Last Man Off Thursday’s Practice Field
June 9th, 2017
Deep rookie focus
Little things can mean a lot.
Sometimes, of course, they’re meaningless. But when searching for insight into an NFL team in June, everything is on the table.
It was a rainy final Bucs OTA practice yesterday. There wasn’t a dry jersey on the field, and two hours of practice was in the books when the horn blew. Some guys stayed after practice for extra work while 20+ minutes of media mingling with Dirk Koetter and a handful of players wrapped up.
When the One Buc Palace practice fields were cleared, one player remained running through a stretching routine alone.
It was rookie fifth-round pick Jeremy McNichols, the running back with superior pass blocking skills and “rare hands.” That’s the way general manager Jason Licht described him in April.
After offseason shoulder surgery, McNichols is waiting for — and expecting — a green light to return for the start of training camp.
In the meantime, the Boise State star clearly doesn’t mind doing what he can — as long as he can — on a wet field.
What it means? Who knows?
But something was driving McNichols. Perhaps it was “that fire inside,” which one NFL star says absolutely defines McNichols.
June 9th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Best news on him since he was drafted. Tells me he is getting antsy watching his teammates get reps. Next I would love to hear how he’s studying the playbook and fully versed in the bucs system.
June 9th, 2017 at 10:24 am
Excited to see what McNichols brings on the field. Many are downplaying his importance to this team because he was a 5th round pick – I believe that line of thinking is a mistake. Jeremy was not drafted with a wait and see if he makes the team mentality. He was drafted with an expectation that his skills will be very valuable to this team and that he will be a solid if not major contributor in the near future.
June 9th, 2017 at 10:45 am
hopefully mcnichols turns into the reliable running back the bucs have been missing for nearly a decade
June 9th, 2017 at 11:12 am
He’s a hard worker at his craft a trait I like about him. Totally gets the fruits of his labor 👍🏾🤛🏽🙏🏾
June 9th, 2017 at 11:14 am
Agreed tmax. They haven’t had much consistency there at all.
The guy has yet to take an NFL snap but if he continues to do and say the right things, who knows, maybe he can become that guy.
June 9th, 2017 at 11:46 am
Pickgrin
I agree…McNichols was not drafted as a wait and see guy…they need to find out early too…so they can make a good decision at the end of week three on Martin.
I’m anxious to see what Quizz Rodgers shows. He flashed some last year but not enough to totally sell me. I’ll be really curious to see how he plays. Best case scenario…perhaps a smaller…slightly slower…version of Maurice Jones Drew.
Charles Sims ran a 4.48 40…all of our RB’s have 4.45-4.5 40 speed…that is certainly adequate speed in the NFL especially when combined with moves or broken tackles…see Doug Martin…but it’s not game breaking speed.
No sweat we have game breaking speed at WR and TE.
June 9th, 2017 at 12:49 pm
SPBF – Martin ran a 4.55 coming out and has likely lost 1/2 a step since then which is why you see him getting caught from behind. But he’s still highly likely to be the best RB on this team if he’s healthy. Speed is not Druggy’s best attribute but he’s still quick enough to be effective. Quizz ran a 4.52 – Sims and McNichols are both sub 4.5 by a tick. Nobody is lightning fast in that RB group but as you said – all are fast enough. Add Payton Barber to the mix and I feel pretty good about our stable of RBs assuming they bring Martin back which I think they will and hoping the Oline learns how to run block again which they seemed to largely forget in 2016. Losing Mankins hurt us more than most realize last year I believe even though Pamphile graded well allegedly. Adding Sweezy and moving Marpet to Center should help.
June 9th, 2017 at 3:28 pm
McNasty, wait and see
June 9th, 2017 at 8:21 pm
5th Rd RBs are expect to contribute immediately, unlike other positions. McNichols will get contribute. That being said, stop expecting this gut to be the guy this year, and he’s definitely not taking Martin’s job.
June 12th, 2017 at 11:18 pm
Oh man, oh man, oh man! Jeremy McNichols is such a great athelete. He is such a humble and very nice young man. I consider myself one of his top 5 fans ! Only because I have to leave room for his loved ones. I feel blessed to have seen him on the Blue many times. The guy is special, I even told him so. Everytime I see his name in print, I squeel
June 12th, 2017 at 11:27 pm
Oh man, oh man, oh man! Jeremy McNichols is such a great athelete. Soft spoken, humble, loyal, respectful and a damn nice young man. I consider myself 1 of his top 5 fans ! Only because I have to leave room for his loved ones. I feel blessed to have seen him perform on the Blue many times. Killer skills! The guy is special, I even told him so. I squeel like a pig everytime I see his name in print! I am rooting for this kid to be famous… because he deserves it!
J.Mac… GOAT in the makings
June 12th, 2017 at 11:29 pm
Oh man, oh man, oh man! Jeremy McNichols is such a great athelete. Soft spoken, humble, loyal, respectful and a damn nice young man. I consider myself 1 of his top 5 fans ! Only because I have to leave room for his loved ones. I feel blessed to have seen him perform on the Blue many times. Killer skills! The guy is special, I even told him so. I squeel like a pig everytime I see his name in print! I am rooting for this kid to be famous… because he deserves it!
J.Mac… GOAT in the makings