Hunting For Wide Receivers
August 30th, 2016
Time to find WR depth.
If the Bucs really washed their hands of the misplaced Calgary Stampeder, Donteea Dye, as he was placed on the waivers/injured list yesterday, per Jenna Laine of BSPN, that tells Joe there will be a new wide receiver coming in the next few days.
(No, stop with the Josh Gordon nonsense. First, he’s not available, and second, Joe doubts the Bucs want anything to do with this ticking time bomb who has to serve a four-game suspension to start the season. Third, if the Bucs did get him, who sits? Vincent Jackson, arguably the team’s best receiver, isn’t being benched with his salary and Mike Evans surely won’t sit.)
Joe isn’t saying Dye was that good. He wasn’t. He gets open but has a nasty habit of dropping footballs. Not kosher for a receiver.
But without Dye, who actually had one decent kick return this summer (31 yards), the Bucs have nothing but schlock on the roster after No. 3 receiver Rudy Humphries. Depth? We’re talking a black hole here.
Jonathan Krause? Outside of some splash plays early in training camp, he has fizzled. Bernard Reedy? Man, he’s green. Probably better suited as a practice squad guy. Evan Spencer? See: Krause, Jonathan.
Yeah, Russell Shepard has flashed in practice and in one preseason game. Joe guesses he’s OK. At worst, Shepard will make the team as a special teams ace.
(Joe has already written about Kenny Bell this morning.)
The wild card here is Louis Murphy’s status? Yeah, he’s cutting in practice, but is he game-ready? Big difference. There is no concrete information suggesting Murphy could suit up against the Dixie Chicks on Sept. 11, which means if he is on the PUP list to begin the season, then he misses the first six games (at least).
In the coming days (hours?) decent players will be panhandling for work, including some wide receivers. Joe would be shocked if Jason Licht doesn’t have his eye on a couple dancing now on other teams’ bubbles.
It is just hard for Joe to believe the Bucs have an offensive-minded coach and have so much invested in America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and your No. 4 receiver could be the likes of Kenny Bell or Bernard Reedy. Surely there has to be receivers out there after this week’s cutdowns that bring more to the table.
August 30th, 2016 at 8:02 am
Who could that be? This is the one mistake Licht made, we all knew the WR depth was iffy at best. Hope he pulls a rabbit out of his hat
August 30th, 2016 at 8:06 am
You seem to think a bunch of teams are 10-deep at the receiver position…not much quality out there after the cuts to 75. After the final cuts, I think there will be some guys to look at or maybe trade a late pick for a guy a team is looking to cut.
August 30th, 2016 at 8:09 am
We had 8 months and a draft to find some decent receivers..SMDH
August 30th, 2016 at 8:13 am
The Vikings have a nice group of WRs they all can’t make the team. Cordarrelle Patterson would be nice! was in the dog house with Zimmer last year not sure if he is out now but man that would be a hell of a pick up. Plenty of upside at WR and he returns kicks. 2 birds with 1 stone
August 30th, 2016 at 8:14 am
^^ VIA TRADE I doubt they would flat out cut him
August 30th, 2016 at 8:20 am
Rueben Randle. I think went for 200 yards against the Bucs when he played for the G-men
August 30th, 2016 at 8:22 am
Wouldn’t be shocked to see the Bucs trade Verner for a WR.
If that doesn’t happen if the Bucs claim another player I would think the chances are very high it’s at the WR position.
August 30th, 2016 at 8:26 am
Rrsrq
Yeah but that was against Lovie’s D.
August 30th, 2016 at 8:30 am
Dear
Seriously starts against our awful pad defense aren’t a selling point.
The thought of trading Verner for a WR could work. I’d say trade him to Indy (they are desperate for CB help) for Phillip Dorsett.
August 30th, 2016 at 8:33 am
Tomorrow’s headline: ‘Mike Glennon traded to ??? for a quality WR’.
August 30th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Destro lol def not happening bro. Not going to trade a guy who wont make the team for last years Round 1 draft pick.. pass the ganja!
