Speed Pass
March 14th, 2017
Jason Licht’s blueprint doesn’t include the best kick returner in football.
Yes, the Buccaneers had the worst kick return game in the history of the NFL last season.
So one might think Tampa Bay would have pounced on the best available returner in free agency.
Nope, the Bucs are sticking to a plan that does not include ex-Vikings return man Cordarrelle Patterson, who signed a deal with the Raiders last night. It’s effectively a one-year contract, per ESPN.
(If you missed the gory data on the Bucs’ return unit, all the proof is right here courtesy of Tampa Bay Times beat scribe Thomas Bassinger.)
Patterson, 25, has ok receiving talent (52 catches for 453 yards last year) but he is electric in the return game. He averaged more than 31 yards per return in 2015 and 2016. The Bucs averaged 14.6 yards last season — and they have depth concerns at receiver.
Joe gets that general manager Jason Licht has another plan for kick returner, but Patterson could have been quite a quick fix. And Joe suspects his contract numbers, when they leak, will be quite reasonable.
Amateur draft gurus, start digging for receivers who can be dangerous kick returners. The Bucs are probably going to draft one.
March 14th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Why do we need a returner? Huff has shown he can easily get it to the 5.
March 14th, 2017 at 8:44 am
^^^ This guy right here!!!! *Gruden voice*
March 14th, 2017 at 8:45 am
Lame excuse! Raised my season ticket price 2 years in a row, got $40 million to spend, have a need for kick returner/WR and don’t sign this 25 year old probowl kick returner? Why? What happened to all this talk about getting faster. Tired of seeing other teams get better in free agency and we think we’re ok by getting an aging WR and a rotational DT. Not impressed.
March 14th, 2017 at 8:53 am
Buc 4ever we do not have $40 million, its more like $33. Also, Cordarrelle has already stated he must be promised considerable offensive playing time. Vikings tried all they could and failed to get him involved, do you really think (as much as everyone seems to love Hump) they would promise Cordarrelle the #2 or #3 receiver spot? Now I’m not saying he’s worse than Hump is, but Bucs brass loves Mr. Hump.
March 14th, 2017 at 8:54 am
He is worse than Hump. I will say that for you OhioBuc
March 14th, 2017 at 8:54 am
Buc 4ever
What the heck are you talking about? You’re not impressed that we picked up arguably the best wr in free agency who led the league in yards per reception two of the last three seasons and was the second fastest in the league last year? You’re not impressed we stole Washington’s best d linemen who is going to change the game for Gerald McCoy and arguably the best DT that McCoy has ever played with? Not to mention he was rated as the best day one signing in the NFL by PFF. All because we didn’t sign Cordarelle Patterson?
SMH what is with our fan base? We elevated our offense to potentially top 10 overnight with one of the best duos in our team’s history and our d line to one of the most talented and deep in the league and this guy is whining about a kick returner. Chill out dude, I’m sure they’ve got a plan for it.
I gotta get away from JBF for the day after that guy’s comments.
March 14th, 2017 at 8:55 am
Agreed Buc forever. Now would be a good time to pounce on the middling talent looking for a home. Claiborne, Carr, Lacy, Charles, Mario William (as a player/coach for Spence) and maybe Tj McDonald. All of those guys could be had for a song at this point. Go ahead Jason, grab 2 more depth players and then crush the draft. (For the record…how the heck did we not have 8million for Pryor??!?! Mc’scuse me?)
March 14th, 2017 at 8:55 am
And imo, a punt returner is a lot more important than a kickoff returner since a majority of kickoffs are touchbacks anyway. Patterson didn’t return punts in Minnesota.
March 14th, 2017 at 9:04 am
Umm…..because pryor has character flaws, could potentially be a short term fix, and we got a much better player in djax, that’s why.
