he can just play 16 games.
That’s pretty remarkable actually. 8 undrafted pickups being huge contributors. Also speaks to the desperation at CB and DE lol
May 5th, 2016 at 11:31 am
Don’t sleep on Alan Cross out Memphis
May 5th, 2016 at 11:34 am
Pablo is truly an amigo of the Hoes.
Howard sometimes tries to raz the Hoes, but deep down he knows his life would be diminished without them and their never-ending Bucs stories.
May 5th, 2016 at 11:51 am
Now that a few years have past. Lets review just a few of the 2012 UDFA
Notable undrafted players 2012
• K – Justin Tucker | 1-time Pro Bowler & 1-time First-Team All-Pro
• P – Johnny Hekker | 2-time Pro Bowler & 2-time First-Team All-Pro
• WR – Jermaine Kearse | signed a 3 year, $13,500,000 contract w/Seattle
• DE – Jacquies Smith | Led the Buccaneers in sacks in 2014
• NT – Damon Harrison | signed a five year, $46.2 million contract w/NY
• LB – Vontaze Burfict | 1-time Pro Bowler
• S – Tashaun Gipson | signed a five year, $36 million contract w/Jaguars
May 5th, 2016 at 12:04 pm
To me, thats the great story of NFl trng camps. Outta nowhere comes somebody we never expected or knew would make the team. And a lot of these guys stick because they have a passion for the game. I’m sure there will be a couple come up from the cellar on our Bucs squad. Ya never know who its gonna be.
May 5th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Joes:
Would love to hear the story on Swearinger last year.
We all read about how the Bucs’ first right of refusal on waiver claims was a gift from God. We didn’t seem to get much advantage. The one player who seemed best suited to break out was Swearinger, but we cut him. Seems he was picked up and played a good safety.
Did he not perform in practice? Was there a mid-evaluation of talent, or did he not fit the scheme? Was he lazy? Or was it an error by the front office or by the coaching staff?
And I don’t think we will be hearing about our waiver wire position much this year.
May 5th, 2016 at 12:11 pm
Its hard to get excited about UDFA rookies – but this was a deep draft class so there will inevitably be some this year who would have normally gotten drafted in other years. Glad to hear someone thinks we have one of the better UDFA groups in the league. Every year there’s at least 1 or 2 guys who emerge from the undrafted pack to earn a roster spot. Good luck rookies.
May 5th, 2016 at 12:43 pm
Bucfan37
I agree. They are ” all about safety “. More bodies to give others rest. Especially if they cut down on preseason and have 2 more games.
May 5th, 2016 at 1:12 pm
I actually find the later draft picks and UDFAs to be more intriguing than the name guys. When you can succeed in mining talent and developing under-the-radar guys, it’s an indication that your team is doing well. So far, there have been some important guys coming out of the UDFAs. Cameron Brate, Adam Humphries. We could see 2 UDFA LBs make the team (Cassonova McKinzy and Luke Rhodes)… These guys can help fill holes in places where you might not have been able to address in the draft. I wish JBF covered these guys more, but that might take a little more effort from Joe.
May 5th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Michael Bennett was a UDFA.
May 5th, 2016 at 1:28 pm
Pablo… you must be into gardening talking about all those hoes.
May 5th, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Just wondering when we gonna be done w Pablo… Pablo is the redskins… And Joe you don’t allow cuss words so why do you allow him?
May 5th, 2016 at 1:47 pm
It would be real nice if Humphries turns into another Wes Welker.
May 5th, 2016 at 1:52 pm
https://media.giphy.com/media/3P4rDxmNRo0Du/giphy.gif
May 5th, 2016 at 1:56 pm
Aguayo is on the team now… RIP Pablo
May 5th, 2016 at 2:06 pm
“Damn, if that all holds true, then the Bucs are headed to the Super Bowl in a hurry.”
Joe I have promised that Jameis will take this team to the Super Bowl in 2017. So we have 2 more seasons to go pumpkin.
May 5th, 2016 at 2:07 pm
This team IS going to BE an effing powerhouse. Soon.
Stay calm and stay tuned.
May 5th, 2016 at 2:09 pm
Pablo is a hoe magnet..:)
May 5th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
Harlem
Pablo is homage to an old poster named Pablo. It’s not directed at the entire Mexican population at least I’m pretty sure it’s not.
May 5th, 2016 at 2:32 pm
@ 87
You know what? Howard agrees completely. This is the best leadership the Bucs have had, maybe ever. Howard can read people like books and this is his take from the current regime.
The Glazers were never bad or stupid owners, they were absentee owners and they were cheap owners for awhile there. Make no mistake, they made ManU into perennial winners and champs, so the talent to create a winning team is not lacking, it just wasn’t being exercised on the Bucs.