August 30th, 2016 at 8:49 am
Need to hold our fire. There will be better WRs cut Saturday than we have for 4th and 5th WR. Waiting to see if Bengals try to sneak Cody Core on to their PS. Bucs scouted him before the draft.
August 30th, 2016 at 8:50 am
I would love for the Bucs to sign a guy like Ruben Randle. Dont forget this guy had 57 rec for 800 yards and 8 TD last year!! I think buc fans would be happy with anything g close to that from there 3rd or 4th receiver. As much as I love me sum Humphries he is upgradable and still is a little raw. With the great night he had on FRI he still dropped 2 wide open 1st downs. Why not bring in a guy like Randle and have him split time in the slot. This team is one injury away from being in deep Do Do.
August 30th, 2016 at 8:54 am
“DIRK, give Kenny 20 targets in the game” licht
The marketing dept has a 4 he special with afrothunder
“Ok, don’t stab me in the back” Dirk
Jason smirks
“I’m like venereal diesease, you can slow me down, but you can’t kill me” Kenny bell
August 30th, 2016 at 8:55 am
There will absolutely be some quality WRs after the final round of cuts but will we wait that long…..
August 30th, 2016 at 9:02 am
@dooshlarue,
I think that was against Schiano’s defense, back in the days of J-fro
August 30th, 2016 at 9:05 am
Verner has no trade value at his current salary and its already proven no team wants glennon or he would have been moved. Gambling on a career bum who is often injured like murphy is no different than the failed gamble that was the dye and bell expirement. You are hoping a bad player magically turns it ariund and yes murphy career stats and production prove he is a bad receiver that gives zero to no hope if vjax goes down.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:10 am
If the Rams part ways with spruce, rookie undrafted WR, I think the Bucs go sniffing. You heard it here first.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:11 am
This is why the kicker pick was so dumb. Roberto will make a few more kicks over the course of the year than Murray, but we be better off with Murray, pharoh cooper and braxton miller ( or Jon Bullard and Cooper). Just dumb! This is the Jameis franchise and he will really struggle If Vjax gets hurt and its Evans, Brate, Sheppard and humphries he’s throwing to
August 30th, 2016 at 9:17 am
We’re talking about a player we hope NEVER SEES THE FIELD! Yes I get it. If VJ goes down we’re in deep dooty. There are no receivers out there who can replace VJ and that’s the rub. If we think a new and improved #4 WR is going to make a giant contribution we’re in trouble.
People here are gripping and hurling insults at Licht over a freaking BACKUP position. OK…we’re deep at RB…DB..DL and OL…we’re thin at LB and obviously WR.
You can’t totally retool a team in a year or two. Especially if you’re now going to nitpick the depth. We have a very good team and as Koetter mentioned the other night we are finally much deeper.
Licht was not drafting Aguayo for the Atlanta or Carolina games…he drafted him to become an integral SCORING weapon for the next ten years. Licht is building a Super Bowl team not just a team for this season.
We’re talking about a player we hope NEVER SEES THE FIELD! Yes I get it. If VJ goes down we’re in deep dooty. There are no receivers out there who can replace VJ and that’s the rub. If we think a new and improved #4 WR is going to make a giant contribution we’re in trouble.
People here are gripping and hurling insults at Licht over a freaking BACKUP position. OK…we’re deep at RB…DB..DL and OL…we’re thin at LB and obviously WR.
You can’t totally retool a team in a year or two. Especially if you’re now going to nitpick the depth. We have a very good team and as Koetter mentioned the other night we are finally much deeper.