March 14th, 2017 at 9:08 am
Season ticket holder since 1999. I love Hump, but he play a different WR position than Patterson and we need more WR depth. This guy has size and speed. Why are the Falcons still signing WRS even though they have Jolio, Sanu, Gabriel and more. I don’t want Jameis to go through what happened last year. If VJAX and Brate go down what do we have, only Evans. Again, I love Hump but he is no #2 or #3, he is a slot receiver that benefit from having 2 or 3 top receivers. All I’m saying is let’s get some players. Look at New England, they are the champs, and they are winning free agency. They got Cooks, Gilmore, Ealy and will retain Hightower. The best getting better. I want to compete with the best teams!
March 14th, 2017 at 9:12 am
And listen to other coaches on how they approach Gerald Mccoy…Tire him out. PicK up good players for depth so they can rotate and we be ok if someone get injured, which Mccoy get injured every year.
March 14th, 2017 at 9:20 am
Umm that’s exactly what we did by signing Baker.. huh?
You’re trying to compete with the best teams, well signing Djax made us more of a contender than Patterson would have. We can’t sign them all. Not sure why you went on and on about Hump. You’re right, he’s a slot receiver. We’re not done adding pieces yet.
I give our offseason moves an A so far. As do most analysts that I’ve seen. I don’t think you realize how much of a game changer Djax is. He is perfect in our system. PERFECT. I’ve been seeing negative comments about this signing everywhere and I just have to say, THOSE PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE HECK THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. It’s going to be a very special year.
March 14th, 2017 at 9:27 am
Been a big DJAX fan since McNabb was throwing hI’m TDS in Phili. Just saying that there were players out there we could have had that could have made our team better. Just because we signed VJAX doesn’t mean we can’t sign other WRS do it? It’s all about making the team better.
March 14th, 2017 at 9:34 am
Yep and his name his Christian McCaffrey. Book it.
March 14th, 2017 at 9:42 am
We have this thing called a draft where teams can pick players to address needs. You should check it out sometime.
March 14th, 2017 at 9:45 am
Vjax? What?
Umm of course we can but how many receivers do you expect us to sign? lol
We still have the draft. We addressed, DE, DT, RB, WR, and S. However, you said you weren’t impressed by signing an elite a class talent. Like I said, we’re not done yet. Most of the other receivers were scooped up by other teams and there isn’t a ton of quality left on the market.
New England is an extreme outlier in which most players want to play for. We’re not there yet in fact, we’ve been the opposite for some time.
I cannot see anything but positivity this offseason yet you think there needs to be more!?!? Your standards are way too high. This isn’t madden.
March 14th, 2017 at 9:46 am
Love the DJax signing but there remain real holes in the FA game of this GM.
March 14th, 2017 at 9:48 am
Such as?
March 14th, 2017 at 9:50 am
Mr. Light has NOT been very aggressive as i had hoped. One big name and still $$ to burn but tkt prices went up..and bucs still need a kicker!
March 14th, 2017 at 9:54 am
There are so many teams that kick deep now that makes the kick returner a lot more insignificant than they used to be. We just need someone who won’t fumble the ball and who is smarter than Incompetent Huff and won’t run out and grab it at the five and prevent it from running into the end zone. I am fine with starting on the 25 yard line and see that better than having a slightly built speed burner who can cough up the ball or get knocked out with an injury for the rest of the year! We used to have years ago a well built burner who ran it back for touchdowns twice but of course one of our subpar coaches cut him. We let the Saints land one of those from the Panthers in Ted Ginn this year. Hope Licht has a run back jem he will draft the third day to get us such a player too!
March 14th, 2017 at 10:06 am
Some of the people on this site never cease to amaze me. Licht is being prudent with the cap space as he should be. We have a core of young talented players he may want to resign in the very near future. He will need space to make that happen.
In addition, there is a secondary FA period that occurs after the draft and during training camp. You could argue that period is more important than now and having money free to address needs then is essential. So, for you clowns that wish he had been more aggressive now (with other people’s money), please realize there is a plan here for once and that we may be looking at a long term approach for success instead of a quick fix.