It seems now we have a perfect win-strom brewing:
1.) The Glazers have stabilized ManU and can concentrate on the Bucs
2.) They’re seen patrolling the sidelines at practice (you always work harder when the boss is watching).
3.) The Bucs won the Winston lottery which is HUGE.
4.) The Glazers found a stellar 1st time GM from the Belacheat tree.
5.) They lucked into a stellar offensive coach in Koetter.
6.) They did the right thing and canned Coach Nepotism, despite the outrage of the PC crowd.
7.) They brought in Koetter successful partner in crime: Mike Smith.
Now the whole thing is like a dynamo, gaining more and more energy as time passes. Howard can’t wait for September.
May 5th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Koetter and Mike Smith have done some great work together but this will be their Pièce De Résistance.
May 5th, 2016 at 2:41 pm
@DB55
Howard calls BS: Pablo is real dude. He’s the landscaper for TampaBayBucFan and a part-time exotic dancer.
May 5th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
watch out for Peyton Barber, he’s only scratching the surface, he’s gonna bring a lot of passion to this training camp, he’s gonna be hungry for a job, plenty of running back UDFAs have been successful, really rooting for him to at least make the practice squad
May 5th, 2016 at 2:47 pm
Oh I know I’m right Howard. Made that prediction way before the Bucs even drafted him. Fans scoffed at me and rightfully so.
I believe in this kid’s drive and determination. Mix that with just a little talent and you got a pretty good QB.
Mix it with a lot of talent and you’re talking playoffs and SB. Soon.
Trying my hardest not homer-out on everyone here. I honestly believe he has what it takes to get it done by year 3.
I’ll settle for being wrong if we just make the playoffs though, but I don’t think that’s what Jameis wants.
Sooo we’re all going to bask in the glow that it will be in 2017.
Yes I’ve heard about all the other QB’s that took longer to make it to their first SB. So spare me the list. This kid is going to do it in 2017!
May 5th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
I remember that. You were raving about Winston back when Howard thought he might be Manziel v2. I guess Howard failed at reading Winston like a book before the draft. Howard will plead lack of information (never a huge FSU fan). Now Howard knows exactly what all the Noles were talking about before the 2015 draft,
May 5th, 2016 at 3:48 pm
Peyton Barber should have that 3rd RB position in the bag before game 4 during preseason.Matter of fact they should sit him for the final game.
May 5th, 2016 at 3:54 pm
A guy I’d keep an eye on is Taveon Henrey SS out of NW. I went to a North Western came last time I was in Chicago and that guy showed up. He has great ball skills, hard hitter and athletic but didn’t run the fastest 40 time. Pewter Plank did a in depth review on the guy that’s worth checking out.
May 5th, 2016 at 4:55 pm
@ Stanglassman, he had 16 tackles against Tennessee in the Outback Bowl.
May 5th, 2016 at 5:25 pm
LakelandBuc-
I really liked P. Barber’s for goal line runs. I am Mike James fan but I can see Barber making this team if he excels on goal line and special teams play. Fresh blood seems to be a theme this year.
Do you know anything about Russell Hansbrough Missouri Rb?
May 5th, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Howard Jones very quietly had 5 sacks last season in 12 games, no one ever talks about him. I’ll be very interested to see what they do with the guy. The downside is I looked him up to get some info and they list him at 238lbs? Huh? The guy I saw playing on the field looked much larger than that. Anyone have any info on that?
May 5th, 2016 at 7:39 pm
@ Stanglassman, Hansbrough had a good season in 2014, but last season he didn’t do much.
May 5th, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Rod,
Howard Jones looks bigger than 238. As a fellow graduate of Shepherd University, I can tell you that Jones was recruited as a WR, but upon his arrival he was converted to a DE.
I am hoping that Jones will continue to improve, especially with our new DL coach.
May 5th, 2016 at 10:23 pm
@Rod Munch
I’m really interested in that guy as well. He always seemed to be in a position to make a big play in each game he was in.
@joe
That article sung the praises of each team the author felt had a strong crop of UDFAs. It was almost comical because they made it seem like a high percentage of these guys are actually going to make their teams. You, and everyone else, should know by now that a very small amount of them even play for a few years in the league.
May 6th, 2016 at 10:12 am
Buccfan37 Says
“Is it a bad idea to expand the final roster by 6 or more players? More is merrier. The owners are loaded.”
I agree. A 60 man roster would be great. 55 active. If the NFL really wanted to cut down on injuries, they would do it, because rotating players in and out keeps them healthy longer.
Plus, I feel for these college kids who don’t get drafted and never make a team. We see, every year, undrafted free agents that make it…so there has to be a bunch that deserve to and don’t. Imagine…record setting talent that is never given the chance to prove themselves.
It’s a shame.
Another solution would be a minor league. THAT would be great, and if it were handled like MLB minor league, it would generate income too.