Licht was not drafting Aguayo for the Atlanta or Carolina games…he drafted him to become an integral SCORING weapon for the next ten years. Licht is building a Super Bowl team not just a team for this season.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:23 am
bucs brass are long term planners and they seem to like dye’s potential. i suspect he will remain somewhere in the bucs’ orbit and get another chance to make the team sometime in the future. look at the WRs BB has trotted out in NE or the nobodies Steve Keim has found to be deadly deep threats for carson palmer in AZ….it’s possible to develop productive WRs without the bigtime college pedigree, assuming you have the time and staff to coach them up
August 30th, 2016 at 9:27 am
There is no one else in the NFL who thinks VJax is better the Evans that is one helluva statement arguably or not what a joke SMDH! Can’t stop laughing at some of these articles
August 30th, 2016 at 9:28 am
@StPete- Well said, although it doesn’t hurt to have good back-ups.
Everybody wants to win NOW. You still have to build a winning team for the future.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:34 am
Give up a 4th rounder to Cleveland and gamble that Josh Gordon won’t use his final strike and get permanently suspended from the league.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:36 am
StPete
I get what your saying but by keeping and relying on aging and injury prone players the more likely your 4,5 and 6 receiver having to be more active thus productive. See last year. Vjax is not getting any younger and murphy has never been any good and is just a local feel good story who has never been durable or productive in the nfl. Wr depth is a real problem anyway you look at it.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:38 am
Amazing every thinks there are Pro Bowl WRs walking the street… Panthers have a 4th round pick for a 32yr old Punter. A PUNTER!! 1. If TB did that there would be a mutiny… Why do you have any inclination that Josh Gordon is available for a 4th Rounder!! ‘Tard….
August 30th, 2016 at 9:58 am
I’m not as worried about this wide receiver depth as everyone else. This is going to be a running team and Koetter also likes to use his Tight Ends. Chuck Sims can also play inside at receiver. So hopefully non of our starting receivers go down but keep Kenny Bell and Krause/Spencer for emergencies.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:59 am
@StPete,
I can guarantee you our 4th and 5th receivers will see the field quite a bit this year. Koetter is going to open up the offense, and we will probably see a bunch of 4 WR sets. Not to mention the fact that at some point in the year, one of our top 3 will go down. Also, they can’t play every snap. Look no further than last year to see how our lack of depth at WR ended up biting us in the arse.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:02 am
I have no problem waiting for the final cuts to pick up an upgrade WR. I have no problem going into Atlanta with Evans, Jackson, Humphries, and shepherd plus ASJ and Brate. I do have a problem with cutting or trading Verner. We need 6 CB’s to to rotate against NFC South WR’s.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:11 am
I also like the idea of picking up Randle. It can’t hurt and he won’t cost a trade. Btw, just me but I think Gordon will be alright. Some men mature late and need to be on their last leg and hitting bottom to see their errors and change. I wouldn’t mind seeing a combination of a trade of someone and next years 3rd. I think it would be worth it. We’ve taken chances before.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:41 am
This has Roddy White written all over it.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:47 am
Madman,
Re Josh Gordon. Some addictions can’t be cured. See Anthony Weiner. Lol.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:49 am
We needed another good young receiver picked up in the draft to go with Evans. But we do have a kicker….some of you love the old days of defense , defense, get three points. With Winston, we should build an offense like Indy had with Manning and Wayne/ Harrison. You don’t watch much football if you don’t think we often go three or sometimes four wide.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:58 am
People, please, Gordon will NOT be traded.
Leave that pipe dream for your Madden franchise.
August 30th, 2016 at 11:18 am
NJBucsFan Says:
August 30th, 2016 at 10:41 am
This has Roddy White written all over it.
—————–
It could very well be..
August 30th, 2016 at 12:24 pm
WR/KR/PR – Brandon Tate was just released – would be a nice pick up at this point.
Decent 3rd or 4th receiver – solid special teams guy.
August 30th, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Jacoby jonnes
August 30th, 2016 at 12:36 pm
Brandon Tate
Yds/Kick Return – Top Ten Finishes
• 2010 NFL 25.8 (6th)
• 2013 NFL 26.1 (9th)
*Career Average: 24.6
Punt Return Yards – Top Ten Finishes
• 2011 NFL 543 (2)
• 2013 NFL 336 (7)
*Career: 1415
August 30th, 2016 at 12:52 pm
Kenny Bell will return kicks to start the season.