March 14th, 2017 at 10:08 am
Supersam
Ive been saying McCaffrey is probably the target too. You never know whos gona be there at 19 tho. He could be gone too. Id love to have him on the team, guy can flat out play. Hope the aints dont nab him. Whoever the pick is lets go bucs
March 14th, 2017 at 10:13 am
the way I see it… We shouldnt be returning many kicks this year…
Who really cares about having a returner?
Answer: Dirk Koetter. https://www.joebucsfan.com/2017/01/koetter-speed-need-extends-returner/ –Joe
March 14th, 2017 at 10:30 am
Exactly JabooBuc
Also, you have to consider resigning our own. That is extremely important. It’s essentially adding to the roster because you can never guarantee retaining a player. Quiz, Gholston, Conte on top of Wilcox, Jackson, and Baker. We have made solid moves.
I have 0 respect for anyone that is not satisfied with what we have done.
March 14th, 2017 at 10:35 am
DOPE!!!! lol <–(Homer Simpson) Disregard my last post… Ha
Though my first point remains intact!!!
March 14th, 2017 at 10:39 am
Eric and Jaboo – you nailed it. Great comments straight to the point.
March 14th, 2017 at 10:49 am
@jabooBuc— you are spot on. The plan is working out. Licht is right on track.
And some people here need to pick up some weights, run, walk or just pick up a hobby release your frustrations on another avenue.
We are having one of the best off season in Bucs history. Only 2002 was a better one.
We might have this season our offense and defense in the top 10 at the same time.
Great times will continue this whole year! Go Bucs!!!
March 14th, 2017 at 10:50 am
I see no point in whining over a player that already signed elsewhere, one that we were never in the running for.
March 14th, 2017 at 10:59 am
Don’t need someone who can only return kicks considering how few come out of the endzone we can find a rookie or perhaps McCaffery will be the pick
March 14th, 2017 at 11:19 am
Licht already has his plans set at WR and it does not include a guy like Patterson. If the only argument for him is he returns kickoffs – then that’s a weak reason to sign a guy. Kickoffs are being fazed out of the game – you don’t use a roster spot on a returner unless he excels at punt return as well.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see us take McCaffrey which not only would give us a dynamic and versitile playmaker in the backfield – it would also solve our long standing problem at returner as well (for both punts and kickoffs).
March 14th, 2017 at 11:22 am
Joe – your moderation filters are ridiculous – what in the world would have possibly triggered an “awaiting moderation” status in that last post?
Fix that chit dudes.
March 14th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
McCaffery fits this team like no other player in this draft! …returner, runner, receiver…it’s all there…hands like his daddy!
March 14th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
Some of these posts are laughable. I can envision these guys on their laptop or PC while simultaneously playing Madden in their mom’s basement eating Hot Pockets!
We’ve NEVER had a legit returner, EVER. Karl “The Truth” Williams was the closest to a “return man” that we’ve ever had. We won a Super Bowl, can you give me the name of our return guy that year?
A return game is nice to have, no question. Pining over not signing a “legitimate return guy” though, is just silly.
March 14th, 2017 at 12:41 pm
..but the return game is becoming a lost art. Kickoffs are almost non existent and the punters do such a good job now it’s usually a fair catch…a return is rarely factored into the outcome of a game now…
March 14th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
2 TDs was the tops for TD from either a punt or kickoff return last year….I agree not worth the cap space on Patterson. He is a bit of diva too, which we dont need.
