Top 10 X-Factors For 2016 – No. 8
July 9th, 2016
No. 2? Or a whole lot better?
The Bucs have a pile of key question marks entering the 2016 season. Most teams do.
For this countdown series, Joe looks at this year’s top X-factors, guys with question marks who could be great difference-makers, positive or negative, based on changes in their performances.
Charles Sims – No. 8
Few realize 51 catches by Charles Sims last season were the most by a Bucs running back since Michael Pittman in 2003.
Throw in four touchdown catches by Sims, complemented by 107 rushes for a whopping 529 yards, and Sims is one hell of an X-factor few people talk about.
Back at the NFL Owners Meetings in March, Dirk Koetter told Joe about Sims getting more touches. But the most powerful commentary on that front came from running backs coach Tim Spencer in May.
Spencer went deep on how and why Sims should be more involved in the passing game — and in more diverse ways.
“We tried to move him outside an awful lot and play some receiver things. He can catch the ball, but in terms of receiver-wise didn’t quite have all those adjustments together,” Spencer said of Sims. “But I think that’s what you saw later in [2015]. And hopefully, we’ve been working on that a lot this year, so I think you should see some improvement this year from him. Route running, reading on the run. …He can run all the receiver routes, really.”
Exciting stuff, but was last year a career year from Sims? He may just be a nice No. 2 back, not a guy at the 1a level he put out last year. Sims also could go the other way, challenging Doug Martin for snaps.
J.R. Sweezy – No. 9
Gerald McCoy — No. 10
July 9th, 2016 at 9:14 am
I like Sims. Given the weak / unproven WR group on roster he will be counted on to pick up some slack….
Joe is Sims one of guys that has been working extra with jameis or is that primarily only WR
July 9th, 2016 at 9:22 am
I love me sum Chuck, I too think he needs more carry this season, if you go check his stats he had the best YPT among any back last year with around 7yrds per touch. and not only should he get more carrys, he should get more passes thrown his way as well. One of my fav plays is the screen pass where it was highly successful for us last year. I don’t think we ran it enough really. Another reason to get him the ball more is keeping Dougy Fresh and not wearing him out cause we all seen what a healthy Dougy can do to this league.
D.Martin YPC: 4.9
C.Sims YPC: 4.9
(Last year)
July 9th, 2016 at 9:29 am
U can make a argument for Kenny Bell being on that list because of his deep threat potential but with Joe’s strange dislike of afro thunder there’s no way he puts him on there. Just becssue he got injured last year doesn’t mean he can’t come back and contribute this year, “In wich I’m confident he will,” and the KB mob will be rubbing it in Joe’s face when he’s catching bombs from #3 all season.
July 9th, 2016 at 9:33 am
I liked Sims from the draft onset also. Steady improvement from year one to year two. He was getting some fan grief after the first year, that flipped after last year. This year I expect a vital part of the Bucs offense to pick up where he left off and then some. Go Sims!
July 9th, 2016 at 9:34 am
DemBoyzFromDaBay727
Not speaking for joe but I’ve read every article posted on this site for a few years now and never read joe ripping on Bell. Bell has done NOTHING in the NFL. Not even a single preseason catch. I’d like to see Bell succeed but he must earn and prove he can be a consistent reliable nfl receiver which he has yet to do… I’m very confused how so many of you are so convinced Bell is the answer. Again I’m a Kenny bell fan but I also realize he’s done nothing. That’s not hate that is reality
July 9th, 2016 at 10:02 am
I like Bells’ potential, but I don’t see how anyone can say for sure that he’ll be an important contributor. Let’s remember that he wasn’t a 1st or 2nd round pick. I’d be as happy as anyone if he ends up being the deep threat we’ve needed, we just can’t expect it. That’s like saying that Bond is expected to have an impact this season.
July 9th, 2016 at 10:41 am
He’s the next Lennie Moore baby!
July 9th, 2016 at 10:56 am
Sims is a great receiver. He should get more opportunities, he creates match up problems for linebackers. I love him in the slot.
Did you guys catch Dan Vitale’s Twitter post yesterday? dude looks like a member of “The Expendables 4”. If him and Rhonda Rousey had a kid it would be Conan the Barbarian. He looks like the “thing” from fantastic four.
July 9th, 2016 at 11:36 am
Sims probably has the best natural hands and catching RB in the NFL.