Mark my words.
And for those that point to his first kick return screw up, if you think that is reason to give up on him, then that means you should be willing to give up on Winston, who threw a pick on his first play…when it counted.
August 30th, 2016 at 12:54 pm
Luv, kindly notice the years those stats are for.
Brandon Tate is a waste.
August 30th, 2016 at 12:58 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai,
You can’t compare Kenny Bell to Jameis Winston. One was a #1 overall pick with an epic tank job just to get him. The other was a 3rd day pick that NO ONE on this site had ever heard of. When you are a third day guy, you aren’t guaranteed a roster spot. You get limited reps. When you get those reps, you have to take advantage of them. He’s had one career kickoff return. He ran right into a guy and fumbled on a hit that was below average for the NFL. You really think Koetter is going to trot him out there to return kicks? You’ve seriously lost your mind. Not to mention he’s had 4 preseason games to do something, and he’s got one catch for 9 yards. Of course according to some he should get credit for running good routes, being fast, getting open, having cool hair, and “almost” making a TD catch.
August 30th, 2016 at 1:07 pm
Randle didn’t put up 200 yards on the Bucs defense, That was Hakeem Nicks, he did it against Aqib Talib , man on man. Back when Greg Schiano was calling the defense, and Eli Manning threw for 500 plus, most in the 2nd half.
August 30th, 2016 at 1:17 pm
@Hawaiian- Bell caught a ball during a game?!!!! When? How did his hair look?! I must’ve blinked!!!
August 30th, 2016 at 1:28 pm
Afro Thunder morphed into the baffling blunder.
August 30th, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Everybody saw what happened when VJAX got injured last year. The offense ground to a screeching halt. Evans is a solid #2 with potential to be a #1 sooner than later if he’s cured the dropsies. Humphries is has potential to be a solid slot receiver, but probably doesn’t have the goods to play out wide.
Murphy, Sheppard, and Bell out wide doesn’t scare anyone. Not having quality depth at WR is going to be a real problem for the 2016 Bucs. Depending on VJAX and Evans, who both have recent injury histories, to be available and healthy for 16 games is reckless.
Teams across the league have loaded up on quality WRs, which makes the pickings even slimmer for the Bucs this time of year. Man, it sure would be nice to have Braxton Miller and Connor Barth on the roster instead of Roberto Aguayo and this slate of bums.
August 30th, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Bonzai you serious? Kenny Bell returning kicks? Nah, the only returns Kenny making this year is his tax return…and a return for a 2nd interview to get a job elsewhere.
August 30th, 2016 at 3:06 pm
Kenny Bell Mob more delusional than mg8 mob
August 30th, 2016 at 3:18 pm
What’s the deal with Rueben Randle from the Eagles? He had s couple decent years, is only 25 and was cut. Doesn’t add up. Something must be going on.
August 30th, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Dave..Randle has some locker room issues..not to mention that he’s lazy and thinks he shouldn’t have to practice hard..
On another note, looks like Teddy Bridgewater might be out for the season..
August 30th, 2016 at 5:23 pm
MG8 for Cordaral Patterson from the viking.
August 30th, 2016 at 6:12 pm
James jones and Brandon Tate are out there now..
August 30th, 2016 at 8:00 pm
Let’s see what Reedy does vs Redskins. Had a great 43 yard punt return in traffic vs Cleveland and not so bad on KO returns when Dye went down.
August 30th, 2016 at 8:56 pm
@LocalYokel
LokelYokel some things cant be cured, especially true when sexually driven, but Gordon’s was weed.
August 30th, 2016 at 9:38 pm
America’s Commenter, I approve your message
August 31st, 2016 at 1:42 am
6’5 220lb Joe Hill could come in and contribute and be an upgrade over what the bucs have now after Evans & Jackson… AFL Offensive Player of the Year (2016)
Career Arena statistics
Receptions: 436
Receiving yards: 5,510
Touchdowns: 136
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_STqawLFFcg