March 14th, 2017 at 1:00 pm
Eric , it’s the simple math that all the GM’s talk about % of scoring when given an 80 yard field vs a 90 yard field well in this case an 86 yard field vs a 69 yard field !!! Btw the offense with the 69 yard field will always keep their defense off the the field longer also , their offense will always produce a higher time of possession on Avg !!!! This is the REAL SHT that WINS football games !!! Ask any Gm league wide what their organization would pay to have a garanteed 10 yard better starting field position on kicks than the previous year and they would tell you 10 mil all day long but yet they don’t do it or don’t think CP is a guarantee ( well he’s as close as you can get this year) . This really is where the Bucs are but they are being a lil to cute for their own good and that is a proven fact via last years numbers and trust me Licht isn’t the only one it is absolutely mind boggling how these GMS are considered the best and the Raiders are the only ones willing to improve their kick offs for around three Mil. The last part of this league wide debacle is that the other readily talked about deal is we have to get better at flipping the field , we have to maintain on avg better field position than our opponent ; well well the Raiders just took the clearest and easiest path to doing that while the rest of the dip shts sit around and contradict themselves all day , every day !!! How many teams have a better 5 th rec than CP ? How many teams have a better plan ? How many teams have a higher percentage plan? And last but not least let’s not forget that whatever he gets paid every team has to pay that position something be it as a third rec, a fifth rec or a special teams ace so please subtract that salary from what Cordarrelle Patterson just got !!! For shts and giggles how many head coaches and gm s would say this just made the Raiders slightly better . My number is over 30 and the other two are with terrible clubs. Owners Take Note and Demand from each of your coaches and GMs what their plan is to improve their return game and why Patterson wasn’t worth signing !!! 80 percent plus have no answer other than we have a plan and we are going to address it in the draft. Well every team in the NFL has been doing that for the last 5 years and Guess What , Patterson is the best of the bunch !!! As good as they are , let this be a true look into how bad they can be !!! This can truly be the difference in an 8 win season and an 11 win season. Cud o’s to the Raiders for doing what they can to win , certainly not a true guarantee but it all adds up !!! Guess what , the Raiders don’t have to draft rec depth or a returner if they choose not !!!! Licht what is your plan because last years was the worst in the NFL and , NO ,Jackson isn’t the plan !!!
March 14th, 2017 at 1:20 pm
Being frustrated is a part of being a Bucs fan. I think Licht has someone in the draft that will address this need. I agree starting field position can be important but lets remind ourselves that the NE Patriots ranked 27th of 32 last year in average yard per return. They did pretty well without it.
http://www.footballdb.com/stats/teamstat.html?group=O&cat=KR&yr=2016&lg=NFL&sort=kravg
March 14th, 2017 at 1:23 pm
Cpl things
First CP going to Oakland with guaranteed playing time? Cooper crabtree are the best wr duo in the entire league. Not even close
Secondly, with the new kickoff rule teams are kicking it out of the end zone a lot more Or teams are taking a knee more to guarante starting at the 25
March 14th, 2017 at 1:40 pm
30 other teams didn’t see fit to sign him. There wasn’t exactly a scramble to sign him. Minnesota didn’t bother. That says something.
March 14th, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Issic Haggins- paragraphs are our friends. Won’t even consider what you had to say based on that train wreck.
March 14th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
McCaffrey would solve this issue and many others
March 14th, 2017 at 2:28 pm
Issic..you seem to make good points..but it’s hard to read the wall of words..paragraphs so everyone can read your good posts..
March 14th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
For the “we need to sign every free agent available” crowd,
save yourself from the frustration of the Bucs and root for the Jags. Clearly, the Jags are doing exactly what you want.
Their your dream team, so go ahead and watch your GM fantasies come to life right before your very eyes.
Once the season ends will see how well your suggestions work out. Hopefully, the predictable smack down will silence your
Candy azzez.
March 14th, 2017 at 3:01 pm
I am hoping that Koetter gives VH3 a shot
March 14th, 2017 at 3:03 pm
I’m not sure why you addressed me in that long, long rant of jumbled words LOL. You’re trying to convince me that CP was a great addition to the Raiders which is EXTREMELY irrelevant to my point. Not sure why you went on a tangent about field position and CP’s worth when I was ONLY commenting about how great our offseason moves were because that other dude wasn’t impressed, which is asinine.