He is the only playmaker we have…problem is he plays half the game
* playmaker- he can receive a High probable catch (slant/LOS screen) and run after the catch (YAC)
http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/receiving/sort/receivingYardsAfterCatch
*Mike Evans was 92nd rank receiver with yards after catch. doesnt have the skillset
**We need more playmakers who can run after catch in our high probability short passing attack..to open up the downfield passing/jameis is blitzed
Humphries, Dye and Bell are crap…bring in angry Bolden for our short attack to compliment Sims when he is out of the game
July 9th, 2016 at 11:37 am
His first year was a throw-away but I was impressed last year. He doesn’t make something from nothing like Doug, but he’s faster in open field.
July 9th, 2016 at 11:52 am
forgot my tag
“I wanted to be be drafted by the Tampa Bay Bucs and play in front of poster Kobe Faker” Sterling Shepard
July 9th, 2016 at 11:55 am
St Pete, you’re really old to mention Lennie Moore. I’m afraid he’ll never be anywhere close to that career.
July 9th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
I thinks the KB mob is encouraged by Chuck Sims, why because even though Sims had put something on tape and Bell has not, you saw a glimpse of Sims ability on the field (I refer to Luke Kueckly, still looking for him), but Joe was ready to write him off as a non-contributor, we give KB a red shirt year to especially you can se the talent is there even in underwear football and his toughness and speed at Nebraska.
July 9th, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Tmax,
You say weak write corps, did you forget we have Louis Murphy?? Or did you mean weak outside of our Big 3.
July 9th, 2016 at 1:32 pm
*wr
July 9th, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Many players struggle and or don’t play their rookie year but still become productive and important members of quality football teams. Joe has yet to figure that out as he thinks if you are not an all pro in year one you should be given up on competely. And tmax isn’t a bit of a contradiction for us not to call Joe a kenny bell hater when he makes the same points many posters make about McCoy and they are called haters by Joe?
July 9th, 2016 at 1:49 pm
Buc89
Louis Murphy is a fragile bum who has never done a damn thing in the nfl… look up his stats… he’s always hurt. He is a nunber 5 wr at best. He is a one trick pony who does not play special teams. If louis Murphy is your number 3 receiver your writing corps is in deep crap….
I’m good with developing Humphries and Bell but wasting valuable practice time and reps on Murphy and Dye is a complete waste of time. Both boldin and Roddy whites worst years are better than what Murphy could produce. Plus they are reliable which Murphy has proven throughout his career he’s fragile. The CBA limits practice time and reps so severely you can’t take chances on washed up has beens that never were like Murphy. Let Humphries and Bell develop and bring in a bridge guy so if vjax goes down the offense does not suffer so dramatically like last year. It’s really common sense
July 9th, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Ndog
I don’t see joe wanting bell to prove himself or earn it as being hate. Some of the same posters who are given bell a free pass were the same ones bitching about starting jobs being gifted. I like bell hope he does well but it’s not hate pointing out the fact he’s done nothing it’s reality. Nebraska is better known for the whis bone than they are for wr .. I hope bell blows up but he has to earn it
July 9th, 2016 at 2:14 pm
We agree just like I don’t see us fans wanting McCoy to actually show up when it matters as hate, but it is called that anyways.
July 9th, 2016 at 2:17 pm
Buc89
There is not a gm or team in the league who thinks Murphy is a no 3 receiver. He will not even be claimed by another team when he’s released by bucs. Don’t forget Murphy was on the couch to start 2 seasons and only the bucs came calling. He’s just simply not good
July 9th, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Ndog
The word hate or term hater has lost all meaning in my opinion. Just like Facebook as rendered the word friend meaningless the over sensitive society labels everything hate. Used to be you could have a civilized debate and agree to disagree now if you don’t agree with everything and anything you are a hater. Silly actually
July 9th, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Sims earned himself more usage……not because he was reliable in his 51 catches but because of what he did with them(YAC as somebody already mentioned).
I remember him going off in one win last year and leasing our offensive onslaught. Hoping to see him do that multiple games this year!!!!
July 9th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
I think a lot of people forget that Sims is better in pass pro and blitz pickup!!! Look for this to be a more important factor as the offense morphs from the run heavy to the 4 vert offense!!!
Go Bucs!!!!
July 9th, 2016 at 3:00 pm
I can only imagine Sims being more involved this year based on his versatility and pass catching ability.
I think the only way he ends up less productive this year is if someone else steps up (Brate? Vitale? ASJ?) and becomes a key contributor, reducing the touches going Sims’ way.
July 9th, 2016 at 3:01 pm
I like the way you’re thinking Realist. I hope we use the run to set up the pass more than relying on the run to move the offense. Using play action and less carries for Doug will make our offense more potent. I like using play action with Simms and letting him flare out wide, even if we don’t throw it to him.
July 9th, 2016 at 3:08 pm
@BuccaneEric75
It should flow that way, The heavy run (even while way down) was to protect JW3 and the Defense, ( and not necessarily in that order from the HC). If you look at 2015 and compare to to the past 5-6 years, there were 4 less drives per game. They were basically killing the clock and keeping yards on defense down. So if the average goes back to normal JW3 and the offense should not only get 2 more drives per game. But will not be scared to make plays and score more!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!
July 9th, 2016 at 3:28 pm
Realist, I think now that everyone on the team knows that Winston is “the man” from the start, we will be in a better place once the season starts. I’m still thinking 6-10 with our “hard schedule” (I know it’s way too early to tell). Winstons’ press conference at the end of the season said it all: if you’re on the Bucs, you’re here to win! I hope he has that “Michael Jordan” attitude throughout his career. You’re either in or out!! No time for losers!
July 9th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Say hello to our slot receiver!!
July 9th, 2016 at 4:08 pm
Sims came in as a rookie 2 or 3 years older than the average 1st year player, that’s a positive also.
July 9th, 2016 at 5:12 pm
2 more months! I can’t wait!
July 9th, 2016 at 6:01 pm
St Pete, you’re really old to mention Lennie Moore. I’m afraid he’ll never be anywhere close to that career.
Bucaneeric you’re right on the first part for sure. I actually watched him play on the tube…in freaking black and white with rabbit ears. Dammnnn. I am old!!!
BTW I suspect there are some young enough here to not know what “rabbit ears” are. LMAO
As far as Sims having a career like Moore…I agree that’s a very high bar to set…kind of like comparing #3 to Unitas. But one of the reasons Moore was so successful was Unitas….#3 will be Sim’s Unitas. Yeah I’m the optimist!
July 9th, 2016 at 7:42 pm
Don’t be surprised if Murphy is put on the PUP list…
July 9th, 2016 at 8:08 pm
St Pete, Lol! I’m old enough to have used rabbit ears but I had to google Lennie! Lol!
July 10th, 2016 at 5:59 am
Ahhhh, “rabbit ears” ; those were the days. I remember making aluminum, foil flags to wrap around them in an attempt to improve the reception. As long as I could convince my wife to stand there with her arms stretched out as a giant antenna it wasn’t too bad. Turn a little to the right Honey.
July 10th, 2016 at 7:37 am
@K Fakir
mike evans was the 11 th ranked receiver with 1200 yards recieving and a 16.3 yard per catch average.He is a playmaker but his role is different than Charles Sims who I agree is a special player who should be used more.Now when the Evans,Winston chemistry improves you should also see more YAC yards.
July 10th, 2016 at 7:51 am
Koetter offense are known for their vertical game.Koetter likes chunk plays.
If you want a high probability passing game look at New England,not Tampa bay.The only similarity to the patriots may be the way this team is being built.
July 10th, 2016 at 9:29 am
Tmax
The Only thing I’m saying is its unfair to write this guy off because he got injured during preseason. There for I look at him as a rookie. We have hope for guys like Vitale right?? Why can’t we be optimistic about Bell?? All I said is he can become a X factor if he does turn out to be that deep threat we lack. Guess why the bucs haven’t gone out and signed a deep threat. There counting on Bell to be that guy. So we’re not the only ones expecting him to contribute. The coaching staff is so that should say something. The guy has potential to be a difference maker on this offense, that’s why fans are optimistic about him. Is that not fair to say??
July 10th, 2016 at 10:17 am
Every Bucs fan wants Kenny Bell to be a sensation for the Bucs, even though right now nobody knows the chance that happens. At least the fro can cushion his head a bit from jarring tackles, jk. I wonder if it is legal to tackle a player by his hair, not necessarily Bell unless he had his hair straightened, but others with flowing locks seen in the NFL. That could be a horse collar penalty, idk.
July 10th, 2016 at 11:50 am
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