I agree we need a return man. That’s common sense LOL. He would have been awesome but who’s to say we didn’t try and he preferred the Raiders? Fact is that was only a piece of the puzzle and it’s certainly not as serious as you made it out to be. We can’t correct everything in a week dude.
All that I’m saying is we have done very well the past week and it is going to greatly effect or success this year. We will be fine without CP.
Oh and btw, most gm’s disagreed with your overvalue of the return man position thus the lack of pursuance of his services. Not sure if you think you know more than them or what…. Let me also note I don’t disagree with your analysis of the position and therefore I’m confused as to where thought I was which necessitated your rant.
March 14th, 2017 at 3:33 pm
Eric I think the most frustrating aspect of this free agency is not pertaining to whether or not the bucs accomplished anything but rather did they accomplish enough… enough to not just be ok but rather win a super bowl. Do you realize that a receiving core that has only one elite receiver needs more than one addition to the roster. The Bucs are one injury away from the season being thrown away at receiver. The possibility of Vjax coming back as well as Evans development could help in the growth of CP. CP would’ve been a great 4-5th WR that had a high ceiling as well as provided skills to our return game. Now we are forced to pick up a WR in the first 3 rounds where we also have at least 3 other needs. TE Safety and RB
March 14th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
I think the run sentences are worse than the paragraphs 🙂
Paragraphs or not ,the Bucs have not had an exciting return man for a while.
Btw : it’s been nothing short of a Train Wreck !!! Where in the heck is Karl ( the truth ) Williams ? We need him back lol ???
Go Bucs !!
March 14th, 2017 at 4:51 pm
I would like to apply for the Kick Returner job that we need apparently. I’ll catch a kickoff and take a knee for 100k, no need to spend millions.
March 14th, 2017 at 8:14 pm
Derek Carr is being set up to put up MONSTER numbers as the Raiders are assembling Falcon-esque offensive weapons. Amari, Crabtree, now Cordarelle … watch them draft Christian Mac, Kamara or Mixon … however, just look at Carr’s QBR … Jameis’ roookie year was far better than Carr’s first or even his second year … he really isn’t that good, just like Matt Ryan, but when you give an above average QB all-world offensive weapons, guess what happens? They put up all-world offensive stats.
Jameis is flat out “better” than Ryan and Carr and the Bucs brass needs to give the kid some weapons … and no, DJax is not enough!
March 14th, 2017 at 9:10 pm
DoNuts great point but they also have A QB that never gets hit and a whole roster playing to their absolute potential !!
Btw everyone saw how good Brady was when pressured and hit like a normal QB in that first half.
March 14th, 2017 at 9:40 pm
I have to say it… Mike makes sense!
March 15th, 2017 at 12:09 am
Josh Robinson(Gunner/Cornerback) signed a 2 year, $6,500,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including $3,500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,250,000.
• In 2017, Robinson will earn a base salary of $2,000,000 and a roster bonus of $1,000,000. Robinson has a cap hit of $3,000,000 while his dead money value is $3,000,000.
Vs
Cordarrelle Patterson (Kick Returner/Receiver) signed a 1 year, $5,250,000 contract with the Oakland Raiders, including a $2,500,000 signing bonus, $5,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $5,250,000.
• In 2017, Patterson will earn a base salary of $2,500,000, a signing bonus of $2,500,000 and a workout bonus of $250,000. Patterson has a cap hit of $2,875,000 while his dead money value is $2,500,000.
If you wanted to be prudent (Cut)
• George Johnson ($2,250,000 Savings)
Then make the wise play by signing
• Cordarrelle Patterson (1 year, $5,250,000)
Now what you’ve paid Patterson for one year is a wash – and you improved THE WORST return unit – in NFL history
March 15th, 2017 at 3:17 pm
Honestly, no team’s ever accomplish enough. Unless you’re the Patriots. How did this happen?
You guys are all over CP’s nuts. Yes he would have been good but we didn’t get him. We showed no interest. I respect our front office’s moves more than anyone’s opinion on JBF. Sorry.